YEAR: 1980

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: May

DATE: mothers day weekend

STATE: Washington

COUNTY: Skagit County

LOCATION DETAILS: East side of Big Lake (town), Walker Valley Off Road Vehicle Park.

NEAREST TOWN: Big Lake

NEAREST ROAD: Highway 9

OBSERVED: I had taken my kids for a drive on Mother's Day, 1980, in the mountains east of Big Lake, WA. As we came around a bend in the dirt road we saw something at a distance crossing the road to head up the mountain. It saw us, stopped to look at us, then ran back down into the brush and disappeared.

It was almost black, with no variation in color. It was not a bear, nor a human.

ALSO NOTICED: No other human activity in area that day. Local ranger stated that there was 50 miles of wilderness in any direction.

OTHER WITNESSES: There were 3 of us that saw it. I was driving, coasting. I had one son on the hood who saw it, and another son in the car who saw it. Two other sons did not see it.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It was afternoon,sunny and dry.

ENVIRONMENT: Forest on either side of the road, with thick brush going down the right side of the road, and trees on the left side going up.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Derek Freel:

I spoke with the witness. She may have surprised the animal by coasting around a corner on the mountain road. When she came around the corner the animal was halfway across the road. It turned, looked at the car and ran on two legs in the opposite direction, down a hill and into some brush.

The actual sighting lasted only a few seconds, but she was adamant about what she and her children saw that day.

About BFRO Investigator Derek Freel:

Derek Freel grew up near Okanogan, Washington, and currently lives in the Kennewick area. He has studied the subject of sasquatch for many years, and was very lucky to have encountered the animals on several BFRO Expeditions. Derek is taking an active role in bringing these animals into mainstream science. He attended the 2005 Washington Expedition, 2006 Redwoods Expedition, 2006 Oregon Expedition and the 2006 Washington Expedition.

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