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monkeychaser
Administrator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 231
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 Posted: September 16th, 2008 12:02 AM |
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Here's a thread for those people who attended to share their experiences. Remember to keep locations private! We don't want anyone to go to Screaming Devil Monkey Hill and mess up our ongoing research...oops, now everyone is going to google that location...lol
Here's the breaking news:
Congrats to Dan for his thermal imager sighting (wake me up next time!). Also congrats to Scott and Brandon for their thermal imager sighting of the three vertical heat signatures.
There were a few wood knocks and vocalizations heard, but not as many and as clear as hoped and expected given the conditions.
I did not hear of any decent tracks or other sign found.
For once, the weather was PERFECT in the Redwoods!
Everyone else can post details on the events.
Bill Brewer, NorCal division |
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bkiel
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 21
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 02:46 AM |
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Hi All,
This is Brandon Kiel. I am the Field Researcher who put together the September Redwoods Expedition.
Here is a basic rundown of the events that occurred during this expedition.
Tuesday, Sept. 9th.
I arrived in the area mid-afternoon and set up camp in an environmental campsite roughly 10 miles from where we would be for the expedition. While on a short hike I observed a young brown bear. Ranger Robert Leiterman arrived around 8pm and we set up a Reconyx camera baited with apples. Nothing was recorded.
Wednesday, Sept. 10th.
A few people arrived early to the expedition and so tonight we met up to check out a location the BFRO had visited a few years back. The area itself is heavily forested and dense with foliage. We decided to keep tonight short as most of them had driven many hours to get here (some driving from as far away as Texas, Missouri, and Kansas). While on a 90 minute hike we did a few "bio-calls" but received no responses.
Thursday, September 11th.
The majority of the folks attending arrived and we had a general 'meet and greet' at 5pm followed by a discussion as to where we were going to be that night. I had decided that our focus would be on 4-5 different locations and that we would survey the same sites every night. I broke everyone up into groups of 5-7 and they were dispatched to 5 different locations all within roughly 15 miles of each other. At 10pm six individuals were sent into an area that runs parallel to a swamp (now referred to as Location #1). Five others were sent to walk a disused fire road located on a ridge-line north of and essentially parallel to the swamp (Location #2). The folks on Location #1 were there for about 4 hours and reported hearing a clear "coughing-like" sound as they neared the end of the hiking trail. They had no other occurrences that evening.
The folks at Location #2 had visited this area earlier in the day and found stick weavings, large stick formation X's that seemed to delineate game trails, and no indication that this road was currently in use, either by hikers or vehicles. This group started their night investigation about 45 minutes after those on Location #1. About 20 minutes into the hike, the group at Location #2 reported hearing a short "howl-type moan" coming from the trailhead of Location #1. The group on Location #1 did not hear this vocalization probably because at this point they were about 2 miles from the trailhead.
Approximately 90 minutes later, members of Location #2 reached an open meadow along the ridge line where they sat down to rest. It was then that a member of the group utilizing a thermal unit viewed a heat signature up the trail either high on a ridge or midway up a large tree. He asked that another member verify what he was seeing and that member was in agreement. The second member then noticed the heat signature "disappear" only to reappear at the base of a tree where it began "playing a kind of peek-a-boo". This lasted for approximately one minute and then the heat signature was gone. There were no other events at this location that night.
A third trail (Location #3) was situated about three miles northeast of Location #2. It was lead mostly by female investigators and this hike lasted approximately 2 hours. For all intents and purposes the investigation of this area concluded without any activity. As they were departing the area a member made mention of the fact that she had felt "a strange 'get-out' feeling" as they entered and exited the trailhead. This "feeling" was then corroborated by several others in the group; one who also added she felt a "surge of adrenaline and anxiety disconnected from fear".
The other locations reported no unusual activity though barred owls were heard. Upon arriving back at the base camp several members reported hearing unmistakable wood knocks coming from two distinct locations. This lasted for approximately 10 minutes and then stopped.
Friday, Sept. 12th.
BFRO Field Investigator Bill Brewer lead a demonstration at 1pm on proper casting methods. Approximately 15 people attended. They were able to make their own casts of human footprints as well as local animal tracks found on the site.
A group of investigators convened at about 8pm on what will be referred to as Location #4. This location was approximately 2 miles from base camp. The 4 mile trail began by ascended a steep ridge line, followed said ridge line parallel to the coast, then dropped into an unmaintained grassy prairie that wound along a stream.
The first 3/4ths of the hike was uneventful and at about 11:15pm the group was nearing the trail head when a member heard what he best describes as two loud "harrumph-coughs" coming from the hillside, along with what he surmised to be talking. Thinking group of hikers was ascending the ridge line, a thermal unit was utilized and three figures were seen together on the hillside at a distance of about 500 feet. On the left was the heat signature of a figure standing up straight; no specific body parts or appendages could be distinguished. In the center was the heat signature of something laying on the ground. And on the right was a slightly smaller figure standing upright. All were behind various bits of foliage that could be seen giving off a different heat signature. None of the figures appeared to be wearing clothing.
A second investigator was asked to view this and he agreed with the assessment. The thermal unit was then handed back to the first investigator who observed the figure on the left ascend the ridge diagonally "though I never observed a gait, arm, or leg movement...it was almost as if it just floated up the hill and out of sight". When he returned to the other two figures only one could be found. This figure had moved behind what appeared to be a stump. For the next two minutes the investigator watched as the figure "bobbed and weaved behind the stump almost like a boxer would. It moved very fluidly and was constantly in motion. It would move left, disappear, pop back up in the center, move to the right, disappear, then reappear near the bottom of the stump...over and over again".
After about two minutes of this the investigator states that he suddenly was overcome with the strong sentiment that he "didn't want to see this anymore". He abruptly handed the thermal unit to another investigator, saying, "I don't want to see this, I can't look at this anymore". He states that he wasn't fearful of the situation, but that he suddenly found himself inundated with emotion and close to tears. This investigator has been with the BFRO for approximately four years, is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and has been on many expeditions. The other investigators wanted to stay in the area but after a few minutes they all exited towards the trailhead. After about 10 minutes they returned to the area but could not re-locate the figure(s).
At around 3am several investigators were monitoring elk activity at the trail head of Location #2. Using the thermal unit they located a group of elk and were looking around a field when one noticed a heat signature standing alone and unobstructed between two trees amid a patch of ripe blackberries. The investigator states that he "immediately knew it was a sasquatch". He describes it as standing slightly sideways, having an oval shaped head, rounded shoulders, almost no neck, and having a thick torso. He watched it move its arms slowly in front of it as if it were parting grass. The investigator called another over to confirm this sighting but the second investigator mistook the heat signature of several trees and couldn't locate the animal. He then passed the thermal unit back to the first investigator. Again he was able to located it, he called a third investigator over and this investigator was able to see the head of a figure now crouching down into the blackberry brambles. The thermal unit was then passed back to the first investigator who then observed the animal rise up from the thicket and turn to look at him. After a few seconds of staring at the investigator it strode off into the brush. Everyone in the vicinity heard the exit.
This investigator also reported feeling overwhelmed with emotion during the sighting and "at points wanting to not see what I was seeing". Shortly after this they left the area.
Location #3 was visited by a group of new investigators who reported no discernible activity, but many in the group agreed with those of the previous night to feeling as if they weren't wanted there with occasional waves of anxiety that subsided once they were past the trail head.
Several investigators heard numerous howls around 11pm at the base camp.
Saturday, Sept. 13th.
At approximately 2pm Ranger Robert Leiterman lead a class on tracking and how to read a trackway. It was attended by approximately 20 people.
At 3pm investigators returned to Location #2 to do follow up research. The area was densely filled with blackberry bushes, stinging nettle, ferns, and sawgrass. Ranger Leiterman was able to locate the pathway and direction that the animal traveled and agreed that the foliage on the pathway had been very recently disturbed. An investigator who is 6ft tall stood where the witness had seen the animal. A measuring tape was used to determine the height of the animal to be 9ft.
Saturday night was mostly quiet with little activity to report. Location #3 was visited by yet another new set of investigators who heard "rock clacking" about 3 miles into their hike. This group did not report any feelings of anxiety. Location #1 was visted at 10p and again at 3am with no activity. Location #2 was visited at 12am with no reports of activity.
Sunday, September 14th.
The attendees were dispersed.
If you attended this expedition please feel free to add to, elaborate on, or correct anything written here. I want to thank the BFRO Investigators who attended and assisted me on this trip as well as all of those in attendance. I feel it was undoubtably a huge success and I hope to work with you all again in the future.
Brandon
(Edited by bkiel) |
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bkiel
Moderator
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 21
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 02:48 AM |
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Pictures will be posted soon. I need a nap first.
(Edited by bkiel) |
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GrimJeeper91
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 09:53 AM |
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| Nice summary. I'm not familiar with thermal imagers, can they record what is being viewed? I hope so as I would love to see what they saw... |
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T.Taber
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 141
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 10:10 AM |
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Another note of interest: The wood knocks and howls heard from base camp on two consecutive nights by myself and others where originating from Indian Reservation land. Access was attempted and denied. |
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BethinFL
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 824
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 10:16 AM |
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Trees give off heat signatures? I didn't know that. Not familiar with that kind of equipment at all.
Sounds like a good trip and thanks for sharing with us. |
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m.lorentz
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 35
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 06:00 PM |
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Thanks for the summary. I'm curious if the feelings of anxiety and scared emotions felt from the attending members can be attributed to BF's ability with infrasound??
m.lorentz
expeditions attended 2008 N. California
2009 Wa. Cascades
2009 Oly. Pen |
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T.Taber
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 141
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| Posted: September 16th, 2008 06:46 PM |
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Some members of that particular group felt something. Others, like myself did not.
(Edited by T.Taber) |
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m.lorentz
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 35
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 02:30 AM |
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Of that peticular group, I'm wondering how many that felt those strange sensations were women? versus men??
m.lorentz
expeditions attended 2008 N. California
2009 Wa. Cascades
2009 Oly. Pen |
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IntriguedLimey
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 04:29 AM |
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| Regarding heat signatures given off by trees, when I was on the BC Coastal Expedition I had a go with a thermal imager for a minute or two. We had warm sunny weather and, as it was just after nightfall, it appeared some of the day’s residual heat was still showing from trees and on timber left lying around. I would imagine after a few hours this heat would dissipate and no longer be visible in the viewfinder. I also noticed what appeared to be luminous fungi on trees. So I wasn’t getting a nice dark field of view to pick out animal heat signatures, it was a confusing jumble really, but you would still have noticed movement if it had occurred. |
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T.Taber
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 141
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 09:15 AM |
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| m.lorentz, There where 5 of us in that particular group. 4 first timers and myself. 3 of them where female. The next night another group entered the same area and strange sensations where felt by a few. |
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Hall82321
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 641
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 09:51 AM |
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Thank you for the report! Can't wait to see some photos.
~Bigfoot takes pictures of Chuck Norris~ |
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desasquatch
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 12:06 PM |
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| I'd be interested to know if the persons experiencing the "feelings" are also inherently "intuitive" in everyday life- in other words predisposed to a certain sensitivity or intuitiveness or awareness. |
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T.Taber
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 141
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 01:47 PM |
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| There is a great anticipation when you are in the deep woods in the middle of the night, in an unfamiliar location, with a group of people you may have just met hours before, looking for a harry giant. Some of the "feelings" can be explained away by first-timer-itis I think. |
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BethinFL
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 824
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 01:53 PM |
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| Thanks for the explanation about the heat signatures and the trees. That makes more sense to me. |
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Thriftstore Vampire
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 01:57 PM |
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"Approximately 90 minutes later, members of Location #2 reached an open
meadow along the ridge line where they sat down to rest. It was then that a
member of the group utilizing a thermal unit viewed a heat signature up the
trail either high on a ridge or midway up a large tree. He asked that another
member verify what he was seeing and that member was in agreement. The
second member then noticed the heat signature "disappear" only to reappear
at the base of a tree where it began "playing a kind of peek-a-boo". This
lasted for approximately one minute and then the heat signature was gone.
There were no other events at this location that night."
As the member who located and observed the heat signature, I would like to add the following.
After the heat signature disappeared, I approached the tree while Brandon watched with the thermal. After nothing happened, I remained in that position, facing the tree at an unused trail head that continued down past the meadow toward the creek. The other group members continued to therm around the rest of the meadow perimeter. Suddenly, and without warning, I was completely shaken with an instantaneous, completely overpowering fear. The whole incident lasted only a fraction of a second, but it was powerful enough to cause me to yell and take a few steps back before I was able to remain control. I mention this because it came without provocation. I was completely calm and in no way feeling afraid or threatened. I was actually excited at the moment, having just seen something that was completely fascinating, as well as non-threatening. I also mention it because I spoke to, and witnessed several other group attendees and BFRO investigators experience the same type of episode. In all cases, it was resolved that nothing was in the immediate vicinity.
I would like to add that on Saturday night, our group visited a trail (location 4.) We were the only vehicles there and the trail head parking was located three quarters of a mile from the road. Approximately 100- 150 yards up the trail, members of the group heard crunching sounds in the brush. When they all stopped, they heard two to three additional steps before whatever it was stopped and did not continue. The members agreed that the steps sounded bipedal. The remainder of the trip was uneventful except for another incident of sudden, unprovoked fear from another group member in a section of the trail that another attendee also described as being “suddenly very cold”. I will let them elaborate on their experiences if they would like to.
And finally, early Sunday morning, I led two attendees up the trail at location 2. Approximately one quarter mile shy of the location of my experience on Thursday night, one of them experienced the same jolting, irrational fear. I say irrational, because at the time, I believe we were talking about music and everyone seemed to be in a fine mood, in a non-threatening, fairly well-lit area.
Those three incidents, along with the reactions of the lucky observers have led me to start considering some new avenues of thought and research. How are we affected by our experiences in the woods after extended periods of darkness? How strong are our natural instincts, awareness and reactions to threats, both perceived and real? Does infrasound exist and do sasquatch possess it, or something like it? There are so many questions, but it feels like we are really starting to make some headway and find a common focus. This is an exciting time.
I’d like to thank Brandon for organizing the trip and everyone who attended for their enthusiasm and company. I feel like this was a major experience for many of us. I know that I have been affected in a positive way.
-Scott Minton
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JohnSal
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 02:11 PM |
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Thanks for all the comments.
Scott,
That is awesome. I so wanted to go on this one but went to Washington instead. Maybe I will have a chance to see you next year. Thanks again for the details.
John...
Squatching in Northern Utah... |
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minnie-ear
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 241
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| Posted: September 17th, 2008 06:08 PM |
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Friday night at Location 3 I led a group of five up the trail, an old forest road now used by mountain bikes. One member reported that while at the trail-head he began to feel a tingling in the back of his scalp (left occipital lobe). We joked about not having bathed for days and dandruff. He continued to experience this for the first hundred yards or so. I was ready to dismiss his feeling as an over reactive imagination, psychosomatic episode, when I too began to experience an odd sensation over my entire body. I did not feel as if I was being watched, but I felt an over all tingly, heavy sensation, as if I had been energized somehow. I would stop short of saying that my hair stood up, but almost. I did not experience fear but was aware of a presence. This lasted for just a few minutes and then simply ‘shut off’. Coincidently, or not, both the other member and myself both agreed that the sensations we felt stopped at roughly the same time. The other three members did not ‘feel’ anything.
This sensation’s location corresponds with same location where, on the previous night, the female participants felt roughly the same thing. That whole episode could be chalked up to first night jitters and then, for us in the second group, the power of suggestion and wishful thinking. It’s difficult to find the objectivity in an experience like this.
The two of us were male and the only female in our group didn't 'feel' anything.
Chris
"In order to conquer the animal, I have to learn to think like an animal. And, whenever possible, to look like one."
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IntriguedLimey
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 06:22 AM |
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| That tingling sensation mentioned above sounds familiar. The same sort of thing happened to me when I was sleeping (or trying to sleep) in my tent on the BC Coastal expedition. An hour or two earlier a loud impact occurred close to my tent, which was pitched on its own (it was the night before the expedition started). I don’t mind admitting that it was a scary moment and it was a very good chance it was a sasquatch. I dozed and was woken up with an increasing creeping tingling feeling which lasted about 10 seconds and then gradually receded. I quickly went back to sleep. It was not fear because I didn’t feel frightened when it was happening. It was more like a sensation of immobility. It could have been that I had subconsciously picked up sounds outside the tent, but it was not a feeling I had ever experienced before. |
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SixesUp
Unregistered
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 09:58 AM |
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| It's not probably logistically possible, but I would love to be able to take a group of 10 or 15 people who have no idea why they are there, to the exact same locations and ask them to express any odd feelings they may experience. |
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usrmeret
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 147
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 12:25 PM |
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Hi All.....ty for your posts regarding the recent CA trip. I have a question for those who felt a sudden serge of overwhelming fear and associated physical effects. I would like to know how you felt both emotionally and physically immediately after all of these feelings suddenly stopped. It's been my experience in a near death situation that immediately after the initial sensations subsided, I had an overwhelming sense of calm coupled with a super charge of energy. I remember feeling invincible. Our BF encounters seem to be controlled in every sense.
Gary
Find Them NOW! |
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T.Taber
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 141
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 12:39 PM |
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| Those in the group I led that experienced anything described it as an uncomfortable feeling. Not so much an overwhelming fear. As we left the area and returned to the trail head the sensation subsided. On the ride back to base camp notes where compared between two women traveling with me and it seems as though there experience where similar but not exact. Hope that helps... |
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minnie-ear
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 241
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 01:22 PM |
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I wish something had been overwhelming it would be easier to explain.
I did note feel the same thing that the member in my party felt. We had two different experiences albeit at the same time.
The sensation I felt was subtle. I felt like I was charged with static electricity and heavy. I just felt like something was there. It was no adrenaline rush. Adrenaline WILL make you jumpy, dialate pupils, increase heart rate, etc. I did not experience that. I guess I sort of felt like I was vibrating.
Again, and I think T.Taber will concur, these feelings could be jitters on our part, although I didn't experience any anxiety at any other point in the trip and I'm quite comfortable in the forest even in the black of night.
Chris
"In order to conquer the animal, I have to learn to think like an animal. And, whenever possible, to look like one."
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minnie-ear
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 241
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 01:31 PM |
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Quote:
SixesUp:It's not probably logistically possible, but I would love to be able to take a group of 10 or 15 people who have no idea why they are there, to the exact same locations and ask them to express any odd feelings they may experience. |
SixesUp we are not permitted to reveal the location specifics of any expeditions.
It would be a cool experiment, but potentially cruel to expose someone to this without their knowledge. Besides try to find 15 people willing to go on a night hike for any reason.
I suspect if you took 15 skeptically minded people nothing would happen and if you took 15 gullible people you would get reports of sprites, brownies and alien activity. 
Chris
"In order to conquer the animal, I have to learn to think like an animal. And, whenever possible, to look like one."
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Cryptofan3
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 80
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 01:39 PM |
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Quote:
T.Taber wrote:
Those in the group I led that experienced anything described it as an uncomfortable feeling. Not so much an overwhelming fear.
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Maybe your group just got the heebie-jeebies, the bubble guts, or the good ole' butterflies in the stomach? |
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T.Taber
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 141
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 02:05 PM |
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minnie-ear..Along with Spirits,brownies and Alien activity, don't for get about Orbs and Shape shifters...
On a more serious note, as I stated before, there where 5 people in my group and 4 of them where first timers. Personally I think that had a lot to do with it. |
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usrmeret
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 147
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 02:11 PM |
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Ty for your responses. My interest is your feelings after the sensations ceased. I realize it may be difficult to recall, but if you can, did you feel any different than just prior to the sensations ie., more peaceful, more alert, pleasently calm, aggitated, jumpy etc.....
Gary
Find Them NOW! |
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SixesUp
Unregistered
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 02:11 PM |
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So do I. A form of mass hysteria.
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BethinFL
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 824
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 02:49 PM |
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| Wouldn't it be interesting if somehow BF could scan us to find out what our intentions were? |
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reader
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 102
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| Posted: September 18th, 2008 04:25 PM |
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Quote:
BethinFL wrote:
Wouldn't it be interesting if somehow BF could scan us to find out what our intentions were?
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As in Star Trek,
giving the idea that the big guy is real a black eye with that one.
I think it is possible for BigFoot to be real. |
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