YEAR: 2004

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: November

DATE: 29

STATE: Washington

COUNTY: Skamania County

LOCATION DETAILS: please do not post these on the internet.

NEAREST TOWN: eagle cliff

NEAREST ROAD: 503

OBSERVED: I was going for a late night drive. I drove up past Cougar on 503. When I hit snow on a couple of corners, I started to get a little nervous about driving up any farther but still I chose to keep going. I had been seeing animals all night so I was really keeping my eyes open. When I slowed down to turn around, my car died. While trying to start it I was looking forward and noticed a large object standing on the side of the road which looked like a large man but I couldn't tell because it was out of the reach of my headlights. When my car started up the object quickly turned and strided off into the timber. That's when I knew it wasn't just a tree or anything like that. I have been up in those parts of the woods a lot and never seen anything like that. When I saw it turn away from me I couldn't calm down. I was terrified - the hair on my neck was standing up. It was just not a normal feeling. I believe I saw a bigfoot standing in front of my car along the edge of the road.

ALSO NOTICED: a day after the incident some friends and I went back up there. It had snowed quite a bit so where I saw the object we stopped to look for tracks but saw nothing. Everything had been covered up. About a mile up the road we saw a set of tracks crossing the road but we could not tell what they were. They were very large but it also could have been boot tracks.

OTHER WITNESSES: I was alone. I like to drive in the hills - it helps me to relax. It wasn't my first time just driving around up there but it was definitely the first time I had been up there so late by myself. I am scared to go back up there by myself.

OTHER STORIES: I have heard of sightings and tracks being found around this area but nothing specific.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: it was about 1:30 in the morning but it seemed to be really light because of the clear night and bright moon. The snow seemed to light up the area.

ENVIRONMENT: open old growth timber, snowy and snowing

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Tom Yamarone:

I spoke with the witness by phone and have the following to add:
- His car was stalled for less than a minute and he noticed the creature when the engine started.
- Although the illumination did not allow him a clear view of the subject, he did see defined movement of the legs striding and the arms swinging as it turned and walked into the forest.
- He had seen numerous deer and elk on this drive in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
- The witness returned to the site 2 days later with several friends. There were track-like impressions but they could not discern any details due to snow accumulation since the sighting.
- Judging from where the creature was spotted in front of some fir trees and up a slight (5’) embankment, he estimated the height at 6 ½ to 7 feet.
- He observed the subject for 20 seconds in dim lighting conditions but at a very close distance. (approx. 20 yards)
- As he mentioned in his narrative, the encounter was unsettling for the witness and he departed the area immediately. He had no desire to return alone that evening nor since then.

Other notes:
- He is very familiar with this area as he spent a lot of time in these forests as a youth with his family on camping trips and day hikes.
- 4 years ago, they found footprints in this area.