Reigniting the Age of Discovery

Investigating Unknown Phenomena —
Cryptozoology, UAP & Lost History

Colorado · Crestone · San Luis Valley · Near Great Sand Dunes

What We Investigate

The Mission: Document the Unexplained

We operate with modern instruments, structured field protocols, and a commitment to data over speculation. Four primary domains — one valley with more documented incidents per square mile than almost anywhere else on the continent.

UAP & Aerial Phenomena

The San Luis Valley is one of North America's most documented UAP corridors. We collect witness testimony, correlate it with radar and sensor data, and map the hotspot clusters.

Cryptozoology

Unclassified animals — Sasquatch, dogman, thunderbirds, lake creatures — investigated as an open question: flesh-and-blood biology, something more anomalous, or both? We collect track evidence, hair samples, and structured witness data to find out what the distribution actually shows.

Lost History & Archaeology

Pre-Columbian petroglyphs, anomalous ruins, and oral histories that don't fit the accepted timeline. We document, photograph, and cross-reference with academic sources.

Field Operations

Reconnaissance, night operations, site surveys, drone mapping, and sensor deployment. The methodology — instruments, protocols, chain-of-custody data capture — that turns field time into evidence instead of stories.

Founder

Mateo Argüello

Marine Corps infantry & intelligence veteran. Field investigator with years of documented fieldwork across cryptozoology, UAP, and archaeological anomalies in the San Luis Valley. Research channel with ~16,000 subscribers and over 2 million views. Instrument-based methodology: drone mapping, LIDAR, thermal imaging, and a four-pillar investigation protocol built for high-strangeness terrain.

Full Story →

The Frontier

Research Access.
Field Tools. Community.

The Frontier is Modern Explorer's research membership — access to the Arcanum phenomenon database, field instrument data, active case files, and a community of serious investigators. We're building the infrastructure that serious field research has always lacked.

The waitlist is open now. Founding members shape what gets built first.

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The Arcanum

A structured database of incidents, sightings, and field findings — organized by type, location, and confidence level.

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Field Instruments

EMF meters, Geiger counters, thermal imaging, and GPS-logged tracks. Real data from real expeditions.

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Ongoing Case Files

Active investigations with running notes, evidence chains, and member-contributed data from across the region.

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Researcher Community

Connect with investigators, share findings, and access the collective knowledge of a serious field research network.

Expeditions & Tours

Guided Tours of Crestone & the San Luis Valley

One tour running now. Specialty UAP, paranormal, and multi-day expeditions in development.

Now Available

Historic black-and-white photo of old Crestone, Colorado — Crestone tours

Available Now

45–60 min

Duration

2–12

Group Size

Easy

Difficulty

The Original Tour

The Crestone
Walking Tour

Crestone holds more layers of history, mystery, and unexplained phenomena per square mile than almost anywhere in Colorado. This walking tour covers the full picture — from the town's spiritual sanctuary status and hard-labor mining past to the UAP sightings locals have been quietly documenting for decades.

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Town History

The full arc of Crestone — from its Indigenous roots to its eccentric present

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Mining History

Silver and gold rush era sites, boom-and-bust stories, and the people who built this town

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Spiritual Sites

Sacred sites, sanctuary communities, and Crestone's role as a global spiritual center

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Paranormal Activity

Documented unexplained events, local accounts, and the Valley's high-strangeness reputation

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UFOs & UAP

The San Luis Valley's documented history as one of North America's most active UAP corridors

$35/ person

Groups of 2–12 · 45–60 min · All ages

Coming Soon

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Fall 2025

The Sky Watch Experience

UFO / UAP Tour

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Winter 2025

Crestone After Dark

Paranormal & Ghosts

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2026

The Hidden Past

Mining & History

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In Development

Multi-Day Field Operations

Future Expeditions

See All Upcoming Tours →

From the Field

Latest From the Field

All Reports →

Field Report

Stories from the Edge

Firsthand accounts of haunted trails, lost ruins, and the mysteries we uncover on every journey.

Skills

Field Wisdom & Survival

Hard-won lessons, gear tips, and practical know-how for thriving in the unknown.

Community

Voices from Our Community

Insights from fellow adventurers, local legends, and special guests — new perspectives on history and mystery.

Field Intelligence

1,000+ Events.
One Valley.

Christopher O'Brien spent 30 years mapping the paranormal hotspots of the San Luis Valley. This is his life's work.

Explore the Full Anomaly Map →

SLV ANOMALY MAP — C. O'BRIEN (1952–2024)

Explore the Full Anomaly Map →

Explorer Stories

What Travelers Are Saying

Ruthie PooleLocal Guide

★★★★★5 months ago

Love these tours! Super fun exploring the area where you live and hearing the history and encounter stories. Really makes you look back on your own experiences and wonder...