Overview
Mount Hayes, a remote peak in Alaska’s central Alaska Range that towers roughly 8,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, has resurfaced in online UFO circles after a set of declassified CIA documents referenced several unexplained aerial phenomena in the area during the 1970s. The mountain, long noted for its harsh weather and difficult access, is now being described on #ufotwitter as a potential “alien base” location, prompting renewed interest from both amateur investigators and academic researchers.
Historical Context
The CIA’s “Project Blue Book” archives, released under the Freedom of Information Act in 2024, include a handful of memos that list “unidentified aerial observations” near Mount Hayes between 1972 and 1975. One entry, dated 14 July 1973, records a “bright, disc‑shaped object” observed by a U.S. Air Force crew conducting a routine training flight, noting that the object “hovered for approximately two minutes before accelerating eastward at high speed.” While the agency ultimately classified the sightings as “insufficient data for definitive analysis,” the documents have been cited by UFO researchers as evidence of a persistent pattern of activity in the region.
Recent Claims and Social‑Media Discussion
In May 2025, a series of posts on the Twitter hashtag #UFOHotspot highlighted a new video allegedly captured by a hiker near the summit of Mount Hayes. The clip, posted by user @UFOWatcher, shows a brief flash of light followed by a low‑frequency humming sound. “I’ve been trekking these trails for years and never saw anything like this,” the user wrote. The video quickly amassed thousands of views and sparked speculation that the mountain houses an “alien base hidden inside,” a phrase that has been repeated in multiple retweets and meme formats.
Dr. Jane Smith, an astrophysicist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, cautioned against jumping to conclusions: “Alaska’s mountainous terrain creates unique atmospheric conditions that can produce optical phenomena such as Fata Morgana mirages or ball lightning. While the declassified CIA notes are intriguing, they do not constitute proof of extraterrestrial activity.”
Official Response
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) released a brief statement in response to the renewed attention: “The Department continues to investigate credible reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in accordance with existing protocols. No evidence has been found to support claims of extraterrestrial installations on Mount Hayes.” The statement also emphasized that the agency’s investigations focus on national security implications rather than speculative alien bases.
What’s Next
Researchers from the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) have announced plans to conduct a remote sensing survey of the Mount Hayes region later this year, employing lidar and infrared imaging to map any anomalous structures beneath the surface. Meanwhile, local authorities have reminded hikers that the area remains extremely hazardous, with rapidly changing weather and limited rescue resources. As the scientific community prepares to apply rigorous methods to the site, the conversation on social media is likely to continue, blending genuine curiosity with the enduring allure of the unknown.
