DATE: About mid August of 1980. This was, I remember, The first day of bow hunting season. That means that it was the first day that there would have been a lot of people wandering in the hills. 

LOCATION: Butte Meadows CA, in the mountains about 40 miles north of Chico 

OBSERVED: I was driving down into the campground area at about 6:30 am and I saw a large dark colored shapewalking in the willows along the creek. At first I thought it was a person, but it did not walk like a person. It had a very fluid walk with an exaggerated arm swing.

ENVIRONMENT: I was coming into Butte meadows on the Bull Roan. As you approach the community you drop down a grade to Butte Creek. The thing I saw was about 200 yards
downstream from the bridge, and on the opposite side of the creek from the campground. 
 

CONFIDENTIALITY: I would not want to see myself quoted in the Enquirer, but would be
agreeable to contact by legitmate researchers. 

COMMENTS: A very interesting site. I have not told this story more than a couple of times because I felt that no one would believe me, or care. 
 
 

Here is what my wife and I saw:

During the late summer of 1986 my wife Mary and I were driving east on highway 50 heading
toward Lake Tahoe at about 11:30 p.m. We were about 25 to 30 miles west of Lake Tahoe when
we approached an S curve. As we made a right turn, the road curved toward a mountainside and then turned away to the left. While making the right turn however, our headlights were facing the side of a hill and something else, we were not prepared for.

About 40 yards directly in front of us, we saw a huge hairy man like creature walking along the side of this hill at the roadside our headlights were directly on it and there was no mistaking what we saw at that distance, as we made the left turn away from the hill the thing disappeared in the darkness.  My wife and I stared off ahead, and as we drove a short distance, both turned to look at each other and we said, "did you see that" I knew I hadn't imagined it, because she saw it too.

Now the problem was who we could tell without sounding crazy, so we never told a soul, but I've
been searching for the right person to tell because it's been eating at me for all these years, I hope you are the person I’ve been seeking.  Thank you in advance, and by the way, just so there is no question about my sanity,  I am a sworn peace officer for the state of California, and just telling you this could ruin my reputation and make me the butt of jokes for the next ten years.
 

It resembles a human foot almost with the exception of the size, claws and the contours to it are quite different than a human print. I found the print near a small stream about 10 miles north-and east of Placerville CA. there were several prints in the area and tree branches that were broken along the stream. Only one print was worth looking at so I took some pictures of it. The next day I went back to the area and took a plaster cast of it as well.. 

I took the print to the fish and game to see if it was perhaps just a bear print or something... They thought it was a joke. I put the print in my closet and it has been there ever since. I doubt that I will ever do anything with it, but thought that if you are interested in looking at it sometime I would be happy to share it with you if you think it would be of some help to you..

If you would like to publish any of this info I would like to remain anonymous... thanks!    7-7-97 
Anonymity intact 
 

LOCATION : Klamath National Forest, California (west of the Klamath River). We had followed
the river north til we found a feeder stream and headed west. Lat/Long ?, before a hand-held GPS was affordable on the civilian market. 

OBSERVED : Saw a form walking upright at a distance of 200+ yards. We were a little excited
(more like scared shitless). There was enough light to just make out that whatever it was, was moving on two legs. We found where it had gouged out the soft earth on the stream it crossed. No discernible footprints, but whatever made the gouge was big. We had to wag  (wild-ass-guess) at the length, over 19 inches. It was longer than the tip of my extended fingers to my elbow. The grass going across the meadow didn't allow for footprints but was pressed down several hours later. We didn't follow the trail towards the trees!! 

It had been watching us for around 15 minutes, give or take 5. I was asleep when my friend woke me up. Said he heard something moving above us on the exposed rock above our camp. He had his 9mm (personal protection from the typical axe murderer you meet while camping) in hand and was a little wound up. We listened to it move around with the ocassional skip like someone was jumping a short distance to another rock. It moved behind us then down into the meadow that surrounded the stream we were camping on. We saw it cross the stream and slip as it went across on the other side. It moved across the meadow at a quartering angle away from us and into the tree-line. 

We know it wasn't a bear. We had several run-ins with bears trying to get our food cache at night in Yosemite. Thought we would get away from the crowds on this backpacking trip. Good call, huh? Once we calmed down we discussed what we think we saw, we both came to the same conclusion. I know we didn't halucinate. Our eyes had time to adjust before we finally got a visual of it moving across the meadow. We stayed awake until we had enough light to look the area over quickly and then beat feet out of there. 

WITNESSES : Myself, somewhat credible I like to think. Friend also credible. Both Air Force
pilots, we were going through training at Castle AFB in Merced, CA. We would go backpacking
one weekend a month instead of swilling beer. 
 

Observed: A friend and I were camping and he walked to Founder's Grove. He was on his way
back when he heard a crash and a scream on the hill above the road, then another crash and then russling in the bushes closer to him. He stopped and waited. Nothing moved, but he said he could hear something breathing.

I was about 1/2 mile away on the riverbed of the South Fork of the Eel River when I heard a very
LOUD scream in the forest north of my position approximately in the area where my friend later told me his adventures occured.

This occured at 7:00pm-8:00pm on 09/22/95 a: Humbolt Redwoods State Park, Burlington
Campgrounds, between Weott (north) and Meyers Flat (south), Humbolt County, California.
 

DATE: All of this occurred between 5 and 6pm on a day in the middle of July, 1982. 

LOCATION: County of Mendocino near Fort Bragg, CA, USA. Incident occurred between 5 and
10 miles inland in a fairly isolacamping area used by a summer camp organization. 

OBSERVED: It was dinner time and all campers were summoned to the evening meal outside the main lodge approximately 1/4 mile from my tent. I was not able to make it to dinner on time because I had a bloody nose and needed to lay down for a few minutes. After about 5 minutes, I returend to the nearby restroom to clean up and that's when the incident occurred. What I didn't see because of high bushes between me and the sound, I did hear very clearly. I heard footsteps in the brush above the restroom. Whatever it was, was moving very slowly. I remember thinking that it was either a person walking very leisurely or something bigger walking at a normal gait. I didn't quite know what to do so, on an impulse, I made a growling sound. Then the footsteps stopped, but resumed a few seconds later. I repeated the growl and the same thing happened. Since I was alone and frankly a bit nervous since there was not supposed to be anyone else up in the woods with me at that time, I decided to go to dinner. I told some fellow campers about the incident during dinner and they were all a bit skeptical. But after dinner we returned to the area and decided to head toward the exact spot where the footstep sounds were eminating from. I knew before seeing the footprints what I had
heard since there had been stories of sightings in the area. The ground was very solid but I managed to make out several manlike footprints in the dirt, only they were much larger. My fellow campers verified what I saw. We decided to try and follow the prints, but since they were so shallow it was difficult to determine the direction the creature had taken. But within a few minutes, our job was made easier because I once again heard the mysterious footstep noise. This time a fellow camper and myself decided to chase the creature making the noice so we took off running in the direction of the noise. After about a minute of running uphill, I brought us to a halt to listen. We now heard the creature running away from us very quickly. We pursued it for a few more minutes, but the only thing we found was one set of toeprints in the area where the creature had been running from us. Of special note: I do not recall experiencing the bad odor that it supposed to be associated with the Bigfoot creature. 

ENVIRONMENT: The camping area was in the great Redwoods area in Mendocino, CA. There
was a creek nearby. Since the camp was called Caritas Creek, I am assuming that was the name of the creek. There were wooden frames for the tents and one main lodge. The area was hilly and there had been prior incidents reported in the past in the same vicinity as this incident. 

ACTIVITIES OF WITNESS(ES): I was lying down before dinner. 
 

Subject: Re: story- -reply 

Well, i think it was 1977... I was squatting in the woods out little lake road of Mendocino California.. I'd spent most of my life in the woods of California or Maine.. even had resident pet black bears that would come to the open dump at the back of the property. 

One night, I'm laying in my tent...I dont remember if it was late (2 am) and I woke up or if it was earlier in the night (say 11 pm) and I was just going to sleep. Through the woods (about fifty yards away is my guess) the stomping and crashing of  smaller trees started going on.  It was loud.  I was surprised at first and a little afraid because I was squatting illegally on state property. With my familiarity of  the noises of the night in the woods, I listened carefully to try to determine or identify what was making the noise. My first assessment was that it was bi-ped...not a bear or a dear. Realizing this...scared me the most. 

Understanding the force necessary to cause the destructive sounds I was listening to scared me even further... I dont know if profanity is allowed or acceptable, but I was more effin afraid than I could ever remember, praying that what I was listening to would'nt start moving towards my tent! 

The noise sounded like a two-legged monster crashing through the woods hastily as if trying to make quick time CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH !!! it was then I realized that I heard a dog (or two, I dont remember) barking in pursuit. Gratefully the noise was not coming towards me and I suspected that whatever was moving so quickly and violently through the woods was tryingn to elude the dog(s). 

I think this whole event lasted about 30 seconds and then the crashing stopped.  Then, the next scariest thing happened!  The dog barked a few more times and then it made that sound dogs make when they are brutally injured. After that...I did not hear a single damned thing except the fearwhitenoise inside my head. 

You know... 

I worked as a split maker for a year on LP land in Mendo County and as a timber operator for about five years east of Fort Bragg and Mendocino.. I worked alone very often.  I was surprised to read a post on a website wherein the person who wrote it also said they often felt (and somehow knew) they were not alone when in the woods.  I would turn off my chainsaw now and then and I could "feel" something watching me. 

The last strange thing in would share with you about the 22 years of my life 2 - 12 miles east of Fort Bragg in the woods is the frequent discovery of disemboweled animals. Simply that.... ..disemboweled...the rest of the animal in tact.  What an eclectic mix we are in the wonderful county of Mendocino. 

On the morning after this encounter.... I found what would be considered normal damage made by a large creature thrashing throught the woods.. No obvious signs that it was or wasnt sasquatch... no obvious signs that the dog(s) had been killed or maimed....I moved my tent to be sure. 
 

LOCATION: Plumas National Forest (Granite Basin), Near Bucks Lake. 
the nearest town is Quincy, California 

OBSERVED: **Saturday October 17th, approx time 9:00pm**.  It was completely dark where we were.  We had quite a large fire lit at the time.  Nothing was found.  Approximately at 9:00pm at night after dinner we were all around the fire cracking jokes a laughing quite a bit.  We go on the trips to the Granite Basin area at least twice a year.  My friend Mark owes mineral rights to several mines in the area.  The area is catacombed with several mines. Also noted, the area has many streams and creeks with beautiful clear water.  Also noted, this is a very healthy forest with much new growth.

Anyway, we were talking and laughing (my friend Mark is a loud person) and I have said that more than once how far I can hear him.  All of the sudden he comes to me and says "Andrew, shut up and listen"  Mark seemed a bit riled up so I did what he asked.  What I heard next, I will never EVER forget.  It was this horrible screeming sound that I have heard before on my download from the Art Bell radio show. The one where you hear the sound he talks about saying "Bigfoot experts have confirmed this sound" "and how you would never, ever, want to hear it in the dark of the night in the woods." It was the SAME SOUND!!!  I am sure of it.  Would state my life on it. It was farther away than the screems on the recording and could be missed if you were to talk.  But make no mistake, once we all shut up, and we did, we all heard this.  It even repeated like the screems in the recording. 

Someone suggested perhaps a coyotee.  No way, Mark and I are experience woodsman, and I have been inches away from Bears backpacking in Yosemite and have Coyotee's where I live!  I know what a wolf sounds like. This was not even close to those sounds.  Also noted, as soon as Mark originally told me to shut up and listen, we both verified the sound as being the one
in the recording at the same time!!!!  It was that unmistakeable.  We have listened to numerous
recordings and the one stated above is the only one that sounded like the calls, screams we heard that night.  Also noted, the noise changed briefly on one call and sounded (don't laugh) like someone strangling a cat.  Also noted, it almost seemed like it heard us becuse the sound would stop and someone would make a joke and we would laugh and then we would hear it immeidatly after making noise. 

Also noted, could not judge distance but it seemed like it was a couple of miles away (just a
guess).  Also noted, the sound came from above the basin where we were.  We had taken a 12
guage out, and fired it twice after this went on for a few minutes.  Heard no more sounds after this. We do not hunt animals (we do not believe in shooting animals) we target shoot and go skeet shooting.  We would never ever want to shoot one of these animals, save of course using a camera. Also noted, the night before early in the morning I heard what sounded like somone walking around our camp very softly and carefully.  I did not even think about it at the time and it was to damn cold to even want to get out of my tent.  No prints, smell, or any sighting was observed. I asked if anyone was out at the time and the answer was no.  Also noted, I was prety shaken after hearing this unnerving sound.  I pretty much stayed by the fire the rest of the night.  Looked often into the darkeness but saw nothing. No other animal sound was reported the rest of the night. 

After I got home I played the sound to the rest of our camp group, they all verified that it "sure did sound like what we heard."  Although, some of the guys had trouble digesting this.  But still verified what I am saying here about the same sound. Also noted, it was opening weekend for hunting season but did not see anyone. 

ENVIRONMENT: Granite Baisin is what it referres to.  Thick forest with lots of granite around. 
Gold country.  Lots of mines in the area. Lots of streems, creeks in the area.  Beautiful country.  Lots of logging roads.  Most of the mines are abandoned and old.  I would guess the elevation is approx 6,000 feet give or take 1,000. 

ALSO NOTICED: Early in the morning the night before I heard what sounded like someone lightly walking through our camp.  No one was up at the time, I asked if anyone was taking a leak at the time and everyone said no.  I was up at the time becuse my friend Mark snores like a bear. 

ACTIVITIES OF WITNESS(ES): Just finished dinner and were hanging out by 
the fire, cleaning up some of the dishes and cracking jokes. 
 
 

Five of those may have been hoaxed, but two disserve further discussion. The first one occurred at 1:15 a.m. on February 13,1994. Mary and Jerry Cain, Quincy's only bakers, were returning from Reno. Near Lee Summit, ten miles east of town, a large fur covered animal crossed Hwy. 70 in front of their car and strolled up a steep bank and into the forest. It looked exactly like the many drawings they'd seen of Bigfoot . 

They doubt this was someone dressed in a Gorilla costume. When it was light, Mary and Jerry returned to the scene and found large, deep footprints in the snow. They took pictures of the prints, wrote a narrative of their adventure and posted the information on the wall of their bakery. I've had a chance to study the photos and I'm convinced they aren't contrived; I've also spoken to the Cains and I believe they're telling the truth about their experiences. The second sighting
happened near Cemetery Hill, an area which divides east and west Quincy.

It was about 11:30 p.m. on October 16,1995 when Larry Riddle, out for a stroll, smelled what he thought was rotting garbage. As he was looking for the source of the smell, he felt he was being watched. He turned and saw an eight foot, fur covered creature watching him. Riddle lived near Yellowstone most of his life:  "I'm familiar with bears and this was not a bear". He stated that there was no bearlike snout. He also refuses to believe it was someone trying to fool him. He felt it would be hard to mimic an eight-foot-tall Bigfoot. "I'm sure I'm going to get laughed at" Riddle said. "This thing was real. This thing was real."