In the early 70’s, I purchased a house in South Lake Tahoe just South and East of the South Lake Tahoe airport. I was standing on my front porch gazing in that direction when I spotted what I thought was a guy in a hooded brown long sleeved jumpsuit. Since there were just a few houses in my neighborhood, and most of them were vacation homes which were empty, I was virtually alone in my neighborhood. I whistled loudly, and shouted, and waved to the guy. To my surprise the guy freaked out and backed into a pine tree that was about 150 feet or so from the river where he was. I walk down there often and at the time those pine trees were about an inch above my palm as far as I could reach over my head. I’m 6′ 3″ and can palm an 8 foot ceiling. When this guy backed into the pine tree, the top of the tree was just below the tip of his right shoulder. He then spun around ran for the river as fast as I’d seen deer run when I’d spooked them.
As soon as I realized that this guy was taller than the tree I bailed off of the porch and ran straight to the pine tree, never once taking my eyes of of the tree so I could make sure I was heading for the correct one. When I got to the tree there was no evidence of anything there. The ground was hard pack so there were no prints. I verified the height of the tree to be a little over 8 feet tall by about an inch. I went to the river to see if there were prints there and there were none. Hey it was broad daylight. I cussed to myself thinking that no one was going to believe me. I went back to the house and got in the car and drove around to the other side of the river where there were a few homes and began knocking on doors. Two people wouldn’t talk to me, but one guy said “Oh, you’ve seen them too.”. To which I replied “Them?” He said if he told anyone about it he’d deny it but he said he’d seen them pretty regular in the spring of the year.
This was 40 years ago and I only just this year decided that I should tell somebody. The guy I talked to was in his 70’s so he’d be over 110 if he was still alive, so I don’t
think I’ll get any verification from him now. I’ve been in the area since and there are loads of homes there now so I don’t think there’s going to be much of a chance that you will see one in the vicinity at this late date.
I measured my shoulders and they are a little over 2 feet wide. This guy was way bigger than that by almost double judging by where he touched the tree. I ran a line across my shoulders straight across at the same height that the tree touched his shoulder. I said he because I didn’t see any breasts. Anyway, where the line intersected the middle of my chest, I measured from there to the top of my head and it’s between 15 or 16 inches. Now if this guy is as tall as he is I’ll recon that same measurement on him would be at least 18 inches or so. That makes him to be about 9′ 6″. No human that I’ve ever seen or heard of is 9′ 6″ that can also run like a deer. One would think that something that massive couldn’t move that fast. He wasn’t close enough for me to see his face by a long shot.
In any case I have just started listening to your show and you seem to keep a level head on your shoulders about these animal/beings. It is greatly appreciated. Many of the other shows don’t seem to stay on track, and allow a great amount of pretty crazy theories. I’m not one to outright seek attention because of what I’ve seen. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone, and that it would be great if you just kept on doing what you are doing. I was only 23 when I saw what was an almost 10 foot creature near where I lived. It hasn’t stopped me from camping or changed my life to any great extent. Only the fact that I saw something that very few people get to see. Keep up the good work.
JAMES B
Your one of us. The silent minority. Its great to have a place like this to open up if you need to, or to just read and not feel isolated and alone.
Lisa E
I found this website about 4 months ago and joined immediately. In 1968, we moved to a brand new subdivision in Marin County, California that backed right up to Mount Burdell. We started having visits the first week we were there. Then, during the summer of 1971, I had my first up close encounter while riding my horse at the top of the mountain. It is so nice to finally find a group of people to share my experiences with who will not laugh and think I’m crazy. I am a true fan of the show!!!
SANDRA E
Hi Lisa, I live just up the 101 from Marin in Sonoma County. Do you still live in the area? If you do, have you heard of any other sightings in that area? Soooo close to home…lol I love, love, love this website and visit it several times a week. Although I’ve never had an encounter I have always been interested in bigfoot from the time I was a little girl as my Dad had an interest also.
Lisa E
Hi Sandra. I would love to talk to you about all the things that happened from 1968 to 1972. It was so crazy because back then I had nothing to reference it to. It wasn’t until 1973 after we moved to Pensacola Florida and I saw the legend of Boggy Creek that I realized I was not crazy. My father even apologized to me recently for not believing me when I told them all the things I saw during that time. He realizes now I was telling the truth. Give me a call sometime 850 313 2801. We are on Central time.
Gail d
Wow Lisa welcome to SC can you tell us more about your encounter. I would love to hear it
Lisa E
Hi Gail. Thanks for the kind welcome!! There were multiple incidents from 1968 through 1972. In 1972 we moved to Pensacola Florida and there are numerous reports of skunk apes all over this area. My ex husband even had a run-in with one while he was in high school. Give me a call sometime 850 313 2801.
SantiamLady
Wow Lisa!!!! ???? Can you give details of that first encounter while on horseback? I ride too. ???? What happened? How did your horse react? And would come on the Show for an interview with Wes? ????????
Lisa E
Hi Patricia. I’m very shy but will try to work up the courage to be on the show. Give me a call sometime. I’d really like to talk with you. 850 313 2801
Jennifer W
This is a great account. Thanks for posting it, Wes.
Scott P
Greatly appreciate you sharing. I wish more people would come forward.
Tracy A
Welcome, thanks, join.
r v
You lived in my neighborhood off of Pioneer Trail. That’s where I made my recordings that aided in the Skookum Cast expedition (and which has been heard on countless shows/documentaries since then). I gave a clip to the BFRO at the time and have heard it throughout the last fifteen years on Mysterious Encounters, Finding Bigfoot, and many Discovery Channel/History Channel programs. I knew this family of Sasquatch were down by the South Truckee behind our house and were using that as their nightly hunting ground/corridor,which I think they used to get back up to the Echo Lake/Desolation Wilderness area. We used to go out at night with night scopes and recorders, and I got plenty of audio from my upstairs bedroom window over the four years I lived there. On one morning, after coming back from a trek – it must have been about five in the morning – I got a pound on my house walls that shook it like a sonic boom. And there’s so much more that we found in that area and the Markleeville area, to boot, as well as elsewhere throughout the years. I lived there and got those recordings in 2000-2004. I KNEW the neighbors had to be hearing these things as well but no one ever mentioned it. You just corroborated what I knew to be happening. I’m very excited to hear your account and would love to get in contact and coordinate your experiences. My dog and I explored every inch of that area daily right by the airport (with all of its coyotes!) and I would probably even know the tree you’re referring to. 🙂 I get in contact with Wes from time to time via email so perhaps there’s an avenue there. I have more stories as well but I know how people think and they wouldn’t believe my “luck” so they’ll probably just stay campfire stories and material to discuss with people I know well and trust, and who I know will reciprocate that trust. I have very specific observations regarding that clan’s habits, travel directions, possible usage of the power lines to the east of Pioneer (Oneidas and up to Freel). Very cool. Thanks for letting Wes post this.
SantiamLady
Awesome account! Thanks for posting it, Wes. ????????????????
Christopher c
PLENTY of black bear in south Tahoe so there is no reason that there wouldn’t be a few Sasquatch there too as well,Tahoe is cool because they have these fall salmon runs where the Kokanee run up the rivers and creeks that feed L. Tahoe adding a support system for many types of critters in the area.
Nathan E
This is a good account by a witness who could at least measure what he saw. I imagine that near Lake Tahoe in the days before all the development the witness lived in an outpost of civilization surrounded by wilderness.
DonRay
Great recall….. Ciao