Slide-Rock Bolter

The Slide-Rock Bolter is a creature which originated in North American pioneer oral tradition.

Description
Resembling a whale with a large head and small, beady eyes, Colorado’s Slide-Rock Bolter possesses a clawed tail fluke which it uses to hang on to the tops of mountains. An ambush predator, it will hang there until a victim passes by lower down the mountain. When this occurs, the Bolter releases its grip on the mountain and begins its descent down the slope, assisted by the lubrication provided by its dripping saliva. The Bolter will scoop up its target on the way down the hill, then continue its slide right up the next mountain where it slaps its tail over the top and once again takes up its vigil.

The Bolter is said to prey exclusively on tourists, and whole parties of sightseers have been said to have fallen victim to their depredations.

One story tells of a Colorado park ranger who decided to kill a Bolter who was attacking groups of people in his area. The ranger constructed a dummy tourist - complete with plaid jacket, safari shorts and Colorado Guide Book - which he filled with gunpowder and blasting caps. The dummy managed to attract the attention of the Bolter, which attempted to eat it, setting the explosives off in the process. The resultant mess was reported to have fed the vultures all throughout summer.