The Bigfoot Field Reporter Radio Show

After a long hiatus I will be returning to blogtalk radio with my first guest of 2011, Steven Streufert of Bigfoot Books in Willow Creek, California.

The show will air live on January 9, 2011 at 7 p.m. eastern time 4 p.m. pacific time.

Hope to see you there!

Bluff Creek Film Site Project-Information Needed

BFROVIDEOS. Steven Streufert, Ian and Robert Leiterman are taking another look at the P-G Film site 43 years later. With conflicting thoughts as to exactly where the film site is today, they have decided to re-evaluate the facts, interview those in the know and spend some extensive leg work on the ground. They are trying to piece together what nature has spent the last 43 years turning back into a riparian forest. Part of an on going series.

Message from Steven Streufert:  Sharon, if any of your connections out there have photos or recollections of the PGF site in the late 70s, 80s or earlier 90s that would be very helpful! We need to establish a time range scale of changes.

Everybody Has One!

Last night on Facebook, a friend posted this pic claiming that it was caught on a game cam near Fouke, Arkansas.  He claims " My fiance's coworker has a husband who checked his game cam recently...and look what was on there"

I then wake up this morning to read on Cryptomundo that this image is being posted on MSNBC as from a game camera in Berwick, Louisiana.  I checked the map and, hmmm Fouke and Berwick are not even near each other!



View Larger Map



Is there a hoax in the making??????  If anyone has more information, I'd love to hear it!

Obviously it is one of those hoaxes that spread rumors like wildfire....There are people all over the internet claiming to have captured this exact image on their trail cam pic.  Here is a post from another website "

Very freaky trail cam picture.... don't know what to think..?

Don't know what to think about this one fellers.... Went and checked my camera today and this is what it had on it.... The ground directly in front of my tree was completely tore up, the trail cam had been torn off the tree, straps were popped and everything. Camera was laying face down about 10 ft. from the tree it was attached too. Bark was knocked off the tree where the camera had been, like something had knocked it off while trying to twist camera off the tree. This was the only picture I got of "it" as I had it set on a 2 minute timer. The first picture is of "it", and the second is a picture from a lil while ago of the same spot, just for reference. Checking this right at dusk with a 3/4 mile walk out ahead of you will scare a feller..... When I saw it, my blood ran cold. Still gives me shivers.... What do you guys think?"  Of course the picture was of the same ghoulish figure.  However this man did have another picture dated  earlier from the same location.
 
I would love for the real owner to Please Stand Up!  I have a feeling it is an advertising gimmick for Wildgame Innovations!   What a way to get people talking!

RECOGNITION!

I was surprised, flattered and honored when I received an email today from Forensic Science.net letting me know that they had personally chosen my blog as one of the top 30 Cryptozoology  Blogs of 2010!

Cate Newton writes:

Hi Sharon,
I am writing to inform you that The Bigfoot Field Reporter has been featured on Forensic Science's list of the Top 30 Cryptozoology Blogs, found here: http://www.forensicscience.net/best-cryptozoology-blogs. We hand-picked a list of our favorites and outlined the unique reasons why we love them.
"We really enjoyed your fun approach and sense of humor when reporting on your search for Bigfoot."

I really do try to be entertaining and thoughtful and considerate of those who are conducting serious research and I am truly grateful and humbled by this recognition!

Forensic Science

Cryptozoology Blogs

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Warm wishes for warm gravy, and hot turkey and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Clint Romag

Oh that Clint!  I asked to interview him about a year ago, but he declined because he was working on a werewolf story and wanted to focus on that...instead of Bigfoot...now here comes Clint promoting his book...Good Luck Clint! 


Clint Romag grew up in Longview, WA, where stories of Bigfoot roaming the forests outside his small town influenced the direction of his writing. He graduated from Western Washington University, and currently lives in Los Angeles. Romag has written several novels including "Revenge of the Werewolves" and "Fury of the Sasquatch."
Note to Editors: The Author is available for interviews. Review copies of "The Yeti Incident" are available upon request. "The Yeti Incident" is available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and at Barnes & Noble for $12.95.
For the latest news: http://clintromag.livejournal.com/

SEASON'S GREETINGS! New Additions

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, I thought I would give you all easy access to the most popular websites featuring Bigfoot items that your favorite Squatcher would enjoy under the tree or in their stocking!
Of course I must begin with my friend Mike Esordi's Bigfoot Surplus which features many of his unique and creative designs!

One truly great find were these amazing  Bigfoot collectibles from Bigfoot Valley. They are hand-painted and mounted on a  base made of real Manzanita wood. These whimsical creatures each have their own distinct personality.  

You'll want to collect them all!

For the person who likes to wear their passion on their sleeve, I suggest the Sasqwatch!  I have a pink one :)






For your holiday decorating needs, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland has both a Bigfoot and a Yeti Christmas tree ornament.  They do have another Bigfoot bulb ornament in their catalog, but I did not see it on their website.  So maybe you might want to request a catalog from them!

Now many of you have seen the 3 foot tall Bigfoot garden statue by Toscano that many Squatchers show off on their profile pics, but did you know that Toscano has a new Bigfoot item to share?  I love this, I saw it in their catalog, it is the Bashful Bigfoot.  He clings to trees in your yard and is less expensive than the garden statue.  Also, not to be outdone by Bronner's, Toscono offers this adorable ornament.

I am not very impressed with the quality of items sold at Cafe Press, but they do have a few cute items, like the "I'm Squatching You" mousepad.

And of course there are the multitudes of books written by everyone from Dr. Jeff Meldrum to  Lee Murphy who is not only handsome, but multi-talented as well! I suggest his books Heretofore Unknown which pokes some fun at couple of Squatchers we know, and also, a book I read on my many flights, YGOR... a touching story of humanity and compassion.  Author David (Dave Coleman) has spent the last few years researching every Bigfoot movie and documentary he could get his hands on for his newest creation CINE DU SASQUATCH, his epic examination of all-things Bigfoot-related as appears on tv and in movies.  Don't forget Thom Cantrall's Ghosts of Ruby Ridge and the conversation invoking book Enoch, by Autumn Williams.

Also, many DVD favorites such as Sean Whitley's Southern Fried Bigfoot ; Don Keating's Sasquatch at Salt Fork DVD which can be ordered through Don directly @ http://www.eobic.net; and the theatrical thriller BIGFOOT! starring Bob Gray.

And as we all know, Christmas is for GIVING! You can donate to my cause, or better yet, make charitable donations to Michael Rugg's Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton, California and/or Peter Byrne's International Wildlife Conservation Society.

And for your Christmas Card giving, a message from Robert Swain:

"I know that this isn't Black Friday or even Cyber Monday, but just wanted to throw out that Laughsquatch Christmas cards are available.
Twelve signed Christmas cards and envelopes for $15.00. Also, 2011 color poster calendars 11 x 17, for $7.00. I'll be happy to sign the calendar and or add personal remarks to make it a unique present. Get them while they last! Free shipping for Fans of Laughsquatch! I also have Laughsquatch blank note card packets for $15.00. Twelve signed cards in each packet.
If you are interested please contact me...
on Facebook, Robert@Laughsquatch.com, phone (501) 733-5485,
P.O. Box 1030 Vilonia, AR 72173 or order through Paypal under Robert Swain using the above e-mail address. Cash is fine, checks are fine, paypal is great, chickens are fine and so is real Bigfoot scat.
Thanks for being a fan! Robert"

As you can see there are many options for gift giving to the Squatcher in your life, and don't forget your favorite reporter, me!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Squatctivity????

Here are some pictures and thoughts by one of our fellow researchers, Bob Durdella. 

As I have often claimed, Bob is one of the most diligent "explorers" I know.  He enjoys his time in the woods and isn't out to make a history making discovery. 

Somewhere in Northeast Ohio.....

"I went to that tepee I found 2 years ago at (omitted). I take a look at it about every 2 weeks. Saw something new right away. There is a big X marker put up directly over the tepee. I thought it was pretty cool. Usually see X markers standing alone.

I like going to the tepee. Since I found it there's been quit a few changes made to it. One of these days I'll put together a photo file along with picture comments of how it was when I found it to the present.

Notice in the pics how nice and symmetrical the X marker is. That's the way most of the markers are I've found. I should put together a photo file showing the different symmetrical markers from the area. I think there's about 5 or 6 different markers I could show.

  

I also included a couple pics of some trees in an upside down V formation I recently found over a trail on a ridge that runs along the river. Notice how the one tree just happened to fall across the trail and landed in a fork topped tree that was also leaning across the trail at the right angle to catch it. These two trees are rooted where they are at. One is bent over at it's base and the other is broke at the base. This a another very symmetrical looking setup also. Very strange??? All the trees around and no others but these two end up together across the trail. Love this stuff." Bob D.

I love the splash of color in the background!

The Discovery of the Sasquatch-MN.B.R.T Radio Interview of Dr. John Bindernagel

 Join Elusive1 & Evie as they welcome Dr.John Bindernagel, PhD.  Dr. Bindernagel has just released a new publication titled The Discovery of the Sasquatch. (click here to purchase)

Dr. Bindernagel is a Canadian biologist with over forty years of experience in wildlife research and conservation in North America and internationally.

He was educated at the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) and at the University of Wisconsin (USA). After beginning his career in Canada in 1963, he has worked  with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations from 1965 until 1991. During this time he worked and taught in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Central America. There he was involved in wildlife surveys, the preparation and implementation of wildlife management measures, and conservation education. Dr. Bindernagel's interest in the sasquatch, which began in 1965, influenced a family decision to relocate from central Canada to British Columbia in 1975. He continues to be involved in wildlife research and resides on Vancouver Island with his wife Joan. 
In this, his second book about the sasquatch, he explores the discovery of the sasquatch in the context of the philosophy and history of science. 

Tune in to Blogtalk radio on Monday, November 15 · 6Pm Pacific - 7Pm Mountain - 8Pm Central - 9Pm Eastern http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mnbrt/2010/11/16/mnbrt-radio-with-drjohn-bindernagel

  

Quiet days

It always seems that the Ohio Conference kicks off the Squatching season and the Texas Conference ends it.  Unfortunately, living in Northeast Ohio doesn't give me the best of climates to Squatch year 'round.  But that's just me.  I know that in my research area, I have activity from April thru October, and lately, not much has been happening.

But, just because nothing is happening, doesn't mean I am going to start making things up, or stirring pots. So, things might be quiet for awhile here.

I do plan on heading down to Salt Fork next weekend and hang out till the wee hours on Saturday night with some other squatchers, so hopefully we will have something good to report!

John Cartwright's Encounter

For as long as I've known John Cartwright, I have never sat down and listened to the details of his Bigfoot sighting in 1982.  Here is John's story:

John Cartwright's Sighting (An interview by the Blogsquatcher)

This experience comes from 1982, so it predates any talk about infrasound. The witness, JC, was 17 years old at the time. He made a report to the BFRO in 1998, #3335, and most of the details from that report match what he told me on the phone, with a couple of exceptions. He wrote that the incident happened in October, though he remembers it to have happened just before Labor Day now. “I said around October [in the BFRO report] because I could not remember the date when I made the report,” he told me via email yesterday. And he wrote that the creature was “around 8’ tall” in the BFRO report, though he said it was a foot taller when he spoke to me. He doesn’t think that discrepancy amounts to more than a different way of putting it then and now. It’s true that details like these can be hard to remember, especially as time passes and we go through phases of not thinking about something. Although JC hasn’t been able to forget the experience for long, because he continues to suffer from nightmares ever since the incident.  Read the rest of the story here.


This video clip shows 30 seconds of John's presentation at the 2009 Ohio Bigfoot Conference.
The entire DVD of the 2009 conference is available by contacting Don Keating at eobic.net

The Bigfoot Lunch Club

In this day and age, it seems like EVERYONE has a blog, radio show, book and website about Bigfoot. Some more palatable than others.

The Bigfoot Lunch Club is a well informed, well-rounded group of individuals who present information regarding news, events and discussions about Bigfoot related material. They never make false claims or come off as self-proclaimed "experts".

The website is easy and pleasant to read and is very well put together.

Two thumbs up guys!

The Bigfoot Lunch Club

Bigfoot Discovery Days

Due to poor planning on my part, I had to miss this year's festivities in Felton, California AKA My Favorite Place on EARTH!)

However, I have managed to glean some images and reports from off the web to share with you:
Big Crowd for Bigfoot

-

Louden Nelson Community Center
301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA


Bigfoot Discovery Day draws dozens to Felton museum, evening lecture downtown
By Ruth Schneider October 17, 2010

Credit Ruth Schneider

Sasquatch has been spotted in Santa Cruz County more times than can be counted.

And Michael Rugg, curator of Felton's Big Foot Museum, has heard most of the stories. The ones he call hoaxes. The ones he calls misunderstood. And the ones he truly believes occurred. In the six years since his museum opened, locals have flocked to share their stories of spottings.

The spottings run along the coast up to Bonny Doon and in many of the Santa Cruz Mountain towns including Boulder Creek, Felton and even Scotts Valley.

"Skeptics tell us it's all imaginary. That does happen a lot," said Rugg, who has been studying Big Foot since 1951. "But after a while it's hard to keep ignoring."

On Saturday, Rugg organized the fourth Bigfoot Discover Day.

"This one is the best we've had," he said.

The day began with event's at the Felton museum and culminated in an evening of speakers at the Louden Nelson Community Center.

More than 60 people filled Room 3 of Louden Nelson who came to hear everything from testimony of a 2007 sighting to advance in thermal recording equipment to a song from a Bay Area resident about bigfooting, the hunting of the sasquatch.

Scott McClean, a bigfoot researcher and author, offered up an extensive collection of newspaper articles dating back hundreds of years that all referenced bipedal, hairy creatures with disproportionately long arms.

"These things have been around as long as we have," McClean told the audience. "And these newspaper archives are proof of this."

He flashed a clip about wild men reported in Felton in the 1870s.

"Consistently over time in California" sasquatches have been spotted, he said. "It's not a guy in a suit. They're talking about an 8-foot, hair-colored ape. People have described them in detail. They're out there. They always been out there."

Rugg backed that up with local tribal trivia: The Ohlone tribe, native to the Central Coast, had a name for bigfoot, he said.

"Takakuna," he said, was the name the Ohlone gave to a specific bigfoot who lived in the Felton area.

New technologies

Bart Cutino, a bigfoot researcher who spotted the creature in Washington state in 2007, is enamored of modern technology and what it can do to change the field of bigfoot research.

A thermal imaging device helped him in an up-close-and-personal encounter he had in 2007 east of Mt. Rainier, WA. In pitch dark, he said, a special viewer helped him watch a sasquatch from a distance of about 32 yards.

"Most people don't believe it's real," he told the audience. "And it right ther in front of me. My adrenalin was off the chart."

He described seeing a 500 to 600 pound creature that stood upright.

"It was a life changing experience for me," said Cutino. "I'm 110 percent sure what we pursue is real."

Many of those in the attendance felt similarly.

Tom Yamarone, a museum member, said he does his own research and on several occasions has heard what he believes is bigfoot yowling.

"It's nice to see good exposure to a new side of research," he said.

Rugg, who takes part in that research full time, mad a promise several years ago that he seems to be sticking to: He won't get a haircut until he proves sasquatch is real.

"If I can't find the wild man, I'll become him," he said.

Salt Fork State Park October 16, 2010

This past weekend I had the opportunity to be the Salt Fork Squatchtivity tour guide to an out-of-state visitor.

We checked into the cabin Friday night.  The weather was cold and rainy and it was already dark by the time we got settled so we decided to get a fresh start in the morning.

We awoke to a chilly but sunny Saturday, and after a hearty breakfast at the lodge, we donned our hiking boots and hit the trails.  We hiked and surveyed several areas in search of the perfect spot to set up base for our evening squatchtivities.  We mutually agreed to set up at a picnic area off of  park route 4.  This area has had several sightings and was away from the beaten path.

We headed into Cambridge to dine at the favorite eatery, Theo's.  We then returned to the cabin to get bundled up in our night gear.  Upon arriving at the cabin, we were approached by 2 teenage girls.  They had seen my Squatchmobile and inquired as to whether I was a researcher.  I had a great time answering all of their questions and then they wanted to show me a very cool and squatchy place they had found.  We then hiked over to this beautiful cave and rock formations, the sunlight was beginning to fade quickly and we had to get to our location to set up the trail cam, so we bid the kids farewell and drove off into the night.






 We arrived at the area at 7:30 pm.  The night had already set in and we had the dim light from a half moon.  As soon as we opened our car doors we went to the back of the vehicle to begin unloading when we both heard a long, low growl.  We both looked at each other and the usual phrase "did you hear that!" was exclaimed.  The night's excitement had already begun!  I walked about 100 feet from the car to a lone picnic table to drop off the first load when a very loud, very shrill scream from a fox pierced the quiet air.  Wow, was that amazing!  Of course I still hadn't even gotten my audio recorder out of my case!
At that point I figured, I'll unload the car in a minute, I need to get my recorder going!  Ok, with that done, we decided the next bit of business was to find a good tree to hang the trail cam from.  The Moultrie was a top of the line model with IR lighting, video and still shot capabilities.

I then proceeded to cut and smash a bag of 18 apples as the small fire we started in the grill was beginning to crackle.  We then warmed up a cast iron skillet, compliments of the cabin and proceeded to fry up a big, greasy pound of bacon.

As the aroma of bacon began wafting in the air, the coyotes became quit vocal!  There were lone coyote howls soon accompanied by many from directions all around us.  The evening was ALIVE with animal activity!

We then settled down in our camp chairs and talked quietly when we heard another low growl come from across the parking lot.  The night was clear and cool and after about an hour and 45 minutes, we decided to head over to another location to see if there were any other squatchers in the area.  Before leaving we wanted to check the trail cam.  We went to the trail cam and there were zero images on the D card.  I then did a little dance in front of the camera to make sure it was working properly.  The red IR lights lit and the camera logged a video.  Success!
We then arranged several items on the picnic table and tucked the recorder in the arm of the camp chair to record any sounds or movement that may occur at the site in our absence.

We got in the car and drove to the other area where we found Terry and Treba and we sat there for about an hour chit chatting.  We told them we had to get back because we had left a small fire in the grill, so we headed back and checked the items on the table; nothing had been disturbed.  We then went to the trail cam and noticed that 2 more images had been recorded!  We took the camera down and set it on the picnic table and were joined by 2 other researchers.  About 20 minutes later Don and Missey K. arrived on the scene and they headed out for a night hike.  I decided that not much was going to happen and I was getting cold and tried and wanted to call it a night.

We returned to the cabin and began viewing the video from the trail cam.  In the hour that we were gone...something had set off the camera to take one still picture and then a video.  When we saw the video we were freaked out!  What was it???? We tried to rule out all the usual suspects.  no fingers for it to be a hand.  Hairs covering the object.... Tell us what you think it is!  Perhaps if someone has the capability to enhance the video, remove the brightness...


Well anyway, we were really geeked up over the video but managed to get to sleep with visions of Bigfoots dancing in our dreams.

As usual, it was an amazing weekend of being in the woods.  The weather was gorgeous and the fall leaves were beautiful.  We may not have had any real squatchtivity, but we had some hair-raising thrills to speculate on and to make us want to return to this area for further investigating!

I hope your weekend was just as much fun!  Now back to reality.  BOO!  Have a great week!

Need Assistance from the British Columbia Area (Please Respond If You Can Assist)

by Troy Hudson 

TBIG is working with European film production company that is working on a 2 hour special on Sasquatch and they are looking for people that have basic or expert knowledge of the First Nations people of the BC area of Canada. First hand accounts and legends of Sasquatch is the topic of choice. TBIG has been in communication with the production company since the beginning of the Honobia Conference and has come away with some great leads for witnesses. 

In addition to witness accounts the production company is also exploring the research on vocalizations, infrasound, habitat, and survivability.  If  anyone in the BC area is interested please contact Senior Investigator Troy Hudson at troyh@thetbig.com as soon as possible. Time is critical here, travel and expenses are on a time clock with the project.

Just in Time for Halloween!!!

This report comes from Lon Strickler about a recent sighting of The Spottsville Monster in Henderson, Kentucky

Friday, October 08, 2010

Recent Sighting of the Spottsville Monster?

I received word this morning that there was a recent sighting of an unknown creature near the area of the so-called 'Spottsville Monster' sightings in Henderson County, Kentucky. There wasn't a lot of detail other than the entity stood about 6 1/2 ft., with dark brown fur and a canine-like head. The witness stated that the creature was approximately 50 yards away in a woodland clearing during the mid-morning. From what I can gather, there were a few witnesses that were part of a group, but I'm not positive of that. I have made further inquiries and will post an update if other reports are made

Read more about the Spottsville Monster and other sightings in Kentucky at:  http://www.kentuckybigfoot.com

Silent Auction---Bigfoot Family

I have just received another bid of $155.00...do I hear $160?

http://bigfootlives.blogspot.com/2010/10/silent-auction-bigfoot-family.html
This beautiful hand-carved Bigfoot family is just waiting to be adopted!

These are an extremely rare, one of a kind item, commissioned in 2006 by Craig Woolheater for the Bigfoot in Texas? museum exhibit in San Antonio at the Institute of Texan Cultures by noted artist Russell Baird of Montana.

Sojourn in Autumn

A few weeks ago my good friend Thom Cantrall informed me that he was heading into the woods for a relaxing weekend of squatching.  He offered to send me a recap of his adventures, and I gladly accepted.

Thom has a gift for creative writing and I knew that his report would be an entertaining read.  Enjoy.

Sojurn in Autumn

By

Thom Cantrall

            The sun had not yet reached the bottom of the sharp-sided canyon, but the road had deteriorated past the point I really felt I should be driving my Le Sabre any further.  It was later than I had hoped to be arriving but my plans for an early departure had to be altered when I realized that the vineyard where I planned to procure my boxes of grapes would not be easily negotiated before it was light enough to see my way around easily.

            Another slight hitch in my carefully laid plans occurred when, on arriving at the vineyard, I found that they had not picked the crop yet as I had assumed they would.  Since the picking crew was working in the apple orchard adjacent to the several thousand acres of grapes I contacted one of the foremen to let them know that I’d planned to get some grapes from the end of the rows where they cannot be accessed by the machines used to mechanically pick the fruit.  Armed with permission… well, I assume it was permission, my Spanish not being all that good… I filled my two boxes brought along for this purpose with ripe concord grapes and went on my way.

            I know that I have probably should not have been so highly exorcised over the state of the two ruts that passed for a road the last two miles or so I traversed to reach the place I had chosen as my base camp for this outing, but I have developed a fixation for certain parts on my car.  I have, over the years found that I really care for things like mufflers, tail pipes, transmissions and oil pans.  This decided, when I found a very nice little cut area in a biome of mature fir and pine trees with a border of various brushes adjacent to a lively little stream.  It had all the necessary features for my basis of operations for the next couple of days.  In days past, I would have hiked in a mile or two before setting up, but the infirmities of old age have confined me to those areas approachable without a determined hike.

I had chosen this time, 25 Sept, because the archery deer and elk seasons were over and I thought I’d probably be pretty much by myself for whatever time I decided to stay here.  I did not account for the fact that the fall turkey season was still underway and this area is quite alive with the Rio Grande species of wild turkey.  During my stay I probably saw thirty five or more of these birds but heard of no one actually taking one.  My quest required my isolation but, alas, this was not to be.  During my time there, I saw four or five pickups, each with two or three persons inside.  In addition, there was one cavalcade of four horses exiting the region on the morning I arrived. 

            Since I could not expect to have any great success, I went about the task of creating a worthwhile camp.  I wanted an area where I was not going to be an interloper, but a part of the background.  I have been learning at the knee, as it were, of my Indian Mentor.  Following my teachings here, I searched out an area to establish my Indian Altar and issue my prayer given me for this purpose.  My Altar was simple.  I utilized a stump that was crowned by crest of Malus… wild apple… from which I suspended the eagle feathers consecrated for and dedicated to the purpose at hand.  I hung the Golden Eagle feather from Oklahoma above the Bald Eagle feather from Alaska where the winds from the four directions could turn them and twist them just so.  Below these symbols of the ancient past, I placed my token of the twenty first century.  I had a scent lure stick that burned like an incense stick and was placed under a small box-like affair that prevented any stray wind from accelerating the burning rate of the stick or, worse, causing that stick to fall and ignite a fire in the dry grass of the area. 

            I planned to use the scent lure simply as an announcement to the area that food was available here.  I had chosen a berry scented scent stick and I had some boxes of grapes to offer should anyone come to my lure.  Each stick burned for approximately six hours and in the canyon bottom like I was, the wind was never steady in any one direction, but tended to swirl constantly, carrying the aroma of ripe berries to all areas of my environment.  This part of my chores done, I sat down to wait and enjoy my labors, such as they were.  It was not long until the first of my visitors arrived… on a four wheeler… and he insisted on stopping to talk for a bit.  He was curious as to what I was doing camped as I was and I don’t even think he saw my Altar.  I’m not sure he accepted my reply that I was there to meet a particular Sasquatch, but being Yakama Indian, he was familiar with them in the area and suggested that I was in a great spot to have a chance of seeing one.  I tried to explain that is was not just “one” hoped to see, but a particular “one”… one with a distinctive red stripe on his right side.  He left me with best wishes for fortune in my endeavor… if he did appear a bit skeptical of my thesis… When the next hour brought me another pickup with two people within I decided to chronicle the conditions in the area of my chosen camp.   I knew I was not going to be awarded the conversation I was seeking with Red Stripe, but I could set the groundwork for some basic research.  To begin, I thought it might be nice to know, now, I was getting the distinct feeling that bringing a couple of boxes of grapes to them at this time was somewhat akin to worrying about having spilled a cup of water on oneself just before falling out of the boat.   

There was food everywhere.                                                                                            

I walked over to the small river that I had chosen as the base of my operations and was greeted with the sight of salmon everywhere.  Both Coho and Chinook were in the river spawning.  There were redds everywhere there was ample gravel and ample room.  Actually, most were in the process of being built.  It is amazing to watch Chinook salmon that weighed over forty pounds in this small stream clearing away enough gravel so they could lay a couple hundred thousand eggs to perpetuate their species.  It is amazing to watch the transformation that takes place as beautiful, shiny silver bullets lose their streamlining to assume the appearance of creatures more appropriate to fighting off rivals and claim jumpers and who can now lift and move large stones that happen to stand in the way of a successful bed for their eggs.  This river system was home to two major species of salmon… the Chinook or King and the Coho or Silver… Sockeye Salmon also run the main river system, but do not get into this particular tributary as they require a lake to allow them to choose a mate.  Therefore, those species travel further up the Snake River, even all the way into Idaho in search of the places where they themselves were born.

            As I made my way back up from the water to near my camp, I found many more sources of food available.  In addition to the Malus or apples trees, one of which was serving me as an Altar Tree, there were such foods as Rose Hips… for there were Nootka Roses growing in profusion.  Rose hips are extremely high in several necessary vitamins and nutrients but most high in Vitamin C.  This is an excellent source of this essential element even for we mere men.  I would venture to say I could have picked four bushels of these delicacies within one hundred yards of my camp.

            Another major food source was rotted logs and stumps.  These are the nurseries for grubs, worms, termites and some ant colonies.  It is difficult to find an old stump or rotting log in this area that has not received the attentions of a large hairy mammal.  In many cases that hairy mammal is merely a Black Bear, but in some cases, it is out large friends that had brought me out here to commune.

            There was a variety of other berries growing in the area such as black berry and huckleberries.  Both are an important food source for all the animals that dwell in this inter-mountain biome.  There are a couple of species I found that I do not think are edible to them.  One is the Snowberry which is so named for the large white berries that grow in profusion on the low bushes.  The fact that I have never seen even birds working on these berries, even in the worst winters tells me that they are, at least, not desirable, if not toxic.  Another that fits this pattern is the Black Hawthorne… and please notice the wicked spines on that bush.  These berries were just at eye level and the tree was another four feet tall.

            In addition to all I had chronicled, there was a profusion of seed bearing plants in the immediate area.  From the myriad grasses to the tall stalked Common Mullein, no one would lack for seeds if this was their desire.  It was somewhat premature to have ripe seedheads on the Mullein, but another month would see them well on their way and see my hosts well feed for most of the early winter at least.

            In addition to these mentioned assets, the area is alive with deer.  My camp was on a piece of ground that had been bulldozed clean this late summer and there were the tracks of at least twenty two mule deer in the bare dirt there that had been made the night prior to my arrival.  As I watched the hillside opposite my watchpost, I witnessed a bull elk emerge from the timber and bed down on an open slope where he could see for a long distance as he awaited the coming darkness.

            To say there was a plethora of food would have to rate as something of an understatement.  Well, more likely an understatement of epic proportions… from the fish of the water, the products of the trees and shrubs to the streamside I found that I could live there very well.  Add to that the flesh of the larger animals that are certainly available to him, and I think I’d have to say he is well kept there.

            Having reached this conclusion and knowing I was not going to have the opportunity that I wished with as many people as were moving in the area, I decided to come in early on my Sunday.  I packed up my Altar and doused my scent lure.  I put away my food and left his food for him near the stream’s edge in a protected place.  I loaded my car and made all my preparations for egress when I heard a whistle.  It was a whistle I knew and I turned instantly to see … Just in time to see his head as he ducked out of sight.  I asked if he could come back long enough to introduce himself and the very clear answer I received was, “No, not today, it is too dangerous.”  And he was right.  No sooner had this happened that another vehicle could be heard grinding its way up the two ruts that passed for a road in this marvelously enchanted river bottom known as the South Fork…