Encounters with Thom Cantrall

While in Oregon, I was fortunate enough to meet the author and sasquatch witness, Thom Cantrall.

Thom has graciously agreed to allow me to share stories with you of his encounters.

I will present these in a series, posting a new story every day. Please enjoy.

Winter’s Wonderland

By

Thom Cantrall


First off, let me say that I am pretty much a “live and let live: kind of guy. This is especially true of God’s small creatures. If I am out hiking and happen upon a rattlesnake, I’ll simply back up, tip my hat to him and wish him happy hunting. The fact that for the next hour or so I jump about a foot off the ground if even a small branch should happen to snap against my leg in no way compromises my calm demeanor in these matters. It’s simply that in some things
what the brain knows logically is not necessarily retransmitted to the reactive nervous system, let alone to the feet and legs that cause these leaps of unfaith.
Probably the worst case of this “Induced Reaction Syndrome” as I like to call it occurred in a good friend of mine who is now passed on. This latter fact making it much safer to relate the tale as it occurred without fear of reprisals or at least, a swift kick to the posterior.
Frank and I had decided to take advantage of the late elk season on the very north end of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. The weather was ideal for this January outing… snow, snow and more snow. It snowed all day the day of our evening departure from our Port Townsend area homes. By the time our gear was loaded, the trailer attached and we were on our way, there was more than a foot of fresh, white tracking snow on the ground with more on the way. Frank, being from Missouri and unaccustomed to the rigors of tracking elk while ploughing through hip-deep snow, was positively jubilant at the prospect.
Throughout our four hour drive to the Hoko River country, normally about a two hour drive, sans snow, he regaled me with tales of his misspent younger years in the “Show Me” State. If I were believe one-tenth of the antics he related to be “gospel true”, his companions had to have had intellects such that, by comparison, an earthworm would be considered an over-achiever and a cucumber could graduate high school with honors. Some of these tales made Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox, Babe, seem absolutely plausible by comparison. All in all, though, it was a delightful drive through falling snow with Nirvana waiting for us at the end of our trek.
It was fully dark by the time we arrived at our planned destination, the end of a logging road that led to two clearcuts, one freshly logged and the other about three years old, affording perfect feed for many head of deer and elk. This little road wound its way up the mountain a mile (1500 m) or so to the older unit, then on through standing timber to the freshly logged unit at the end of the road. My original plan had called for us to drive in on this road past the first unit to a wide spot by a small stream where we would set up our trailer. Clallam County Road Dept., being reluctant to expend time and effort clearing private logging roads, forced us to alter these plans and camp just off the paved road, blocking all access to the snow-choked logging road. After setting up camp which, for us, consisted of unhitching the trailer, making it somewhat level fore and aft, turning on the gas and lighting the pilot lights on the stoves and refrigerator, the work of about twelve minutes flat, we retired for the night.
I should note at this point that the reason for choosing this particular area was that a good friend of mine had logged that back unit and had seen elk nearly every day feeding in the front unit just at daylight. Our plan was to be in that unit just above the Hoko Road well before first light and see if we couldn’t ambush one of the big Roosevelt Elk that live there. To that end, we were up well before daylight, had a bite to eat and were headed up the road, climbing the mountain in the diminishing snowfall. Just about the time we were leaving camp, our bowstrings safely tucked into an inside pocket where they would stay warm, dry and serviceable, the falling snow changed to rain. It was not a heavy downpour like that ultra-wet country is capable of generating, but a soft, steady drizzle. It soaked everything… Snow… Trees…. Hunters….
On and on we slogged through the white expanse, climbing the steep grade that led to our goal. Although there was no moon out, the glow off the now melting snow afforded us ample light to see into the dark night without the use of flashlights. Careful we were to not get off the edge of the roadway for a fall into the adjacent canyon in the gloom of night could prove fatal. We were reluctant to show any light lest it be visible ahead of us and into the clearcut.
About thirty minutes before dawn, we reached the edge of the clearcut and decided to wait there where we could see the entire unit and await daylight. There were no tracks on the road, but we had expected none as we had the end of that road blockaded by our camp. The light, steady drizzle was doing its very best to work up into a full-blown downpour and the temperature had risen to well above freezing. That alone would make any tracks encountered to be very recent, indeed. In fact, I don’t believe a track in the open would be at all crisp and delineated after as little as a half-hour in these conditions.
Slowly, the skies began to grow brighter with the promise of a new day, a new creation, even. Stumps began to emerge from the black of night to belie Frank’s profound belief that they were a herd of elk feeding in the pre-dawn air. Just as one particularly majestic six-point bull disintegrated into its component parts consisting of a very nice Western Hemlock stump, a short length of cull log left as useless by the loggers and now sticking out of the snow at just the right angle to make a beautiful elk body topped with an advantageously placed branch pointing skyward in just the right place.
While watching the disintegration of the nice bull, a deer came off the bank behind us and walked slowly and quietly between Frank and I at a range from me of less than thirty feet (10 m). It was as if this deer knew that his season was closed and, hence, he was safe. More likely, the heavy air and falling rain did not allow our scent to travel far and I doubt he ever knew either of us was there.
He was not a large buck, merely a forked-horn, probably a two-year-old that weighed not more than a hundred pounds (45 kg) soaking wet, which he certainly was, along with everything else in these environs. These Columbian Blacktail Deer are not large deer under the best of circumstances and this particular animal was a youngster to boot. Slowly and cautiously he ventured step by precarious step past us and into the snow covered brush that was the clearcut. He was being extra cautious in his trek. I assumed then it was because of the poor conditions. Many times I have seen animals in similar diminished conditions behave in a like manner. When scenting and hearing conditions deteriorate, they become ultra-wary and extremely reluctant to trust their usually keen senses. Often they will lay up tight and not move until conditions improve for them.
When this little buck had placed enough distance between us that he was beginning to blend in with the stumps, he suddenly came to a stop, his head up, his ears erect as he stared into the darkness before him. What he was seeing, I had no clue. But, seeing something he certainly was. As he peered intently before him, he slowly raised one front foot then quickly stomped the snowy ground before him while emitting a quick snort through his nose. This is a behavior I have observed many, many times when a deer has spotted something out of place before him, but cannot decipher what he is seeing. Personally, I believe it to be one of two things… either it is an attempt to get whatever it is seeing to move, the easier to identify it… or, it is a warning to other deer in the area that something is amiss. This would be similar to the stotting of the Mule Deer, the stiff-legged bounce that can be heard for a considerable distance, putting every deer around to flight. Perhaps it is a combination of the two, but whatever it is, it was effective in this case as there came a “woof” out of the night sounding like, but not precisely the same as the huffing of a bear as he feeds his way among the rotted logs and such. I heard it quite clearly and I have heard the wuffing of many bears and the point must be made that, while it was reminiscent of that, it was not that! It was enough different that I immediately shot straight up off my stump/seat. The deer, too, was alarmed as he wheeled quickly and sped back towards us, passing so close that Frank had to dive behind a stump into the snow to avoid being hit by the escaping deer.
Frank hurried over to my position as fast as he could negotiate the snow. “What in Holy Hell was that?” he yelled loudly with his eyes approximately the size of dinner plates.
“Shush,” I admonished him. “I don’t know what it was, but I do know that deer didn’t like it, so I think we should stay right where we are. It will be light enough to see within the next thirty to forty minutes to possibly an hour, depending on the density of the cloud cover. We can see what’s up then.
Reluctantly, Frank retraced his steps to his stump and resumed his vigil. It was a vigil, he later related to me, “that took so damn long that I was sure I’d have a beard down to my belt line before it ever got light!”
When light covered the land sufficiently, I whistled to him to come to my position. When he got there approximately one and a half seconds later, I was moved to ask if he had been shot there by a large rubber band. Frank was shaken, I could see that. It was so much so that I asked him if he wanted to go back to the trailer. His head bobbing up and down so hard that I thought his wool stocking cap was going to shoot right off his head told me that he’d done about all the hunting he was up for on this morning. I told him to just follow the road right back down the mountain and he’d run right into camp.
“You’re not coming?” he asked plaintively.
“Oh, heavens no,” I answered. “I came out her to arrow an elk and the conditions are almost perfect for hunting, so I’ll be danged if I’ll quit now. Besides, I want to find the tracks and see what it was that made that sound.”
“Damn it, Thom,” he pleaded, “don’t do that! It’s just too spooky. Let’s go back to camp now.”
“Go ahead, Frank,” I suggested, gesturing down the trail, “but I’m going on. There are elk here. I’ve caught their odor a few times this morning and I want one.”
With that, I simply turned and started walking up the road, intending to cross the cutting unit and then glass it from the far side. Also, if my deductions were correct, whatever had made that noise should have crossed the road either coming or going. I was a bit amused to hear a thoroughly exasperated Frank immediately behind me… so close that if I’d have reached into my hip pocket for a handkerchief, I’d have shaken hands with Frank!
We had moved less than a quarter-mile (400 m) further into the snowy expanse when I spotted something on top of the snow just ahead. As I made my way to it, I wondered what it could be. What I discovered amazed even me. What had caught my eye was fresh mud on top of the snow. And, what had been the source of the fresh mud were fresh tracks in the snow… Humanoid tracks… approximately seventeen inches (43 cm) long and a third to a half as wide. The distinct impression of five very human-like toes so clearly defined told me that these tracks were no more than an hour old, probably less.
Investigation told the story. This humanoid creature was carrying/dragging something with him. The hairs I found indicated it was, most likely, a deer. At the base of the fill over the culvert at the intersection of his trail with the road, he had stepped into a muddy spot, sinking deeply into the slushy muck found there. Obviously, he had stopped on reaching the level surface of the road, placed his burden on the ground and had taken time to clean some of the mud from his lower body. It was this mud he had cleaned off himself that had drawn my eye. He then recovered his load and, stepping off the road, continued on to the south from that point. His stride was tremendous, nearly twice mine and I am six feet four inches (193 cm) tall and cursed by those that hike with me for my long strides. Yet, mine were as a child’s when compared to his.
I had been talking softly to myself while working out this scenario as is my wont at such times. Finally, satisfied that I knew all there was to know about this, I turned to Frank. The specter that greeted me was absolutely hilarious and told me that he, too, had a good idea what had transpired here. He was as white as the snow itself. His mouth was opening and closing seemingly of its own volition, with no discernable effort on his part. Poor Frank looked very much like he was trying to articulate great words and thoughts but nothing was coming out. It was as if his mouth had been disconnected from the rest of his being and was left on its own. The poor guy looked very much like a goldfish without the bowl! I’m sorry now that I did it. At the time I had no real choice… it was all I could do… I laughed… Oh, how I did laugh. My sides hurt and my eyes ran with tears. It is a small wonder that I did not wet my pants, such was my laughter… I was totally beyond control. I have never in my life, before or since, seen such a sight.
When I finally calmed enough to control my mirth, I said, “Well, Bud, there is the source of our “woof” from earlier.”
He just looked at me, his eyes wide. Finally, at long last, he found words and uttered a shaky, “I-is t-t-that what I t-think it is?”
“Yes,” I responded with a grin, “It certainly is! Exciting, isn’t it?”
With a look of sheer dread in his eyes, telling me he knew the answer to his question before he asked it, he said quietly, “Can we go now?”
I explained to him that he was free to go if he wished, but I was following those tracks. I simply wanted to learn more and this was the closest I had ever been to one of these creatures. I was not about to lose this opportunity. I had him close and had perfect tracking conditions. This was my best opportunity to get much closer to the creature we knew as Sasquatch. While this news did not seem to rank among the top ten things Frank wanted to hear just then, he was not about to go off by himself any time soon, so I was blessed with a partner in my quest… at least for the near future.
As I could see the direction of our creature’s travel led back to the standing timber very near the point where our road entered that timber, I chose to follow the road to that point, intending to leave the road there and enter the dark timber on his track and see where it took us.
One positive aspect of this state of affairs, I suppose, was that at no time did I ever have to wonder where Frank was or to where he had wandered. I don’t believe he was ever more that six feet (2 m) from me and this was on wide open ground. It was to be expected then, I guess, that when I stopped suddenly he would ram me from behind.
This is precisely what happened when, just at the edge of the timber, I spotted a cougar track and stopped to point it out to Frank. In retrospect, I probably should not have further burdened his already over-taxed central nervous system with this rare and chance find. He did not take the news well. I never thought, however, it would cause the reaction that followed for the track was hours old… only still there because it was back under the protection of the canopy of snow-laden trees, safe there in a pocket away from the falling water. Already, nearly all of its mates were gone. A few were mere smudges in the snow, recognizable for what they were only because of the presence of that one clear print. As I started to explain to Frank, this was a younger cat, not yet full grown… probably just on its own away from its mother.
All this logic and calm thinking was lost on poor Frank. That the track was many hours old did not even register in his over-fevered mind. All he could do was begin muttering, “GET me out of here…Get me OUT of here… Get me out of HERE…” The volume rising with each iteration, of which there were at least ten.
At this point with a half-crazed man in my care, I had no choice but to abandon my search and see to Frank. Besides, by now, he was shouting at the top of his lung capacity, causing snow to fall from the branches of the trees around us. He had obviously reached the limit of his endurance. To continue further could have been dangerous, if not to me, at least to him.
“OK, Frank,” I smiled calmingly at him, “let’s head on out. You stay close behind me (some of the most superfluous instructions ever uttered… somewhat akin to ‘take cover’ on December Seventh in Pearl Harbor…) and we’ll head back for breakfast. I think every critter within five miles (8 km) knows exactly what and where we are after that outburst.
By this time it had rained sufficiently that the snow load on the brush and trees was beginning to slip off, allowing the weighted down shrubs to spring back to their “pre-snow” positions. Each time this happened there was the sound the snow falling off and the whoosh of the branch popping up. This is what triggered that involuntary reaction in poor, overwrought Frank… With each release, he would utter a loud, sharp yelp… somewhat like what one would hear upon inadvertently stepping on the tail of small dog… and he’d jump straight into the air while simultaneously executing a perfect 360 degree spin while airborne.
“At least,” I smiled to myself and thought silently, reluctant to share negative thoughts concerning his demeanor with Frank just now, “I don’t have to worry about anything sneaking up on us from behind!”

Upcoming Events

The Believe It Tour will be hosting the first ever Champ Camp in Button Bay, Vermont.

The event will take place the weekend of July 23-25 and the registration price of $58 will include a campsite for the weekend, a cruise on Lake Champlain aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allan (not his ghost, but a boat named after him) and admission to attend all of the workshops.

Limited space available! ACT FAST!

Open Message to The Bigfootery Enquirer

Hey Coward! I see you are still fascinated by everything I do!

First of all, it was karaoke at a bar! (OMG yes we were at a bar!) Not American Idol!

Yes there may have been a drink or two involved, but guess what? Your precious Autumn Williams was participating too!

I am sick of you and your cowardly ways! I bet if you ever revealed your true identity we would find lots of fault with you! BAD AND UGLY as well!

So now my crime is I weigh more and sing worse than Autumn Williams. What next?

I go to these events to socialize and bond with Bigfoot Enthusiasts all over the country.

I'm not claiming to be the next John Greene or Peter Byrne.

I'm just a girl living her life and not bothering anyone.

You should try it.

Oh, and I am sure this will send a rush of blood to your tiny penis, but yes, you managed to make me upset and cry. I know you aren't worth it, but just so you know, the things you say are hurtful and cause pain to others.

Enoch

The story of Enoch, by Autumn Williams is a great read! From start to finish the reader becomes wrapped up in the world of Mike, who tells the story of his life to Autumn.

In the fall of 2009, Mike contacted Autumn and began to reveal to her his stories about life with Enoch, his comrade the Skunk Ape.

Mike tells Autumn about his life and distrust of humanity. He tells her that she is the only bigfoot "researcher/celebrity", that he can trust.

He shuns tree-knocking, trail cams and other futile research methods.

Autumn has never met "Mike" in person.

Autumn has spent the past 8 months listening to Mike's stories and ultimately, wrote and self-published her book, which was available for sale at the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium this past weekend.

One of two things is going to happen after all 4000 bigfoot enthusiasts who purchase bigfoot related books, finish reading.

If it is a true account, then it is the Holy Grail. Soon to be the Bible of Bigfoot research.

"If not true, it may be the best piece of Bigfoot fiction I have ever read."

Autumn plans to meet Mike in the fall. I wish her a safe and rewarding adventure.

Where is Billy Willard When You Need HIm?

Theories abound: Did Bigfoot crush roof of town manager’s car?
StarExponent.com
Staff Photo, Allison Brophy Champion

BIGFOOT WAS HERE? The top of a 2000 Ford Contour, used by Culpeper Town Manager Jeff Muzzy, was flattened last week. Culpeper Town Police are investigating the incident.
Allison Brophy Champion, abrophy@starexponent.com , (540) 825-0771 ext. 101
Published: June 22, 2010
» 0 Comments | Post a Comment
vote
nowBuzz up!

In an unconfirmed report, Bigfoot visited the town of Culpeper last week, leaving a massive dent on the top of the town manager’s work car.

On a more serious note, someone — or something — flattened the top of the 2000 Ford Contour as it sat parked in the lot at town hall.

Culpeper Town Manager Jeff Muzzy, contacted Monday, was at a loss as to what happened.

“It looks like something fell or jumped up and down on it for several minutes,” he said. “I do not think this is personal. In fact, I had not even thought of that as a possibility.”

Though the older model car is assigned to him for work use, Muzzy said he rarely drives it. Instead, the car is more often used by other town hall staff members, he said.

The car is parked farthest out from town hall and closest to Main Street — within a stone’s throw from 7-Eleven. It sits not far from the back entrance to the law offices of Monica Chernin as well.

The car is not identifiable as the town manager’s work car and is parked in a spot reserved, more generally, for town staff.

Muzzy said the town filed an insurance claim for the damage, but he doubted it would result in much money due to the vehicle’s age. The Contour, is still drivable, he said, and was away from its parking spot and in use Monday morning.

“To me, someone just wandered over there and said, ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be fun to jump on that car?’ I hate to even give them credit for it,” Muzzy said.

He acknowledged town staffers are still talking about the strange incident. Many theories — including the Bigfoot one — have been tossed around.

Or maybe it was a bear, some have jokingly speculated.

The damage was reported to police, and the incident is being investigated as vandalism.

Scientists may have found the great, great, great, etc., grandfather of the famous fossil Lucy. A new partial skeleton of an early hominid known as Australopithecus afarensis was discovered in a mud flat of the Afar region of Ethiopia. Dated about 3.6 million years ago, the find is about 400,000 years older than the famous Lucy, which was among the earliest upright walking hominids, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The bones indicate this ancestor also walked upright, but was considerably larger than Lucy, who stood about 3.5 feet tall.

Sasquatch Phonetic Alphabet

On Sunday June 20th, R. Scott Nelson presented his findings from his 2+ years of research on the Sierra sound recordings obtained by Al Berry and Ron Morehead in the 1970's.

His presentation was delivered as an urgent plea for all researchers who have recorded audio of the vocalizations of what they suspect to be of a Sasquatch nature, to immediately begin deciphering their data by using the Sasquatch Phonetic Alphabet that he has created.

It is Mr. Nelson's belief that we will be able to learn so much more about the Bigfoot by learning their language rather than from footprint casts, hair samples or blurry photographs.

Scott Nelson retired from a successful career with the U.S. Navy as a crypto-linguist. He has many years of experience in deciphering and transcribing many conversations in foreign languages.

The following information has been cleared for publication and I will share it with you at this time.

Fm: R. Scott Nelson
To: Sasquatch Research Community

Re: Sasquatch Phonetic Alphabet (SPA) (attached)

Since I became involved in Sasquatch research a little over two years ago, I have received dozens of e-mails from around the country involving first-hand witness accounts, many containing recorded audio files, of perceived Sasquatch Language. Virtually all of these have included an attempt to spell out Sasquatch “words” using Standard English. This is of little value to the language researcher, since English is notoriously non-phonetic and is subject to widely-varied local dialects.

Since our ultimate goal is the recovery of Sasquatch Language, I have found it necessary to establish a phonetic alphabet and transcription standard (based on the transcription of the Berry/Morehead tapes), by which the contrast and comparison of all future suspected language can be facilitated.

To this end, as an invaluable tool in the future of Sasquatch Language research, I am requesting that the attached standard be published on research web-sites and that it be copied and distributed freely. With this, I am also requesting that local investigators begin using this alphabet as soon as possible to accurately document any perceived Sasquatch Language.

This standard should not be limited to first-hand witness accounts or recordings from North America, but should be used by investigators world-wide, since most languages have many of the same non-phonetic characteristics as English. The work is written in the style of a military SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).

It is my belief that there is nothing more important, at this early stage of Sasquatch Language study, than to standardize the documentation of evidence.

With highest regard for all those engaged in the work of Sasquatch recognition;

R. Scott Nelson

SPA Documents
Sasquatch Phonetic Alphabet and Transcription Standard
Submitted by R. Scott Nelson

The Sasquatch Phonetic Alphabet (SPA) will alternately be known by the more formal denomination, Unclassified Hominid Phonetic Alphabet (UHPA), until such time as the subject Being is scientifically classified, or documented linguistic contact has been established. “Sasquatch” is used here as a generally accepted term for the subject Being. A variation of the English Reformed Phonetic Alphabet is used, as transcribed from the Berry/Morehead Tapes (BMT).
The existence of the Sasquatch Being is hereby assumed, since any creature must exist before his language. Any argument for the existence of Sasquatch or his language should be given outside of this standard and outside any transcription endeavor that uses this standard. Transcripts should stand alone as tools for the language researcher; whereas SPA transcripts and excerpts should be freely used in other works to support linguistic arguments.
The purpose of this is to standardize all future transcription of suspected Sasquatch Language and to facilitate comparison of language articulations by future researchers; the ultimate goal being the recovery of Sasquatch Language.
Sasquatch Language is spoken approximately twice as fast as any known language in most analyzed recordings, therefore it must be slowed down to be transcribed accurately. 50% of real-time will be the standard; transcription at any other speed will be noted, e.g. (75%). Real-time will be noted as (rt). Tape-time hacks will be given as minute:second.1/100thsecond, e.g. 17:23.54.
Since this is an unknown language, transcribed for the first time, the grammar and syntax of it, likewise, cannot be known. Therefore, to differentiate between small and capital letters is useless and misleading. Sasquatch articulations will be transcribed using capital letters, human voices are to be transcribed by the standards of the language that is spoken (proper English, Russian, etc.). This eases reading of the transcripts when human and Sasquatch voices are mixed or alternating. Since words cannot be known, and only suspected in cognates, Sasquatch utterances will be given as individual morphemes (or syllables). An umlaut (Ä) is used rather than a macron (-) to avoid confusion with the English use of the same symbol.
Small letters within parenthesis will be used, in accordance with military transcription standards, to abbreviate specific notes, e.g. (2-3m) to mean (two or three words or morphemes are missing or inaudible here). Untranscribable vocalizations such as grunts or screams will be noted with capital letters within parenthesis, e.g. (G) or (SC). An abbreviation key follows the phonetics key.
Any document using this alphabet should be labeled (SPA) or (UHPA).
Use in first-hand witness accounts:
This alphabet is not intended to be used solely for the transcription of recorded language, but will be highly useful in first-hand witness accounts of Sasquatch phenomena where the witness perceived spoken language. Researchers, when documenting witness accounts, should endeavor to transcribe each Sasquatch utterance as accurately as possible using this alphabet. As an invaluable aid to the language researcher, several questions should be asked of the witness to correlate with the utterances of the Sasquatch Being:
What was occurring at the moment of each specific utterance?
How many Sasquatch Beings do you believe were present; how many were speaking?
Did you feel that the Sasquatch Beings were speaking to each other or to you (the witness)?
What do you think the Being was trying to communicate?
What do you feel was the emotional state of the Being (for each specific utterance)?
Was there interrogative inflection in the utterance (did it sound like a question)?
Was there imperative or command inflection in the utterance (did it sound like the Being was telling you or another Sasquatch to do or not do something)?
___
This alphabet is expected to grow as additional verified recordings of Sasquatch Language are collected and analyzed, and new extra-human articulations are documented. For example; the well-documented howls, whoops, growls, screams and whistles of Sasquatch may someday be found to have linguistic meaning; wood- and rock-knocking or tooth-popping may be found to be encoded. It should not be discounted that manipulated tree, limb and stick formations could be graphic expressions of Sasquatch Language, much like runic or pictographic human writing systems.
Since auditory perception is subject to the same limitations of all human perception, review and revision of any transcript by other qualified Crypto-Linguists or voice- transcription experts should be welcomed. With the recovery of Sasquatch Language being the anticipated outcome, cooperation and consensus between language researchers should be the first rule of this study.
The first two pages of Berry Tape I transcription are attached as an example of the prescribed usage of this alphabet.

Phoneme Key
Ä = a in father
A = a in can
B = b in bib
D = d in did
Ë = a in make
E = e in set
F = f in fife
G = g in gag
H = h in ham
Ï = i in machine, ee in meet
I = i in sit
J = y in yes, i in union
K = k in kite, c in cut
L = l in lull
M = m in mom
N = n in nine
Ö = o in lone
O = o in log
P = p in pipe
R = r in roar
Rr = rolled r, as in Spanish or in Scottish Brogue
S = s in sister
T = t in tight
Ü = u in plume, oo in boot
U = u in run, o in union
V = v in verve
W = w in way
Y = oo in book
Z = z in zebra, s in is
′ = glottal stop
c = tongue click, not evident in BMT
> = phoneme drawn out

Compound Phonemes
ÄÏ = i in like, y in my
JÜ = as in you, u in fume
KH = ch in Scottish loch, x in Spanish Quixote, x in Russian (khah)
SJ = sh in shirt
TSJ = ch in church
ZJ = z in azure, s in treasure
DZJ = j in jail, g in age
NG = ng in sing
Δ (Greek Delta) = th in then
Θ (Greek Theta) = th in thin

Abbreviation Key
(rt) = transcribed at real-time
(75%) = transcribed at a speed other than 50%
(h) = human vocalization
(1-2m) = one or two words or syllables are missing or inaudible here
(int) = interrogative inflection
(dr) = Inflected as a direct response
(imp) = imperative inflection
(w) = whispered
(q) = very low audibility, quiet, almost imperceptible at normal speeds
(im) = human imitating a creature
(ma) = possible male Sasquatch Being
(fe) = possible female Sasquatch Being
(ju) = possible juvenile Sasquatch Being
(G) = grunt, growl or grumble, possible language
(W) = whistle or squeak, possible language
(SN) = snarl, possible language
(SC) = scream, possible language
(TP5) = tooth pop, number in sequence, possible language, not evident in BMT
(WK3) = wood knock, number in sequence, possible language
(RK4) = rock knock, number in sequences, possible language


BERRY TAPE I

Transcribed by R. Scott Nelson


Time Utterance

0:4.5 (W) (W)

0:8.62 (W) (W) (W)

0:15.11 RAM HO BÄ RÜ KHÄ HÜ

0:16.70 WAM VO HÜ KHÖ KHU′

0:17.52 NÖ U PLÄ MEN TI KHU

0:18.82 NÄR LÄ

0:20.21 NA GÖ KÜ STEP GÄ KÜ BLEM

0:21.25 Ü KÜ DZJÄ

0:21.76 FRrÄP E KHÜK LE

0:22.65 ÜN Ï KÜ O GÜ AKH (int)

0:23.85 DÖ WÄÏ NÖ (dr)

0:24.52 MÜ Ï FWI KÖ PÏ KHU′ SJ΄

0:31.43 (ma) HU Ö NÖ> KHÄ HÜ

0:32.95 PLEN DÜTSJ TISJ

0:33.61 SÏ DZJAÖ GLÖ PÜ MËKH

0:34.90 PÄ KHÏ KÖ DÜ TÜ SEKSÏ

0:35.88 WA HEP DÜ TSJE DÜ FU HEP

0:36.95 (ma) FI KÜ ÄÏ> KHÜ′

0:44.80 FÄ LIP ÄBÄSJ KHU′

0:45.03 NE VER GÖ ΄ ÖM KHU′

0:47.03 FÖ WÄ Ï>

0:48.08 WA KHU΄ KVÄM

0:49.16 ITS KÄÏM VÄR US FO RI ZIS TENS

0:51.27 MÖ> FER BÏ KEN JÄ Ä VÄÖN SÏ RYK MI RO GHAP –
GÏ GO WYP

0:53.66 MÏ WÄTSJ FYD PLËN FYD NÜ AÖ> KHE KHU′

0:55.34 NÖ ÄÏ ÄKHSJ HÜ

0:57.13 (h) Come on, boy.

0:58.04 (h) Come on, let’s eat.

1:00.93 BÏ KAER FYL NAÖ PRÖS GYD

01.87 NÖÄ Ö JA LET KHE

02.99 MÖÏ PISJ FE KHE KHU′

(h) Come on.
1:11.58 KHU BEK
1:12.63 KHËÄ KHU′
1:13.77 Ä LÄF
1:14.46 MÖ VE KHÜ
1:14.86 LAF KHU′
1:15.35 NÖ KHÏÄ
1:16.01 KHÖ VË ÄER ZÏ RÄ KIL WÄ KÜ ′ÜSJ
1:17.49 BÜ GÄ TÄÏSJ KHU′

Now many scofftics will argue that before we recognize this language, we must first acknowledge that these creatures do indeed exist.

For those of you who have seen a Bigfoot, you probably won't have a problem with his findings.

There are some of you who will turn up your noses and begin shredding every word in these documents. No harm, it's what you do.

Points to consider:

How do we know if Bigfoots in Washington, use the same language as Bigfoots in Ohio?

Is the SPA to be considered the "root" language, allowing for cultural variations and adaptation? Such as humans use many words derived from Latin and Greek origins.

Mr. Nelson has taken this under much consideration and I am sure he will answer your questions and comments as they are presented.

Please use this website to add your comments and insight and I will forward them to Scott for explanation and rebuttal.

If you would like a copy of these Word documents, please send the request to:
sharonlee@thebigfootfieldreporter.com

Oregon Sasquatch Symposium, Breakdown

Oregon Sasquatch Symposium, Breakdown

I never thought I'd utter the words "the beautiful Ohio weather" but that is what I said as I left the 80 degree days to head out to Eugene, Oregon where the temps were expected to be in the low to mid 60's as the high! But, alas, the Bigfoot Field Reporter goes where the action is.

Friday was a day for meeting up with old friends and hanging out for awhile before the festivities began. Several of us headed out for lunch and a visit to the Museum of Unfine Art to observe the local Sasquatch art on display. It was amazing to see how the artists portray their version of Bigfoot. The pieces varied in price from $45 to over $300; if I had more money, I would have bought them all.

We then headed over to the Red Lion Inn for the pre-symposium Meet and Greet and I had to prepare for the live radio show. Well, as many of you know, that turned into a train wreck due to loss of signal and other malfunctions. I did however record some interviews and will piece together a pre-recorded show for your listening pleasure.

There were about 50 people in the room. Bob Gimlin, Paul Graves, Jerry Hein. Jerry made buttons for some of us with our pictures on them. He is so sweet!

I finally got to meet Toby Johnson, the coordinator of the event. He really did a heck of a job and does a phenomenal Neil Diamond! Henry May was there as well as Autumn Williams, Kathy and Bob Strain, Thom Cantrall, Jeff Meldrum, Craig Woolheater, Sali Sheppard-Wolford, Cliff Barackman and so many more!

After the crash and burn of the radio show, we headed down to the lounge for some Bigfoot Karaoke. Due to the absence of Tom Yamarone we were forced to entertain ourselves! Wow. Talk about a fun night! I was doing a little smack talking with Autumn and challenged her to a sing-off. It was on...I think I will take the high road here and concede that she won the match by a very slim margin. Just you wait missy!

I can't believe I had so much fun on the very first day! I am in love with the west coast squatchers, they are so amazing.

Artwork from the Museum of Unfine Art

KATU Report on the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium

Have you seen Bigfoot? Better head to Eugene meetup


EUGENE, Ore. - Hiding behind many names - Wild man, Sasquatch, Yeti, Bigfoot - our furry friend has been noted and talked about through history.

Starting June 19, Lane Community College's first Sasquatch Symposium will take place, allowing for believers, and those curious to discuss their experiences and learn more about the alleged creature.

Fact is, more than a thousand people have reported some sort of Sasquatch sighting or experience in Oregon. "It's something that seems to be happening in our own backyard," said Toby Johnson, an organizer of the symposium.

His Bigfoot experience dates back to a cold February morning years ago. "I was on a hike with my son not far from Springfield," Johnson said. They came across a large footprint in the frozen mud and took a picture of it.

"You can see the five toes clearly," he said.

And he was hooked, which is why he helped create the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium at Lane Community College this weekend.

Oregon has more than 30 million acres of forest land, that's nearly half the state, and Oregon believers say that may be why Bigfoot has been able to stay hidden.

In addition to witnesses there will also be Big Foot researchers like Oregon's Autumn Williams. She is the keynote speaker. On top of being a witness herself, she has been hunting Big Foot for nearly 20 years and recently released a documentary about her search. She also owns and operates one of biggest Bigfoot websites in the West.

Now of course there are many non-believers of the Oregon Sasquatch. To this day many scientists discount the existence of Bigfoot and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification and hoax.

But for people like Johnson, a once in a lifetime experience is all it takes. "When you talk to someone who has seen one of these things, you get the feeling they are absolutely authentic," Johnson said.

The 911 Calls From Tim Peeler

I cannot get the first call to embed...

The second call:

He sounds really drunk...maybe he is in shock, I don't know...I don't want to waste my time going down there to investigate this if this is a hoax...

Other Knobby sightings

•21 Dec. 1978 Toluca, North Carolina Minnie Cook (88) Saw "Knobby" outside her house. Tracks found and screams heard in the area of Carpenter's Knob, and other sightings reported.

•Late Dec. 1978 Casar, North Carolina Sammy Price While working in backyard, heard high-pitched scream and saw 6-7-ft "tree" which started to walk.

•Late Dec. 1978 Casar, North Carolina Kay Price Day after previous sighting, heard scream and saw "Knobby" eating soybean crop in field.

•15 Jan. 1979 Casar, North Carolina Mrs. Kay Price, Gaye (18) & Wanda Smith Saw "Knobby" by road, Gaye went closer.

•Late spring 1979 South Mountain (located within 10 miles of Casar), North Carolina Fisherman Saw black shape run into undergrowth; next day shot at same creature...

News Interview of Sasquatch Witness

Thank you Dwayne for sending me this link! :)

View

Good Old Knobby

Bigfoot afoot? Local legend resurfaces after reported sighting near Casar
Monday, Jun 14 2010, 10:00 am
David Allen

Legend speaks of an ape-like creature who called Upper Cleveland County home in the late 1970s.

Robert Williams, then covering the news for Charlotte media outlets, named him “Knobby,” a towering beast many considered as the resident Bigfoot.

Williams never saw Knobby — “I only wrote what I was told.”

Knobby stories flew overseas, Williams said, drawing interest from New Zealand and beyond. Newspaper articles from 1979 detail more than a dozen Knobby sightings and investigations by the North American Research Association and researchers from a university in Massachusetts. But the rumors and sightings near Carpenter’s Knob — hence the creature’s name — mysteriously stopped decades ago.

Then, Timothy Peeler called 911.

Read the entire story here

First Annual Oregon Sasquatch Symposium

After a long, quiet winter, the Bigfoot Field Reporter Radio show will be returning this Friday at 11:30 p.m. est live from the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium pre-conference.

The show will be archived for those of you who can't stay up that late on a Friday night!

Hopefully blogtalk radio will cooperate and everything will run smoothly, but, we know better, right?

Bookmark the page and set your reminders on your calendars!

The Bigfoot Field Reporter Radio Show

Looking for a few good Squatchers

If you are in the Cincinnati/Dayton/KY area and would like to hit the woods with like minded people, send me your name and email address and I will connect you with others like yourself!

Sometimes it is hard to find people who have the same goal in mind that you do.

You don't really want to join an organization, you don't need someone else telling you what to do and where you can go and what you can talk about. I get it.

You are not alone!

If you would like to share your location information, I will try to network and bring as many people together as I can!

Have faith!

Oregon Sasquatch Symposium

Annual Oregon Sasquatch Symposium Eugene,Oregon 2010

Join us in the beautiful and cozy Willamette Valley next year as we kick off the first annual "OSS" Oregon Sasquatch Symposium in Eugene, Oregon. This event will be held at Lane Community College in the Forum Hall. Seating is limited, and tickets are sure to go fast once they are released.

Read more

I will be there Thursday - Sunday and will be hosting a live radio show from the event on Friday June, 18th. Stay tuned for more details!

Saturday's Picnic

On Saturday, a picnic was held in honor of Bob Gimlin and our other visiting guests.

Here are some pictures of the festivities.

Ohio Bigfoot Conference Recap

East Meets West

First of all, I'd like to thank Don Keating for organizing this annual event. Many people may not like Don, but he gets the job done.

So many people came from all over the United States, most of them come to this event every year, but so many more new attendees came just for the chance to meet the legend, Bob Gimlin. Thank you to Joyce Kearney for making this possible. She didn't care to be acknowledged for her "donation" to the conference, but I wanted to do it anyway.

On Thursday I drove down to Columbus to pick up our guests from Texas, Craig Woolheater and Jerry Hestand of the TBRC. Jerry was very excited as this was his first trip to Salt Fork State Park.

We got to the lodge, unpacked, and headed into Cambridge to dine at Theo's restaurant. I highly recommend this establishment and you must try the onion rings!

After dinner, Jerry wanted to do a little night squatching so I took him out to a few areas, the weather was beautiful. Nothing eventful happened and we headed back to the lodge around 1:30 a.m.

Friday morning, we all met for breakfast in the lodge and were joined by Dr. Jeff Meldrum. Bruce Harrington was just finishing his steak and eggs.
:)

I then had to head back to the Columbus airport to pick up Monica Rawlins of the TBRC. We headed back to the lodge, got her settled in, then headed out to our senior citizens dinner (it was only 3pm) at Theo's with Marc Dewirth of the Ohio Bigfoot Researchers, Mike Esordi and Diana Smith of The Believe It Tour and 2 other gentlemen whose name I did not catch.

We hurried back to the lodge to get ready for the Meet and Greet.

This year, Don changed the format a little and the people were not as receptive. We went downstairs for the Meet and Greet and everyone was sitting in a conference room listening to Don speaking. Hey! We don't want to hear this! We want to Meet and Greet! Finally, Don released the hostages (just kidding) and the party started.

Mark and Kelly Lydic were there. Bob Durdella. My new Kentucky friends, Rex and his friend, James "Sparky" Sparks. Melissa Hovey, Wayne Larsen, Bruce Harrington, Eric Altman, Sean Forker and many more.

I was standing in the lobby when I saw who I thought was Diane Stocking coming towards me. I got a great big smile on my face and said "Hey" and she said..."No, I know what you're thinking..." then I realized it was her twin sister Donna from Florida. We laughed and chatted for a bit.

Of course Bob Gimlin and Tom Yamarone were there and they were introduced and greeted by people all night long.


At one point I was standing in a group of people and I turned around and there was Esteban Sarmiento standing behind me! That was such a surprise! We hugged and I promised him I would not give him a hard time at this conference. We had such a great time at the Texas Conference back in September.

As the evening progressed, a huge bonfire was prepared for the musical stylings of Tom Yamarone. Marshmallows were roasted, songs were sung and a great time was had by all.

To be continued indeedy!