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September 2000 Skookum Expedition
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams Region
BFRO Participants
- Dr. LeRoy Fish, Zoologist (OR) -- Wildlife Ecologist, Animal Tracker, Logistical
Assistance
- Dr. Greg Bambenek, Psychiatrist (MN) -- Pheromone Expert, Animal Tracker,
Photographer
- Alan Terry, Electronics Engineer (OR) -- Communications Equipment and Power
- Jim Henick, Carpenter (WA) -- Wilderness Guide, Logistical Assistance
- Jeff Lemley, Healthcare Mgmt (WA) -- Exped. Coordination, Gifford Pinchot
Guide, Communications
- Erin Lee, Healthcare Manager (WA) -- Logistical Assistance
- Richard Noll, Tooling Metrologist (WA) -- Track Casting Expert, Animal Tracker,
Photographer
- Thomas Powell, Science Teacher (OR) -- Exped. Coordination, Bait Experiments,
Photographer
- Derek Randles, Landscape Architect (WA) -- Animal Tracker, Logistical Assistance
- Matt Moneymaker, Consultant (CA) -- Expedition Organizer; Sound Experiments
Expedition Objectives
- Track physical evidence of
Sasquatch through spoor (tracks, hair, scat, discarded
food/cache, views)
- Observe wildlife sound responses
to high volume broadcast of purported Sasquatch recorded
calls
- Test viability of using
Infra-red thermal & starlight imagery as nighttime detection
tools for wildlife
- Entice wildlife into favorable
tracking conditions and possible observations by placing bait
food items
- Attract Sasquatch to favorable
tracking conditions and potential viewing by placing pheromone
chips
Saturday PM 16 Sep 2000
Conditions: partly cloudy, no wind
- Establish base camp presence along open clearcut graveled
road at approx 3700 ft elevation.
- Pleasant and beautiful view southeast face of Mt St. Helens.
Mt Adams visible short walk to north clearcut edge.
- Great Horned Owl pair close calling from nearby forest.
- Coyote close to base camp during night, retreats to nearby
canyon, yips & barks, sounds upset with finding a human base
camp along gravel road/trails in mid-age clearcut.
- Northern Pigmy Owl pair calling at dawn along forest-clearcut
edge.
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Sunday 17 Sep 2000
Conditions: Clear weather, warm, night clear no wind
On scene: Fish, Noll, Randles
Activities
Clearcut and forest edge explored.
Camp sign, fire pit, latrine, reference track pit, and tables
established at base camp.
Observations
- Located extensive Black Bear scat sign along forest ridge
above creek valley. Elk, deer, bear, coyote sign extensive on
several trails, especially along forest-clearcut edge. Hiked into
meadow areas north of base camp, heard grunts & barks of cow
Elk.
- Heard and observed a trail biker in areas of interest.
- Someone stayed at camp continuously to keep camp presence and
make potential observations.
- Several Gray Jay made early appearance and were observed
frequently throughout our stay.
- Other avian species readily observed during daylight
included: Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Yellow-rumped (Audubon)
Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Common
Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Flicker,
Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
- Native mammals & spoor observed during our stay included:
Black-tailed Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Black Bear, Mountain Lion,
Coyote, Townsend's Chipmunk, Hudsonian Pine Squirrel, Porcupine,
White-footed Deer Mouse, Pine Martin, Bushy-tailed Woodrat, and
possible Sasquatch.
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Monday 18 Sep 2000
Conditions: clear weather, high cirrus, cooler, no wind
On scene: Fish, Noll, Randles, Lemley, Lee, Bambenek
Activities
Regional surveillance to nearby buttes, huckleberry fields,
upper Lewis River and Randle area.
Placed initial pheromone chips (developed by Greg B) near base
camp after dark in ground fog.
Locate potential satellite camp at hill top (east ridge).
Observations & Results
- Observed broken trees in line leading from meadows.
- Great Horned Owl distant calling from forest.
- Distant Coyote howl & yips across creek canyon.
- Large deep depressions found in loose dirt bank near hill top
satellite camp.
- Explored ravine and closed woods between base camp and hill
top satellite camp. Extensive elk and deer sign in relatively
deep compacted trails.
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Tuesday 19 Sep 2000
Conditions: Clear weather to partly cloudy, night clear, no
wind
On scene: Moneymaker, Bambenek, Fish, Henick, Lemley, Mort, Noll,
Powell, Pugsley, Randles, Terry, Searle
Activities
Local surveillance and tracking search of clearcut,
surrounding forest, east ridge satellite camp.
Camp duties: rearrange food boxes, tables, stoves, water supply,
grill, canopies.
Transport and setup hilltop satellite camp for high volume
broadcast of Tahoe vocalization recording using John Freitas'
sound blasting equipment and compact disc player.
Place additional pheromone chips near satellite camp and creek
sandbar.
Deploy night teams to Hilltop satellite camp and meadow areas to
north.
Deploy crew with thermal camera to hilltop for night
surveillance of clearcut and timber edges.
Broadcast vocalization recordings from Hilltop satellite
camp.
Extensive radio communications with associated noise.
Infrared light source camcorders deployed.
Starlight scope with camcorder deployed.
Observations & Results
- Photographic documentation of group activities, camp setups,
clearcut and surrounding forest characteristics, document track
ways, and bear scat area. Noll locates potential Sasquatch track
near old campsite along lower half of ridge east of base
camp.
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- Searle detects unusual sounds in ravine using boom
microphone, Noll & Randles detect movement, breaking sticks
and crash within the clearcut below base camp. Mort hears bipedal
movement back and forth, breaking sticks and crash with high
sensitivity microphone at close range. No recordings made.
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- Starlight scope seemed to be the best night tracking device
with the most flexibility.
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- No Sasquatch sightings occurred.
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- Sounds of movement heard near camp could have been black
bear, etc.
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- The thermal camera had been supplied that morning in
Portland. This camera equipment had never been used by anyone on
expedition, or in this type of environment. It was being tested
by crew on this first night in operation at hill top camp. The
thermal imaging capacity was remarkable -- exactly like police
helicopter FLIR, but in a handheld unit. The unit worked well
within 100 yards. Lack of zoom capability meant lack of detail
beyond 100 yards. Human figures discernable up to 1/3 mile.
Problems: Thermal camera batteries drained within one hour (per
battery). Recharging took longer than battery drainage, so
thermal camera had to be used sparingly -- only when sounds were
heard.
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- Tahoe recordings were broadcast at approximately one hour
intervals by Moneymaker.
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- Henick and Powell took up position in meadows to the the
north. They could hear recording broadcasts clearly, and then
heard a return call about 4:20am. The return call sounded similar
to broadcast vocalization. It was distant and originated further
north in the meadow area. Fifteen minutes later Moneymaker
instructs Henick via radio to do some wood knocks at the edge of
the meadow. A few minutes after Henick makes knocking sounds,
Henick hears return knocks were heard from within a half mile.
Powell and Henick listen for a while longer then return to hill
top from meadow. Powell, Henick return with Lemley to base camp
and turn in for the night.
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- Moneymaker stays by himself on the hill top for the rest of
the night to listen for more sounds coming from meadow. No
further sounds heard.
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Wednesday 20 Sep 2000
Conditions: Weather cloudy to partly cloudy, night clear, no
wind
On scene: Moneymaker, Bambenek, Fish, Henick, Lemley, Mort, Noll,
Powell, Pugsley, Randles, Terry, Searle
Activities
Tracking surveillance of clearcut, west clearcut ridge, small
clearcut creek into north and northwest forest area above creek.
Ravine and canyon east of base camp to meadows and to distant
meadows beyond butte.
Move hilltop satellite camp and broadcast system back to base
camp area.
Re-deploy sound broadcast system next to Moneymaker, 100 yds
north of central Base Camp.
Explore and deploy crew for daytime and thermal image
photography to rock pinnacle above clearcut at northwest corner,
mostly due west of base camp.
Nighttime teams in pairs deployed to hill top (east ridge),
meadows beyond hilltop, and rock overlook on west ridge. Thermal
camera scans clearcut and base camp from rock overlook at 1/3
mile.
Observations & Results
- During the day extended tracking yielded three potential
Sasquatch tracks in different areas. One is a 17 inch long
impression.
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- At night, between midnight and 1am, broadcast calls had
distinctive return screams from up to two Sasquatches about half
minute after the broadcast of a recorded scream (Tahoe
recording). Several of expeditions participants were familiar
with known wildlife scream sounds, including elk, mountain lion,
barred owl, and other owls species. The return screams matched
none of those animals and were far out of range in terms of
volume, timbre, pitch, harmonics. The broadcast of the Tahoe
scream, which seemed to elicit the Sasquatch screams, had been
preceded by the broadcast of a howl recording some ten minutes
earlier. The live return screams were characterized as much
louder, more distinct, more natural and harmonious than the
broadcast call. Almost every team member heard the return calls.
Each described the general direction from their position via
radio. Bambenek and Terry were listening from hill top location
and were the closest to the screams. Bambenek and Terry indicated
the direction as directly east of hill top and approximately 300
yards away.
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- The return scream(s) were heard twice with an approx. five
second interval. A third repetition began but stopped abruptly
when several coyotes began howling from different directions.
After about 20 minutes the Tahoe scream recording was broadcast
again. No return screams this time. Everyone waited and listened
for a couple hours for another return scream. Nothing further was
heard. Everyone eventually returned to base camp. At base camped
everyone compared notes about the screams and their direction, to
identify the most likely area to search for tracks the following
morning.
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- Earlier in the evening the crew was closely approached by an
animal that was thought to be a mountain lion. It was seen by
John Mort and Jeff Lemley briefly within about 15 feet of that
group. The animal fled as the cameras and lights were being
turned around to film it. After several attempts to scan the
clearcut with the thermal camera, to look for any large mammals
to record, the unit shut down due to high humidity. Lemley, Mort,
Pugsley and Searle returned to base camp after it was determined
that the thermal camera was no longer usable that night.
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Thursday 21 Sep 2000
Conditions: Cloudy, intermittent showers & rain, night
clearing, no wind, 28 degrees, frost on everything, first new
seasonal snows appeared on Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams.
On scene: Moneymaker, Bambenek, Fish, Henick, Lemley, Lee, Mort,
Noll, Powell, Pugsley, Randles, Terry, Searle
Activities
Extensive searching for Sasquatch tracks in potential areas
where natural screams were heard the previous night.
Erected canopy tarps over camp fire.
Thermal camera set up at camp to scan the adjacent open clearcut
and east ridge to rock pinnacle overlook.
Thermal camera used from vehicle along roads.
Place fruit, cut and whole, at various places within a few miles
from camp where approaching animal tracks would be visible
Observations & Results
- Trackers locate an indistinct track way from the night before
along an old moss covered logging road. Tracks only registered
rare depressions in moss with an occasional displaced rock, tuft
of moss, or small bunch of grass. No definitive tracks were found
-- soil not permitting distinct tracks. Trackers spent some 4 or
5 hours on a quarter mile of potential tracks. Bear and elk sign
were also present but not easily followed either.
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- Thermal camera scanning of clearcuts yielded a warm spot
below the rock pinnacle overlook on the steep hillside west of
base camp. Powell, Lemley and Searle drive to the west ridge and
climbed down the hillslope to investigate the warm spot about 1/3
mile from the base camp. The approach to the warm spot filmed by
Pugsley through the thermal camera at the base camp. The group is
seen through the thermal camera approaching the warm spot.
Moneymaker directs the group closer. Powell radios back that the
warm spot is beneath an rock overhang. The Australian, Searle,
volunteers to jump down to to opening of the overhang with a
flashlight. The others don't object. Searle jumps down to the
opening and finds the cavity empty. The thermal camera sees that
nothing has run away. The warm spot is still there. It is three
times the size of Searle, and Searle is standing right in front
of it. Searle puts his hand on the slanted wall of the overhang.
It's warm, having been heated by the morning sun. Searle radios
back that the rock wall under the overhang had not cooled by the
rain that came later that day, hence the temperature differential
seen through the thermal camera.
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- After the trio returns, Powell seeks volunteers to help put
out the fruit that was brought along for bait. Noll takes a batch
of melons for baiting. Moneymaker asks for volunteers to drive
the roads to scan for animal with the thermal camera. Noll,
Searle and Moneymaker go in Noll's vehicle. Searle uses the
thermal camera from the sunroof. At various points Noll stops and
cuts open fruit and leaves it along roads.
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- Back at the camp, Fish broadcasts Tahoe screams at 45
intervals. About 20 minutes after the second scream broadcast,
Randles and Fish both hear a distant return call coming from
south of base camp. No further sounds heard.
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- The mobile team radios base camp to request assistance from
several miles away. The vehicle's alternator is malfunctioning
and the vehicle needs to be jump started. Powell and Fish respond
in Fish's PU truck, find the vehicle, get it started, and escort
it back to camp. The vehicle battery is not recharging (bad
alternator) and needs to be jump started four more times before
it can be nursed back to base camp.
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- After vehicles return to base camp at approx. 2:30 am,
Randles and Fish decide to place more fruit piles at several
spots, all in soft soil where tracks of approaching animals would
be apparent the following morning. Randles and Fish place fruit
piles at three different locations within three miles from base
camp then return to base camp about 0330 for sleep.
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Friday 22 Sep 2000
Conditions: Weather clear, windy, night clear, windy,
freezing (24F), frost heave on dirt tracking areas.
On scene: Moneymaker, Bambenek, Fish, Lemley, Lee, Mort, Noll,
Powell, Pugsley, Randles, Terry, Searle
Activities
Check and monitor fruit placement, kind of fruit eaten,
determine tracks and visitation of cache locations.
Broadcast Sasquatch calls around midnight. Every person stays at
base camp.
Use boom box to broadcast tapes of children playing and baby
crying.
Place additional fruit and peanuts at baiting sites.
Observations & Results
- Fish, Noll and Randles leave camp near 9:00am to check bait
sites. Fruit gone from gravel pit bank, still present in wet area
of gravel pit. Fruit gone from roadside. Mud site has fruit
missing, 3 out of six apples gone. Melons pecked by birds,
probably ravens. Old tracks in mud include elk, deer, bear,
coyote. The most obvious fresh tracks were coyote and
undetermined deep marks. Noll, Randles, and Fish notice an
unusual impression in the transition mud at the edge of the muddy
pool area. The three trackers discuss the strange imprint, then
suddenly it dawns what animal caused it. Fish and Randles note
the shock on Noll's face. Each tracker comes closer to have
another look, discussions follow for 2-3 minutes. The three
observe and note the various parts of the impression, and the
chunks of chewed apple apparently spewed about over the
imprint.
The base camp is alerted. Everyone comes to see the impression.
All conclude the animal sat down at the edge of the mud, then
leaned down on its left forearm and reaching out over the soft
mud to grab the fruit with its right hand a distance of about
three feet. The group discusses the possible reasons why the
animal might have done this, instead of simply walking into the
wet mud to grab the fruit, as the other animals may have done.
The mud is only a few inches deep. One possible explanation is
immediately apparent -- the animal did not want to leave tracks.
The marks it did leave are much less distinct than footprints --
relatively shallow and easy to miss from even a short distance
away. There was speculation about why it didn't want to leave
obvious footprints in the mud. Another possible explanation
involves the animal also being cautious by simply sitting down to
observe the new situation before taking overt action.
The mud site is within earshot of our camp. If the animals had
been generally circling our camp for the past few nights, they
would have walked passed or near this mud site more than once.
The general area sees a lot of hunters at certain times of year.
It seems that even a less intelligent species inhabiting this
area would try to avoid humans. It's not a stretch to think this
rather intelligent primate species would not want to leave its
distinctive tracks at a spot where hunters would likely pass by.
If these animals have been avoiding confrontations with humans
for thousands of years, might this behavior -- avoidance of
leaving distinctive footprints -- be an ancient survival
strategy?
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- Several experienced Sasquatch field researchers in the group
noted that they had likely seen this behavior before -- track
patterns suggesting the animals did not want to leave obvious
tracks behind -- relatively consistent avoidance of soils that
would have left the most clear track impressions. This is in
contrast to most other large mammals, which usually don't make
special efforts, or take special paths, to avoid leaving tracks
behind. We also noted that in cases where lots of clear Sasquatch
tracks have been found, the locations were usually in very remote
areas that saw little to no human human traffic -- such as Bluff
Creek in the late 1950's.
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- Light coyote tracks are observed on the surface of the rump
and thigh of the body print, suggesting that coyotes arrived
sometime after the Sasquatch left or were kept at bay during the
primate visit. A second pile of chewed up apple is found on a
different part of the mud pool, indicating there may have been
more than one Sasquatch present or a single individual could have
moved. It is noted that an elk, deer, coyote, etc., would
probably have eaten the entire apple and not spewed out the seeds
or core.
Two other important things noted:
- The evidence indicated the impression must have been left
sometime between 3:00am and 9:00am.
- The distant scream heard the night before came from the
general direction of this mud area, which is why some fruit piles
were placed in this direction from camp.
As photos and videos and measurements are taken of the body
print by various BFRO people, discussion shifts to physically
preserving the imprint. The imprint must first be protected
against drying in the sun. The print is already starting to dry
out. If the mud dries completely the impression will crack and
crumble as the casting materials are applied. The fine details
will turn to dust. A make-shift cover is constructed from large
rocks holding up a sheet of plywood to protect the mud from
drying in the morning sun.
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A full tally of available plaster and other casting materials is
calculated to see if one large cast can be made of the body
imprint. Among the group there is about 150 pounds of Hydrocal
B-11 and some 50 plus pounds of Plaster of Paris. Aluminum tent
poles are offered to reinforce the large cast. Sleeping bag pads
and air mattresses are offered to cushion the cast for transport
off the mountain.
Noll directs the casting process. The various people document
the entire process of making the cast with their camcorders.
A cast is produced that is roughly 3.5X4.5 feet, weighing a few
hundred pounds. Several people are required to lift the cast out
of the mud. Several pounds of mud are removed from the underside
of the cast before it is lifted onto a pile of sleeping bag pads
in the back of a truck.
The apple pieces are collected prior to casting, with the hope
that saliva with buccal, cheek, and gum cells will be present on
the apple pieces and can be used for DNA analysis.
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Saturday 23 Sep 2000
Conditions: Morning: sunny, clear, slightly cold and breezy
On scene: Moneymaker, Bambenek, Fish, Lemley, Lee, Mort, Noll, Pugsley, Randles,
Searle
Activities
Break camp travel home
Check fruit cache locations
Observations
- Ravens present at fruit cache during early morning
check.
- No fresh tracks of large wildlife present because the mud
imprint area was frozen and frost heaved..
- Participants pack up and leave steadily through morning and
mid day.
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