YEAR: 2005

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: July

DATE: 23-24

STATE: California

COUNTY: Fresno County

LOCATION DETAILS: Jackass Meadow campground, on the outskirts of camp.

NEAREST TOWN: Huntington Lake

NEAREST ROAD: Kaiser Pass Road

OBSERVED: Camped at Jackass Meadow just below Florence Lake. I was tired from a long day of fishing and driving to Lake Edison, so I ate and fished a little more and retired for the evening. It was a full moon out and everything was really calm for a campground. I went to bed in my tent fairly early and woke up several times during the evening. Every thing was quiet and I got up to store my food in the bearboxes around camp. I didn't hear anything or see any thing when I was awake. I went back to bed and nodded off. I awoke again from my sleep to a noise that I had never heard in the mountains. It was late, and everyone to my knowledge was asleep. The noise was coming from the east of the campground i'd say approx. 1/2 a mile to a mile. I would say that it sounded the same as someone blowing through a conch shell mixed with and large mammal of some sorts. I heard the noise two times after I awoke in five second intervals, right after one another, and then silence. It was fairly loud and I knew that it was off in the distance because there was no other noise in the woods. I have been camping/hiking/and mountaineering all over the West Coast and I have never heard anything like that sound.

ALSO NOTICED: None

OTHER WITNESSES: asked two people I was with but they were asleep inside a car and didn't hear.

OTHER STORIES: Similar stories of noises from friends, but very few details.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Late at night (1am-- 3 am). There was a full moon, clear skies, and no wind.

ENVIRONMENT: Dense forest, with sections of large granite boulders/mountains.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Cliff Barackman:

I spoke to the witness by phone on 7/26/05. The following details can be added to the report:

• The witness awoke several times during the night, but is usually a deep and sound sleeper. He heard the vocalizations after one of the awakenings.
• The witness is an Eagle Scout, and has extensive experience in the mountains.
• The two vocalizations lasted about three to five seconds each, with a pause of the same duration separating them.
• The vocalizations changed in pitch over their duration. It started at a lower pitch, raising the pitch slightly, and then went down again before tapering off.
• The witness said the calls had the same tone and pitch as the Ohio Howl, as heard on the BFRO website.

About BFRO Investigator Cliff Barackman:

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music (Guitar) -- Cal. State Long Beach
• Professional educator with more than a decade of experience.
• Attended many public BFRO expeditions since 2005 (Redwoods, Sierras, Arizona, Southern California, Vancouver Island, Mendocino).
• Attended and/or led numerous non-public BFRO expeditions (CA: Bluff Creek, Blue Creek, Stanislaus NF; WA: Stevens Pass, Olympic Peninsula, Gifford Pinchot Nat'l Forest; Ohio: Beaver Creek; Florida: Green Swamp)
• Led the 2007 and 2008 California Sierra Nevadas Expedition (public), and the Oregon Expedition (public) in June 2008
• Can be reached at NorthAmericanBigfoot@gmail.com