Officer Delano Berube was running a radar speed trap along Ryder Road, about a mile south of Tub Mountain near Whitehall, New York.  It was early morning and there was not much traffic.  Officer Berube had his widow cracked as there was a light rain falling.

“That is when I first heard the screaming,” Berube, now retired told a table of Sasquatch Hunters at a recent convention, “Sounded like a wild animal and one of those ladies in the horror pictures.”

“I shut off the engine to get a better bead on the direction of the screams and was just about to radio it in, when the bushes a few feet in front of my cruiser shook like we were in a terrible winter storm, unnatural like.  Especially, since there was hardly a breeze that morning.”

Police-and-bigfoot“I turned on my headlights and that must have startled it.  Because out from the bush, stepping right on to the road, was an 8 foot hairy creature.  The life I lead flashed before my eyes when we two locked gazes.  It was pure evil, I could feel its chilly soul in that hungry gaze.”

“If you remember, I had switched off my cruiser, which I realized when the beast started toward me.  In a pure moment of training, I flipped on the overhead cherries and siren.  The Bigfoot stopped dead in the road.  It threw its hands up over its ears.   Then turned its left shoulder down, just like a running back would the moment of a hand off.”

“I knew it planned on ramming right into my cruiser, but its pause was just enough time for me to start the car and throw her into drive.  I peeled out.  Just was the creature was about to shoulder into my hood, I took evasive maneuver and the damn thing hit the side of the car instead.  Banged it up good.  Had to replace the door, in fact.”

“I half expected the car to flip, but it kept going.  The creature took chase, it was fast enough to stay about three car lengths behind me.  Grunting and growling the whole time.  It finally broke off when I crossed over Wood Creek.  Damned thing just stopped and screeched bloody murder.”

v1Seattle, WA –February 24th, 2015– The new horror film Valley of the Sasquatch recently began its film festival run with a world premiere last weekend at the Nevermore Film Festival in North Carolina. But for writer/director John Portanova, the process of bringing this story of a fractured family battling a tribe of angry Sasquatch to life was years in the making.

“Growing up I spent most of my free time studying cryptozoology and the unknown,” Portanova said. “Instead of going outside and playing for recess, I would read books from the 001 section of the library about encounters with Bigfoot or alien abductions. My after school viewing habits consisted of watching paranormal investigation shows such as Unsolved Mysteries or Sightings. Years later when I graduated from film school, I took some time off so I could write my first real screenplay. There was only one idea that really inspired me: making a scary and action-packed movie that respected the history of Sasquatch.”

Portanova continues, “Within the film there is a moment where the character of Will (played by D’Angelo Midili) tells the story of a Sasquatch attack on a mining cabin that took place on Mount St. Helens in 1924. Some of my favorite movies are siege films, especially the classics Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). So, inspired by the Mount St. Helens story, I set out to write a Bigfoot siege film. I created some characters who find themselves in a similar situation, where they’re trapped in a cabin and Bigfoot is trying to break its way in.”

“There are also references to other Sasquatch classics sprinkled throughout the script,” adds Portanova. “The character of Bauman (played by Bill Oberst Jr.) is named after a character who appeared in Teddy Roosevelt’s book The Wilderness Hunter in 1892. Within the book Roosevelt relayed the story of a man named Bauman who encountered Sasquatch while out trapping with a guide. This story always fascinated me because it’s one of the only references I’ve seen to Bigfoot taking a human life. The opening of the film features a fictional take on this story, set in present day with our Bauman. A larger subplot later in the film took inspiration from the story of Albert Ostman, who said that he was kidnapped by a family of Bigfoot for six days in 1924. In our film, a character finds himself in a similar situation with a much angrier group of Sasquatch.”

“With Valley of the Sasquatch I wanted to tell an engaging story for the cryptozoology community,”
Portanova concludes. “I’ve seen a lot of Bigfoot films and have never been completely satisfied with them outside of some of the 70s classics such as The Legend of Boggy Creek or Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot. They usually portray the creature as a bloodthirsty monster, treat the whole thing like some big joke, or are shot found footage style. Within the script and shooting of Valley I made sure to treat Sasquatch with respect. It isn’t a slasher film that just replaces Jason Voorhees with a Bigfoot, it isn’t full of cheap CGI and stupid characters, and it wasn’t shot on a handycam. I hope that the film will appeal to horror fans looking for a dramatic creature feature full of old school practical effects as much as it appeals to Sasquatch enthusiasts looking for a film that understands and respects the history of the creature.”

Valley of the Sasquatch is the directorial debut of writer/director John Portanova. It stars David Saucedo (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones), Bill Oberst Jr. (Resolution), Jason Vail Abraham
Lincoln vs. Zombies), D’Angelo Midili (The Invoking), and Miles Joris-Peyrafitte (Gut).

The film is a co-production between The October People (Found) and Votiv Films (Obvious Child). You can keep up with future festival screenings and news by following the film on its Facebook page (Facebook.com/ValleyoftheSasquatch) or on Twitter (@SasquatchHorror).

Valley of the Sasquatch Synopsis:

After losing their home following a devastating tragedy, a father and son are forced to move to an old family cabin. Neither reacts well to being thrown into this new world. The son’s attempts to relate to his father are complicated when two old friends arrive for a weekend of hunting. This trip into the forest will unearth not only buried feelings of guilt and betrayal, but also a tribe of Sasquatch that are determined to protect their land.

About The October People:

The October People is a film production company based out of Seattle, WA and San Diego, CA. 2014 saw the home video releases of their first three award-winning films: the psychological horror story The Invoking, the coming-of-age slasher film Found, and the alien abduction thriller The Device. More information on the company can be found at www.theoctoberpeople.net

Tony Sara, an oil rig worker, was hunting on his day off.  While the day was fairly cold, he did manage to bring down several small elk.  He had secured them in the bed of his truck, having recently purchased a meat rack, but neglecting to properly install it.

abominable-carWhile he sat in his truck eating his bag lunch and listening to the radio, he claims the truck started to rock back and forth.  At the same time, he heard growls and snorts and all sorts of heavy breathing.  Thinking that a polar bear was outside, Sara grabbed his rifle and started to open the door.

Since all the windows of his cab were steamed up, he could not see outside before cracking the driver’s side door.  That is when he claims to have seen several tall shadowy creatures.  Over ten feet tall and covered in really thick, dark hair but with bare skin patches here and there.

One of the shadow creatures pushed down on the back end of his truck bed, while the other pawed and grabbed at the elk carcases.  Sara yelled at them to stop and step away from the truck.  But the creatures ignored him.  Once they had grabbed the elk, they bolted off together, toward the ocean.

Sara attempted to give chase in his truck, but both his back tires were blown out from the creature’s attack.

10996168_335578279973152_1661423416488850056_nCraig and Rachel Miller had let their dogs out for their morning pee.  It was 5 AM.  Rachel went to the back door to call the dogs back in, but neither responded to her calls.  Nor were either of the dogs visible in the yard.  Disgusted that they had run off again, probably chasing a skunk or deer that were often lurking along the edge of the yard.

Rachel called to Craig.  “Your dogs have run off again, honey,” she said as she slammed the bathroom door.  Swearing under his breath, Craig Miller pulled on his winter boots and stepped onto the snowy backyard deck.

Just as he was about to call out for the dogs, both of them raced past him, spilling his cup of coffee and almost knocking him over.  Both dogs were whimpering and had their tails lowered in submission.  As Craig turned to return to the warmth of the house, he caught a glimpse of a large hairy Bigfoot.

“It was stomping its huge bare feet in the snow.  It looked like it was brushing the snow from its thighs.  Then he looked up.  We made eye contact.  It was horrible.  Those eyes!  It stared at me for a good minute.  I must have dropped my coffee mug because I was no longer holding it. The bigfoot creature snarled at me, then slowly walked off toward the lake.”

Sweet Home, Oregon 2012

Witness Observed:

1535439_200772103453771_863947119_nCamping out archery hunting with 19 year old son. Heard what sounded like non-descript mumbling outside tent. Thought I was hearing things, went to sleep. Woke to hear foot steps outside tent heading to truck, something rustled around in the truck, thought it was my son. I rolled over to see my son shaking inside his sleeping bag. Before I awoke to the footsteps, he heard at least two different vocalizing/mumbling sounds with walking around our tent. They stopped on my side and he heard a loud vocalization type talking and saw a large hand push in the side of the tent using three fingers, about 4-5 inches. I was snoring and my son thought this might have attracted them. We waited inside the tent for a couple hours and could hear movement outside.

Nature called and we both went. I saw one standing behind the truck and he saw one duck behind a tree. We tried staying in the tent for another hour, but they wouldn’t go away. I got up went to the truck started it; one was about 30 yards behind truck just watching. We grabbed the tent and everything in it and without breaking it down, threw it in the truck and left. This went on from 11:00pm until 4:00am when we left.

Also Noticed: The one that touched and pushed in the tent a little did so when I was snoring. My son seemed to think it was curious, though my son was extremely scared.

 

Witness Observation

walkIn March 2005 at approximately 04:30, as reported by an individual called to the scene as part of the emergency response team, an individual was involved in a single-car accident on a highway through the Big Thicket National Preserve, Big Sandy Creek Unit.

Upon arriving to the scene, the response team found the individual still in the car; the car apparently rolled and ended up in the woods off the highway. The individual reportedly gained consciousness when the team arrived and then began to tell them what happened.

The individual remembered seeing a dark upright figure with long hair standing in the middle of the road. The height of the figure could have been anywhere between five feet and eight feet, and certainly bigger than a child. The individual remembered that the figure was facing the car and was standing erect. The individual honked the horn but the figure did not budge.

The individual swerved to miss the figure and came as close as twenty feet before veering off the highway and rolling the car. That is the last thing the individual remembered before crashing.

Time and Conditions

4:30 am – In the Big Thicket National Preserve, Big Sandy Creek Unit, south of the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation. Pine forests, hardwood bottoms. Impenetrable undergrowth.

Additional details:

* The individual remembered the face as appearing “fuzzy.”

* Although the individual had no idea what was standing upright “on the yellow lines in the middle of the highway,” the individual completely ruled out a human as a possibility. The individual told me that “even a drunk human” would have budged when the horn was honked; this figure simply would not move, and the motorist gave way. The individual repeatedly told me that they simply did not know what it was.

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Researchers eavesdropping on wild chimpanzees have determined that the primates communicate about at least two things: their favourite fruits and the trees where these fruits can be found.

Of particular interest to the chimps is the size of the trees bearing these fruits – the chimps yell out that information, according to a new study published in the journal Animal Behaviour.

The study is the first to find that information about tree size and available fruit amounts are included in chimp calls, in addition to assessments about food quality.

“Chimpanzees definitely have a very complex communication system that includes a variety of vocalisations, but also facial expressions and gestures,” says project leader Ammie Kalan of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

“How much it resembles human language is still a matter of debate,” she says, “but at the very least, research shows that chimpanzees use vocalisations in a sophisticated manner, taking into account their social and environmental surroundings.”

Kalan and colleagues Roger Mundry and Christophe Boesch spent over 750 hours observing chimps and analysing their food calls in the Ivory Coast’s Taï Forest. The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation in West Africa is working hard to try and protect this population of chimps, which is one of the last wild populations of our primate cousins.

The researchers found that higher pitched calls were produced when the chimps encountered fruits from Nauclea trees. Smaller trees elicited still higher pitched calls, while calls associated with bigger trees with more fruit were lower in pitch.

In short, the chimps seem to “talk” a lot about Nauclea fruits!

“I never tried these fruits myself, but they do smell very good in the forest,” Kalan says. “They are also quite big and easy to ingest, and we also know that they have a high energy content, which is important for wild animals.”

Source:http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/01/20/4165321.htm

These events took place in 1998-1999 on 200-acre farm my wife and I were renting outside of West Chester, Pennsylvania. As most of these occurrences happened throughout the year, it really ramped up in the winter months. Here’s what happened.

The secluded house we were renting with our four boys (young at the time) was a quarter of a mile from the road. Throughout the months, we began to notice odd noises in the night and had the feeling of being watched. Our bedroom window faced deep woods that bordered a corn field. We would hear odd grunting sounds, sudden foul whiffs of what can be described as a hot day at a zoo, and the ongoing sound of trees snapping by some unseen heavy object breaking branches.

One day in the fall, after clearing out brush in the northern part of the farm, I saw a huge shadow behind a tree not 30 feet from where I was unloading the leaves. It was a good size, whatever it was, and seemed interested in what I was doing. I got a whiff of that same foul odor. When I called out to see who was there, I got no response. I hightailed it back to the house. I didn’t tell my wife as I didn’t want to scare her or the kids.

It started to get worse. In January, we had a heavy winter storm blow through. The snow fell so heavily that several feet accumulated overnight. I went out to warm the car to get ready for work and noticed large footprints coming out of the woods. The scary thing was that they stopped near our bedroom window. They were the only prints visible. They were very large and spaced so far apart that I had to run and jump from print to print. I went to work mystified and a little shaken.

1794747_215318675332447_1173135888_nWhen I got to work, I called my wife on her cell and told her to locate my rifle and hang onto it. What she told me next sends shivers down my back just thinking about. She was sobbing hysterically, and when I calmed her down she told me why.

She said that the heavy snow and ice broke a tree branch and it had fallen on our power lines. When she went out investigate what happened, the ice was so thick on the snow that she fell and slid down about 30 feet from the house. As she started crawling back toward the house, she saw a tall, dark shape come toward her.

She described it as smelling awful, black hair all over it, and about seven feet tall. She couldn’t see its face. There are no bears in our area as we are rural to a city. It was so big and heavy it was breaking through the ice.

In a panic she scrambled as this creature came toward her. She made it back to the house, fell to the floor, and kicked the door shut behind her. She could hear the creature banging on the walls. She quickly got my rifle and took the boys to the back bedroom.

Eventually, the banging stopped and she could hear crunching snow leaving the front porch area. We don’t know if the creature was trying to help her or hurt her. Needless to say, we moved out as soon as the lease ended.

Witness Observation

p22075935In the Fall of 2003, my wife and I were driving on FM 1276 near the Big Sandy Creek unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve after sunset. (It was almost fully night.) We both witnessed a bipedal animal run across the road in front of us. It was running on two legs but ran in a bent over posture with its arms near or on the pavement sometimes. It ran very quickly and well. The animal was around 5 feet in height and covered with long reddish brown hair. It had a very broad build and looked somewhat like an orangutan except that it had a flat face and was proportioned more like a human with long arms. It had entered the road in front of us from the driver’s side, ran across the road, and paused briefly on the other side of the road to look at us before entering the woods.

It looked at us by turning its body partially. I had braked as it entered the road and passed it just after it entered the edge of the woods.

Physical Evidence

My father saw the animal in a separate incident that week at the same location. He also knows a woman who saw the animal as well.

Time and Conditions

Just after sunset. – It was barely dark not too long after sunset. I was using headlights.

Big_Sandy_Creek_Map

Witness Observation

1794747_215318675332447_1173135888_nMy husband and I decided to go to Palmetto State Park (Texas) on our way home from New Braunfels to enjoy a nice hike. We began our hike at the beginning of the San Marcos River Trail. We were the only ones on the trail that day. At the beginning our hike, my husband noticed what looked like an extremely large foot print to the left of the trail. We didn’t think much of it and kept on our journey. We came to a spot where you can walk down to the river and swim or fish. We both walked down the bank to the river to check out the spot.

After taking a small break, we started back up the bank. I was in front of him when I heard him holler that somebody had just thrown a large rock at him. I thought he was trying to scare me, so I didn’t pay much attention. When we got to the top of the bank to the trail, he told me that something had thrown a large baseball sized rock at him, which hit right behind him in the sand and rolled down the hill. He was visibly upset. We continued on our hike. While on the San Marcos River Trail, we continued to hear noises in the woods and breaking sticks, but contributed it to local wildlife.

Then we heard a strange “howl”. It was similar to that of a cow, but different. Now, I know there are cows in the area, which we heard and saw many times during the hike, but just to be safe I looked to buy ar-15 pistols online as I know what a cow sounds like and my husband grew up around and currently works in the slaughter business, so he has heard every sound a cow can make. What we heard was NOT a cow. We heard this “howl” once while on the San Marcos River Trail and then again when we cut off onto the Mesquite Flats Trail. While on the Mesquite Flats Trail, we continued to be observant of our surroundings, but enjoy our relaxing hike. Somewhere on the trail not far past one bridge but before another, we both heard a loud crack and falling of a large limb out of a tree right by the end of the first bridge on the trail we had just crossed. We then heard running through the woods. It was not like a person running, but was also not like a deer. It was a loud “thump” sound when whatever it was hit the ground. My eyes immediately scanned the tree line and focused in on a tall black “something”. I could clearly see the thing pass past and between trees. It was tall and black, but very fast. It was faster than a person. It was not a deer because I could see its silhouette. It was not long. It was not a hog because it was tall and not long like an animal.

The_Sasquatch_by_allendouglasstudioI was watching it pass through the trees when it just disappeared into the foliage, like it had stopped or something. I was in shock by what I had just seen. My husband and I walked back to where the limb had hit the ground to see if we could see anything. Unfortunately we did not have any binoculars, but off in the distance where the thing disappeared from my sight it appeared to be some type of black thing either crouched or standing completely still beside a tree. We decided it was best that we make our way to the trail and head to the end, but we kept watch on the black thing we saw by the tree. The trees got thick and we could not see through for a moment, but when we got to another opening, we attempted to find the black thing by the tree we had just seen and it was no longer there. We continued our walk with ALOT to talk about. Once we crossed onto the Ottine Swamp Trail, we heard the “howl” again, but close and clearer than before.

We completed our hike with no other incidents or noises. It was the strangest thing I have ever seen in my life.

Additional Observations

There seemed to be a lot of bent high grass where something had bedded down. There were also many large areas of strange stick and limb configurations. Like something had stacked sticks to make a shelter or to lay on the ground off of the dirt. Very Strange.

Time and Conditions

1:00 pm – Humid, muggy, hot, Around 1:00 rain showers off and on.

 

 

 

 

Credit:http://woodape.org/reports/report/detail/22498

While walking along the horse trails on Pine Mountain, Cliff Winston claims he was confronted by a Bigfoot.

“Just as I came around a bend and there the thing was, just standing in the middle of the trail. The sun behind its shoulders so the whole front of it was a dark shadow. But I knew what it was right away. I mean what else stands over 8 feet tall, straight leg pose like one of them cowboys in the old black and white Sunday morning movies? “

drawing6“It had its massive arms at its sides, but I could see it had four fingers and a thumb, just like a man, so it were not no ape nor was it a bear standing on its hind legs. My wife told me that it was a bear. But I know it weren’t no bear!’

“Anyway, the Bigfoot and me just stood there considering each other for a bit, then it snorted and turned slowly toward the incline. It marched up into the woods that direction, only turning to see if I were following once.”

“But I was not darn fool enough to follow it. I am just lucky the dang thing was not hungry that day. I have heard tales about Bigfoot ripping people apart just for fun. Imagine what it would do if it were hungry. I don’t like to think about it.”

“The thing that I remember the most and frankly the thing that I found the strangest of all was just how foul the creature smelt. Smelled like a compost pile behind a Russian old folks home. Nothing but rotten cabbage.”

Researchers investigate reported sightings of strange creatures somewhere in North America. They mount expeditions, interview witnesses, gather physical evidence and attempt re-enactments. They also perform high-tech surveillance using thermal and infrared cameras, motion activated cameras, balloons, pheromone traps, sonar, long range call blasters, tracking dogs, etc. so as to gather new evidence to either support or refute the eyewitness reports.

 

This encounter, between four witnesses and sasquatch, occurred in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Steenburg placed the story in a chapter of its own in his book primarily because in the twenty years he had been investigating the mystery of the sasquatch, he said this was the most interesting and detailed accounts he had ever probed.

This fascinating story took place in the Crandell Campground located in the Waterton Lakes National Park in the southwest corner of the province. There were two couples with two cars at one campsite. This incident occurred on the Holiday Victoria Day-long weekend of 1988.

1484646_329828763881437_4160203879816651629_nSteenburg writes:

“I first heard of this incident three months after it happened when Susan Ray Adams contacted me and told me her story. She called me on the night of August 24 th, 1988 after seeing my ad in the Calgary Press. I made arrangements to visit her home and interview all four witnesses separately. So impressed was I with this story, I delayed production of my first book The Sasquatch in Alberta, so some details could be included. I also put portions of the interviews in my second book Sasquatch/Bigfoot, The Continuing Mystery published in 1993.”

”When I visited Susan’s home, all four witnesses questioned me extensively about sasquatch in general. It was obvious all were still on pins and needles three months after their encounter with a sasquatch. I was also handed a copy of a hand written letter which one of the four, Darwin Gilles wrote for the park warden’s office the next day.”

Monday May 23:

At approximately 12:50 a.m. at Crandell Lake Campground we spotted a very unusual animal. We were sitting at our campfire when we heard some snorting. We assumed it was a deer, but upon further observation we decided it was a bear and bolted for the cars. The animal was on its hind legs and we switched on the headlights on one of the vehicles. From the shadows, I could see the animal was moving on its hind legs so I called to the other vehicle to turn on its lights.

What we saw was incredible. This animal was not only on its hind legs; it was striding like a human. We watched as it walked through the trees for at least three to four seconds. Immediately thought it was a joke. We are all convinced it was not a bear. We jumped into the same vehicle and followed in the general direction it disappeared. We came across another vehicle and flashed our lights. These people had also sighted something very strange and were quite scared. This confirmed that we had both seen the same thing. It is important to note that we are four mature, responsible, professional people. We thought very carefully before coming in to report this incident at the warden’s office. All four of us are convinced that is was not a bear.

I am equally convinced it was not a practical joke. If it was, it was pretty elaborate and well done. From our sighting the description we can give you is as follows:

The animal was approximately 8 feet tall (as measured by the tree it was standing beside in our campsite.) The animal was never on all fours. When we switched on the headlights and got a good look, this thing was striding and big strides at that. It also had long arms, which were swinging while it moved through the bush. It wasn’t a bear, okay! I don’t know what more I can write about this incident. Would appreciate hearing anything that might explain what we saw.

Credit:http://www.bigfootencounters.com/sbs/crandellcampground.htm

Dr. John Bindernagel, a professional wildlife biologist, uses a series of colorful graphs to explain why evidence for the sasquatch as an extant North American mammal has been largely ignored or dismissed by his scientific colleagues, and why the subject has been treated as scientifically taboo. He explains why his recent interest regarding the “mystery” of the sasquatch is not whether or not it exists (he is convinced it does, based on the available evidence) but why relevant scientists are unwilling to scrutinize this evidence. His colorful graphs and concise quotes illustrate some of the obstacles confronting a scientist attempting to attract the attention of his or her scientific colleagues and peers to what is largely perceived as a far-fetched discovery claim. He explains why the prolonged discovery process regarding the discovery of the North American sasquatch provides a fascinating look into the philosophy of science, a discipline which may sound boring but which can be very exciting as a long-resisted scientific discovery, such as the sasquatch, continues to unfold.

 

cache_2415631554Elliot Stackpole and Eric Garbus were hiking toward Hall City Caves, they had just passed Harrison Gulch mining ruins.  Stackpole felt that they were being watched or possibly followed, which would have been odd considering that they had not seen another person for hours.

Stackpole was about to comment on this, when suddenly, Garbus pointed to the tree line up ahead of them.  A dark figure, huge and slouching stood against the afternoon sun.

Completely bathed in the sillohute of dark shadow, the creature was clearly not a man.

Stackpole claims he knew right away that they were facing a real live Bigfoot. Garbus said he was sure it was a wild man of the woods or maybe a ghost of an angry miner.

The monster on the ridge started waving its arms above its head. Garbus said once he saw the sieny length of the arms, he knew it was not a ghost or human, but in fact a Sasquatch.  The creature started racing toward the two hikers. They both turned tail and ran as fast as they could back the way they came.

They did not stop running until they were back at the car. The Bigfoot chased them the whole way back and then threw rocks at their car until it drove away.

On this episode of Show Notes with Shannon, I will be joined by Linda Godfrey. She is the author of 16 books on strange creatures, phenomena and people. She’s a frequent guest on national TV and radio shows, including Monsterquest (Seasons 1 and 4), Lost Tapes, Monsters and Mysteries, Sean Hannity’s America, Inside Edition, Coast to Coast AM, NPR, Wis. Public Radio, and many more. She lives in the Kettle Moraine area of SE Wisconsin with her husband and monster dog, Grendel. Her newest book is:American Monsters; A History of Monster Lore, Legends and Sightings in America

 


 

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As reported by the Mount St. Helens Area VALLEY BUGLER newspaper
December 2002

A thick, low mist covered the valley, with not a hint of a breeze rustling the dry leaves.
The stillness and silence was rather eerie, the birds weren’t even singing. Hanging from the
low branches of the Douglas fir trees were dew-covered spider webs. But the spiders weren’t
there. It was as if all wildlife were in hiding.

This fall has been an awesome spectacle of beauty. Bright blue skies, with the leaves
turning rather late in the season, fall this year has been one of warm weather and delightful
views. Bright oranges, deep yellows and the evergreens have decorated the hillsides, with
the early mornings featuring the low misty fog.

It was on this one special patchy fog type of morning that the stillness set in. It wasn’t as if
the stillness were a weather event, it was more that something different was about to happen.

That was when the cows in the distant pastures started in their odd mooing. Normally with a
quiet, still morning, the cows can be heard in the distance with their normal noise. This
morning they let out a mournful cry that was different. Very different.

Walking outside, we thought maybe it was coyotes again. Those wiley creatures often make
local animals act a little strange. But never have they made the cattle give off such a sound.
Listening, there were no coyote sounds.

Thinking again that maybe it was a bear or a cougar. We had spotted one cougar in our
yard a couple of years ago. At dusk, as we drove down our west driveway that winds through
the trees, out lights picked up a pair of glowing eyes. We stopped, hit the brights, and there
in the glow was a small, young golden cougar looking at us. We watched a bit, and it turned
and headed south out of our property to the woods. We’ve never seen it again, but the
cattle had made some strange sounds that night also.

As we were pondering what could be causing the cattle to make such a strange sound, we
picked up a whiff of an awful smell. Like the smell of rotten meat crossed with the aroma of
terrible body odor.

We looked around our little three acres but saw nothing. Making sure the dogs were locked
into the yard, we went about our morning duties.

deep2About noon we wandered outside and were again greeted with the strange smell. With the
sun high, we decided to walk around a bit and see if we could find what was giving off this
terrible aroma. On the west side is a section of tall grass and blackberry vines, with apple
and plum trees on the edge. All of the fruit was ripe and ready to pick. Suddenly we
something move by the apple trees. Something big, and hairy. Peeking out from our vantage
point by the shed, we saw something that made our blood run ice cold. About eight feet tall,
brown and big, it definitely was not a bear. It was much more human, but not human.

We sneaked a bit closer by the hill that surrounds the pool. Peaking out from the ridge,
whatever it was, spotted us. It let out with an awful scream and took off towards the woods to
the south. I ran in to get a camera while my husband kept an eye on whatever it was.

As I came out running short of breath, he stood by the shed pointing at the tall grass to the
south, just before the tree line where the creature now ran. I focused the camera, and hit a
couple of shots while the creature made its way away from us. The speed with which he ran
was astounding for such a big creature. His lumbering feet were pounding the ground while
his arms swung in rhythmic sequence to the run. He was soon out of range for my zoom,
making any more photography impossible, unless I wanted to follow. I didn’t.

What it was, I’ll leave for you all to decide. One thing for sure, I’ll not be wandering around in
the woods by myself any more. Especially if I smell something like I did this fall morning !