The Buhs vs. Moneymaker Comment War, Dr. Jeff Meldrum Replies, plus My Meeting with Mr. Matt

BUHS INTERVIEW UPDATES!

Further investigation and conversation with author Joshua Blu Buhs (go to his own blog in this and the next colored text link) over his book, BIGFOOT: The Life and Times of a Legend (see our previous POST for a massive and I hope incisive 20-page interview) has unearthed a COMMENTS WAR between he and the founder of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), Matt Moneymaker.

For those of you in the bigfooting world who might think I went too easily on Mr. Buhs in my article (hey, I did want to keep him talking, and besides, he seems to be a truly good guy) might want to check out these two book review pages. BE SURE to look down to the comments field below the main text, and read the big one until the end. It's a full-on battle! And Moneymaker really takes him to task, even perhaps somewhat too far at the end, as the site moderator eventually shut down the comments thread. Buhs, though, does hold his own in the fray, and a few other interesting characters join in the debate along the way.

[Image above, a display projection from Dr. John Bindernagel's presentation at the 2009 Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up]

Here is the major one (click the LINKED colored text, folks; but DO come on back here): the review on the Laelaps blog, after a review by one Brian Switek. Moneymaker's comments start down at # 5 and finish at #44, and you'll find Buhs and others entering the fray all along the way.

Another review was previously published at the Washington Post web site, with a brief comments flap, too.

[Image, Matt Moneymaker speaks up defending the Skookum Cast at the Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up]

Some excerpts? OK, I give in. Here, I quote from the WaPo site:
MONEYMAKER: "Joshua Blu Bahs [editor: sic, sp., intentional?] is the type of author who embarks on a project like this with a marketing angle in mind, rather than a sincere desire to uncover the truth. Joshua knew what his conclusion was going to be long before he did any "research". Once he dreamed up an angle of argumentation, then his only "research" were his efforts in collecting material that would support his argument. The simple fact that he claims, among many other patently false statements, that "no tracks have ever been authenticated" and "no footage has ever stood up to scrutiny" basically reveals that Joshua Blu Bahs is a fraud. His angle was to write a book crafted to appeal to uninformed people [who] would tend to be skeptical. He assumed (just like another demonstrable fraud named David Daegling) that the skeptical audience is a larger audience than the "believer" audience. The fact is, the vast majority of people who tend to be skeptical about the existence of these animals... do not really care either way. Furthermore, anyone, even an ardent scientist-skeptic, who HONESTLY and FULLY investigates this subject, comes to the tentative conclusion that they do exist, just as Robert Michael Pyle did, after he had a legit Class B encounter while doing *honest* research and investigation for his book. The type of authors who honestly want to know the truth spend at least a *little* time in field. Whereas Joshua only did his selective research over the Internet. His research is dishonest, and his book is a marketing scam ... and I could prove all of that in court if I ever needed to."

To that Buhs had a reply.

BUHS: "I would like to state for the record that I did not embark on this book for marketing books. Second, I did not do my research "over the internet." As the reviewer astutely notes, 'Buhs's real mission is to track not the creature itself but rather its shadow in the popular imagination.' Which means I have little or nothing to say about those who have seen Bigfoot. My point, instead, is to look at the various meanings attached to the beast. In the course of six-years research I came to certain conclusions about the existence of the beast. Others come to different conclusions. We can debate the evidence, but that is not the point of the book at all. The exact same methods could have been used to analyze a creature of undoubted existence. Indeed, my first book did that. It was called The Fire Ant Wars and used the same analytical tools to understand how and why people have thought about Solenopsis invicta, the red imported fire ant. Before accusing someone of bad faith, it is always worthwhile at least reading the book."

And hey, that is just the START of the battle, which commenced May 5th of this year 2009. The thing really exploded on the Laelaps science blog starting on June 9th. You'll have to follow that one to the end by going there. I won't even try to cover it here.

[Images, the "hyper-cool" Buhs author-dude from the book's DJ flap, and the laid back California dad Buhs from his blog.]

To be totally fair and balanced, since I talked about Buhs a bunch in my last post, I should mention that we at Bigfoot Books had the honor of a Moneymaker sighting last month on our very own front porch. Contrary to all the crazy myths and legends about him spread by a few angry BFRO defectors and apostates, despite the competitive bigfooting jealousies that some feel about the BFRO, the man himself is a very open, friendly and savvy conversationalist, and quite intelligent. We talked for over three hours, and he answered all my questions without taking offense, even the controversial ones. Asked about the notion some spread that the BFRO is some kind of a cult, and he is the leader, Matt said, "There is no cult or cult of personality. If there is a cult it is about Bigfoot [not the BFRO or me]." I was very favorably impressed. I'd say anyone who doubts Moneymaker's sincerity and critical abilities is simply a fool, or misled. When I told him the story of my own possible bigfoot encounter he eyed me skeptically the whole time, like some Hercule Poirot-type investigator, but he grew excited when certain aspects of the story rang true and consistent with other bigfoot encounters and behaviors with which he is quite familiar. Contrary to some popular beliefs, there were no blood oaths nor satanic vows, nor pentagrams and infant sacrifice, no attempted CIA or MK-ULTRA mind control either--he just signed me up, without my even asking, to access the BFRO private database and reporting features. Does that make me a BFRO member? I guess so, and hey, my mind is still working freely! Matt's cool in my (bigfoot) book.

ANGRY BIGFOOT SPEAKS:
And, by the way, accusations that the Yakima Round-Up was some kind of BFRO stage-managed event are really totally absurd (read about the "controversy" on Cryptomundo HERE and HERE, or go HERE to the JREF Forums to see how people's egos can really get inflamed over basically nothing: and yes, the last link contains the infamously misinterpreted Bobo's "Ass Whoopin' Letter"). I've talked that issue over up and down and all around with Tom Yamarone, James Bobo Fay, even Scott Herriott himself and others, and find it all pretty damn baseless. Whatever affiliations and debates might exist, Bigfooters are an untamed and individualistic lot, and surely will ever remain so. If we want to find Bigfoot, let's keep our eyes on the prize, folks.

Meanwhile, on the home front, we've received some comments from Dr. Jeff Meldrum, of Idaho State University whose review of Buhs' book in The Bigfoot Times got my interview with Buhs rolling in the first place. Here you go...

JEFF MELDRUM: Steve, I enjoyed reading your interview with Joshua. It was very enlightening and helpful in clarifying some of his positions. I had to chuckle at his familiar comment that the reviewer of his ant book /didn't get it/. Apparently, Joshua isn't having much luck making himself understood :-) I do think that had some of the substance of this interview been incorporated into his book, my review would have been quite different. I may not have /gotten/ his intent, but you certainly understood my disagreement with his approach and apparent conclusions. You did an excellent job making your points and drawing out of him, in my opinion, a clearer expression of his objectives at least. Thanks for sharing this! Jeff

[Image, a sun-fried Jeff Meldrum doing his presentation at the Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up]

BIGFOOT BOOKS: Hey Jeff, Thanks! I'm glad you liked it, and that you could get through the whole thing (sorry, I tend to be a wordy writer, and so does Mr. Buhs sometimes). Anyway, I found Buhs to be a very decent, accommodating guy. He stuck with that interview for two weeks and never seemed to get his hackles raised. I came to feel that my annoyance was not with him, but really his FIELD of study: Sociology. For instance, right now I'm trying to read a friend's book (his doctoral dissertation, in Soc.), and man, it is fascinating, but it talks all around the issues, spends whole, large chunks of each chapter on explaining its theoretical apparatus, and then could possibly seem to slight the actual events and information that are ostensibly the subject of the book. I think it is this methodological bent, that and the need to adhere to a particular thesis/theory, that prevented Buhs from dealing with the subject in a more hands-on way. As one can see in the interview, he really ISN'T closed-minded.

JEFF MELDRUM: I think you put your finger on it. His approach/methodology did continually clash with my perspectives, and that is likely the reason for the dissonance. Every attempt to illustrate his points with an analogy seemed obtuse and evasive of the what I perceived as the real issue at hand. He seemed unwilling or unable to come to terms, in an empirical sense, with the fundamental question: Is there a biological entity at the root of the legend and all its sociological ramifications?

BIGFOOT BOOKS: Yes, I noticed the same thing in my graduate school years studying Literature and English. There is so much abstruse (and often ridiculous) theory that one feels at times that the actual text one is supposedly studying is lost in the works. It ends in obfuscation rather than explication. It seems to be obvious that the primary study in the Bigfoot field should start from the ground up, from physical and other evidence, and then only later the study of the "culture" of it. But heck, that ain't Sociology, so go figure. And this: Buhs has a Ph.D., but he is more a historian and sociologist than he is a scientist, I think. So, keep up the good... SCIENCE! BTW, your book, SASQUATCH: Legend Meets Science, is the #1 SELLER of all Bigfoot books in my shop. As a matter of fact, I just now sold another copy. Best, Steve, BF BOOKS.

Coming up SOON! An interview with author David Paulides, regarding NABS' new product, THE TRACK RECORD.

NEWS ALERT!: Don't miss The Bigfoot Times' DANIEL PEREZ on KSGV Radio's THE HERETIC SHOW on Friday, 8:30 Pacific Time. If you miss it, it should definitely be archived for online streaming under October 16th through the show link above.

[Images from Yakima taken and damn well kinda copyright 2009 by Steven Streufert, the rest are commercial product/public images. If you use them--go ahead, but--please notify us and give credit and a link to this blog.]

NOTE: "ANGRY BIGFOOT SPEAKS" will now become a REGULAR FEATURE aspect of this blog, so watch out!

What Constitutes a Bigfoot-Sasquatch Encounter?

Was That a BIGFOOT-SASQUATCH ENCOUNTER, or What???

Experiences, under the Microscope....

(This is an archival post from 2010, here selected from a longer old one and republished. Some views of mine seen here may be outdated now. A few small edits have been made.)

"Twenty-four hours a day I have doubts--it drives me crazy. But the Sasquatch business is so intriguing that I can't give it up, come hell or high water. I've sunk so much time and effort in it now that I must go on searching. Besides, above all else, I want to know the answer. In the Sasquatch business you have to be crazy or dedicated. On one side you have all the big scientists in the world, the game biologists, the press and all the so-called sane people. And on the other side you have a nut like me. But look at it this way--once upon a time scientists didn't believe the world was round or that man would get to the moon."

--Rene Dahinden, BF Researcher, 1973 (from a newspaper article, recently posted on bigfoottimes.net)

“They’re shaking their heads at me, and I’m shakin’ my head at them. It’s REAL, end of story.”

--James "Bobo" Fay, California BF Researcher, BFRO Member

*

For those of us who have not had an undeniable, irrefutable, face-to-face sighting of the large, hairy, cryptid hominoid, it is sometimes difficult to be utterly and absolutely sure of ourselves when it comes to Bigfoot. We ourselves, despite all of this time looking into the phenomenon, and hearing endless reports from witnesses, there is always the nagging possibility that we or they are, perhaps, just crazy after all. Why believe in something that we cannot absolutely prove, something we can't just go out and necessarily find if we want to? Could it be that this whole thing was born from a joke, and perhaps has continued all of these decades simply as a congregate collection of misperceptions and hallucinations combining with myth and legend generated by the popular media? Well, we think maybe not; but we strive endlessly to be sure of things as we proceed as we ever do off into the realms of the unknown and the great Mysteries of the world, of the mind, of being itself. 

What follows are some preliminary thoughts we hope will lead to a larger paper on Blobsquatching. We'll look at our own possible Bigfoot encounters, from the obviously false fleeting visions to more suggestive and convincing experiences that cannot just be explained away.

Recently someone we know fairly well claimed a face-to-face encounter with a Bigfoot up in the Trinity County mountains. At a distance of about 30 feet he stood before one and even says he spoke to it. The encounter lasted about two minutes before the creature (described as being much more like a man-like Neanderthal than an ape) turned and retreated back into the woods. Now, we wish we could have such an extended encounter. It would provide so many answers, as it has for this witness who no longer feels the need to prove that the Sasquatch exists. However, how can we, personally, know for sure? Maybe it was a tall tale, a lie, a self-delusion? None of these options seem, to us, very likely, considering the man reporting it. The witness seems very sincere and sane. But, despite it all, the lingering questions of the human mind and perception and individual differences and motivations persist.

Even if we see such a thing ourselves, are there not some doubts that can remain about our own perceptual processes? Many who have seen a Bigfoot report a confusion of their previous reality systems, some even questioning their own minds and sanity. Sometimes there is even a feeling of having been somehow cursed or hexed--so great is the shock to the psychological system--a phenomenon especially notable in the old Native American recountings (see the book, Raincoast Sasquatch for examples). Others become serious true believers and advocates for the cause of Bigfoot, and spend their lives in pursuit of another encounter.

Not to get too close to issues of "multi-dimensionality" and mystical propositions (which are better left alone when one is trying to prove something), we think it can clearly be said that there is something powerfully strange about Bigfoot encounters, that somehow they exist outside of not only our known sense of the world, but also trigger a part of the mind with which we are fairly unfamiliar. Sighting encounters are not usually "normal" in the sense in which we see an elk or a bear. There is something odd about them, it seems, that triggers not only our vision but also something in the mind that is ambiguous, unclear, and yet deeply powerful. Confusion and conviction can occur at once, throwing the normal control we have over our own minds and reality somewhat into doubt. Also, how do we account for the differences in perceptions, even within the category of "Class A" sightings? How can one person see an ape, and another see some kind of proto-human cave man? And what is the real difference? Obviously, our perceptions are based not only on raw input, but in large part are formed of individual perspectives and interpretive biases.

Before we get into our own experiences, we'd like to note the classification system devised by the BFRO. BFRO uses "Class A," "Class B," and "Class C" categories to divide the most convincing reports from those that are merely suggestive, second hand or historical. To summarize, we quote in part:

"Class A reports involve clear sightings in circumstances where misinterpretation or misidentification of other animals can be ruled out with greater confidence. ... Incidents where a possible sasquatch was observed at a great distance or in poor lighting conditions and incidents in any other circumstance that did not afford a clear view of the subject are considered Class B reports. ... Most second-hand reports, and any third-hand reports, or stories with an untraceable sources, are considered Class C, because of the high potential for inaccuracy."

To these we would like to add our own somewhat humorous classes: "Class D" and "Class F," as well as "Class X." In our proposed Class D category would fit any indeterminate experience that though not fully known could have been a Bigfoot encounter. Often, an experience in this realm can FEEL like a Class A encounter to the experiencer; but because that thing falling to the forest floor could have been an acorn falling from a tree, and not something thrown by a Sasquatch, we have to be circumspect in our assumptions and reactions. This would also have to apply to unidentified animal calls heard out in the spooky hills at night. Though we have pretty convincing sound recordings that we think might be Bigfoot-originated, we just can't say they are so without some corollary evidence such as footprints or a sighting of the creature actually vocalizing or wood-knocking.

In Class F we would group all of those that are obvious hallucinations, products of inner mental problems of the witness, or hoaxes (such as anything seen in the presence of Tom Biscardi). In Class X we would group all experiences that are just plain "weird," that seemed perhaps hyper-real to the witness, but may include unknown factors of reality and perception that would otherwise be termed "metaphysical" or "paranormal." We distinguish these from the sequential lettering simply because we in no way would like to deny that they happen and that they may be "real" in a way we just cannot currently comprehend. Many things we now consider as having the "X-factor" may indeed someday be proven scientifically, and may become part of our ordinary reality. For current science, proceeding as it does by incremental induction, experiment and hypothesis, these things are just simply out-of-category. They do not help to prove anything, and there is little if anything in them that is verifiable or repeatable for analysis. That does not mean they are not happening, and in some way "real." (And that does not mean there is anything wrong with science--that is the way it is supposed to work.)

It might be helpful at this point to quote Arthur C. Clarke's three "laws" of prediction, from his essay, "Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination":

1.When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is probably wrong.

2.The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

3.Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Or, as Sci-Fi writer, Larry Niven, put it in corollary to the last point, "Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology."

We have seen "Bigfoot," along with a whole lot of other strange monsters, many times. That is, while driving for 12 hours through the night--one's mind and eyes tend to grow tired or bored, and strange forms begin to appear. Once we thought we saw a man in a white shirt walking in the highway--it turned out to be a plastic grocery bag blowing in the wind. We've "seen" many a Bigfoot standing in the tree-line, or moving in the shadows, or even in the middle of the road. We've also seen demons, aliens and very large white rabbits. Obviously, all of these are almost certainly "Class F" in nature. Though one could have been a Bigfoot, we seriously doubt any were. And it does little good for us to say or assume so, besides.

A few times we have gone out into the woods with people from out of town, and we found that sometimes just a nut falling from a tree or a deer moving in the brush is enough to raise the pulse and get these folks believing that Bigfoot are everywhere. This is a known condition: SQUATCH-ON-THE-BRAIN; or as we term it,"Squatchlucination," where the desire to see a Bigfoot overrides the natural perceptual and interpretive skepticism and gives rise to monsters from the Goblin Universe (as Dr. John Napier termed it). 

If one lives in a natural, forested area long enough one learns just how many strange noises and creatures are out there in the night. When we first moved to Willow Creek we found ourselves hearing the horrible shrieks of demons in the hills at night. These turned out to be foxes, however horrifying within the imagination. One night the most horrible screams were heard, complete with horrid thrashing about in the brush. Though it was one of the most deeply terrifying sounds we've ever heard come from an animal, it turned out to be two raccoons fighting (or mating?). Go figure. There are owls, doves, squirrels, coyotes, deer, bear, woodpeckers, and so many other beings that make noises that could be construed as Bigfoot. One has to learn to rule these out. Now when we hear such sounds while outside on our porch we don't even jump; though we do listen closely, if not to see Bigfoot then to understand what interesting things are living out there, or maybe to see a mountain lion or a bear. We have seen both of the latter on our own dirt road recently. However, there are other things that just don't fit into these "Class D" boxes.

There are much better cases that are very  convincing, even though they fall just short of an actual sighting. Here is how we wrote about our own very close, non-sighting "encounter" with something big and wild in our very own backyard, June, 2008. We can't explain it at all, save with the Sasquatch hypothesis (though we have to admit it could just as easily have been a Purple People Eater). We live at the top of [excised for personal security after threats of violence against this blogger, July 3, 2011], in a [excision] at the dead end of the road, near the top of the [excision] Ridge which is [excision] from Brush Mountain Lookout's ridge and Friday Ridge Road to the [excision]. There have been numerous recent Bigfoot incidents reported out there lately....

"In the dark of late night/early morning something came down the hillside up from my cabin. Sitting smoking out on my enclosed porch I thought at first it was just another deer coming to eat my lettuce and chili peppers. I heard what sounded like a tripping sound in the brush, some big thing making a crack and crunch in the underbrush, followed by three distinct bipedal "whump, whump, WHUMP" footfalls. These were very heavy, thunderous things, to the degree that I could feel the concrete under my feet on the porch firmly vibrate about 30 yards away from the creature. This was followed by a heavy crash of something falling into the brush below. This was no bear, sure wasn’t a deer—I’ve seen and heard these critters up on my road. And if human it would have had to have been an incredibly big or obese man. And why would a big human be out walking around in the dark, dead end, dirt road mountainside, middle-of-nowhere woods at nearly three in the morning? I tried to observe it, but it crept back into the woods a little ways beyond the porch light, and then did not move at all. It did not flee farther. 

My flashlight was inadequate in power and batteries to pursue or see it. I stood there at the edge of the woods for about 15 minutes waiting for any sound or sign. None. I didn't want to pursue and scare it off, or get eaten by whatever it was. Then I decided to duck back into the cabin where I could continue listening and looking without being seen. I knew it was still out there. Once inside for a few moments I heard movement, as the thing went down into the neighboring vacant house’s yard. Through the open window I heard two under-the-breath grunting sounds, something like a bear’s growl crossed with a pig’s snort. Quickly outside I was once again unable to spot anything. The next day I saw a depression in the weeds where the thing had fallen down. There were two further depressions in the plants that looked a lot like big footprints. I could see some metal pipe and wooden construction debris under the herbage where the thing had apparently gotten hung up. Whatever it was I cannot say; and whatever it was it was very big, and incredibly sly. It escaped into the dark of night without another trace, but its impact upon the ground and upon me was undeniable. For what it’s worth, it FELT like a sasquatch.”

As is often said: Examine the Witness, not just what was witnessed. Examine yourself and your own perceptions and thoughts.

Here is a clip of ourselves on the FINDING BIGFOOT show, talking about our own experience. Of course, it's been highly edited. They took out, for instance, the part where we said, "I don't know what it was." Oh well....

Angry Bigfoot SHALL return

Angry Bigfoot SHALL return.

BLUFF CREEK SPRING EXPLORATORY EXPEDITION. Bear Sightings! Roads Closed! Snow! Rock Slides! Bigfoot Burgers!!!

"Hard hitting and provocative as ever!"
--Linda Martin, BigfootSightings.org

"I keep dipping into your blog when I have a few minutes. Seems I have found my preferred source. I have to commend you on the intelligent, well-written, interesting, and informative posts you share. A refreshing and rare breath of fresh air on the topic of our favorite unknown..."
---Full Moon Magick Shoppe

"Very nice to meet you Steven, I am digging on your blog and your bookstore is now my favorite bookstore... EVER!"
--Bryan, Humboldt County, CA

I just thought I'd give you a quick call, and my congratulations on your excellent write-up in your blog. Well said, sir! Just stick to the facts, and never deviate from the facts, and you've got it right down the middle. Well done. Thank you.
---Thomas Steenburg, Bigfoot researcher, calling via phone, from British Columbia, Canada

MAY DAY 2010: SCOUTING OUT THE ROAD TO BLUFF CREEK.

No Bigfoot, No Access to PGF Site, but LOTS of Bears.

On the first of May, right after a week or so of unseasonable cold rain that included some higher elevation snow, the weather had suddenly begun to appear like Spring. Yours truly and Squatcher daughter, Denali, decided to go out on a Bigfooting scouting trip to the famous Bluff Creek area. At this time of year the roads into the real backcountry generally remain closed for the season, either because of snow and rock slides, or else in the case of the southern Fish Lake side of the Bluff Creek Road, due to the spreading and lingering threat of the Port Orford Cedar root rot fungal disease. Some of these roads to the famous Bigfoot sites will not open until sometime in June, maybe even later. Bigfooters get antsy to get back in there and do some Bigfooting, so we decided to check out the situation that lies in our own backyard.

First stop was the Bluff Creek Resort, formerly known as the Bluff Creek Company, where Patterson and Gimlin and so many other early Bigfooters bought provisions before making their way up the crazy, winding old Bluff Creek Road and into the still-wild backwoods mountains. This is where Roger Patterson filled up his tank with gas at the pumps right in front of this building.

This used to be a bustling, thriving business back when there were still a lot of salmon in the Klamath River and adjoining creeks, and when Americans still seemed to appreciate the idea of leisure time spent out in the great outdoors. That has sadly declined over the years, and the old Bluff Creek Company Store building is, according to owner Phil Smith, Sr., scheduled for demolition.

Though he'd told us it would be a done deal and gone by last October, we were happy to find that the historical old building is still standing. However, it looks even worse for the wear of another winter, and the old remaining "Bluff Creek Comp..." signs on the front have been removed, and are stacked up like junk on the front porch. Mr. Smith remembers meeting Roger Patterson (but not Bob Gimlin) back in the sixties at the store, which his wife's family had owned over the years. He characterized Patterson as a sincere and determined man who really believed in the Bigfoot. From the stories of stinky, loud activity and footprint finds on the many-acre property around the resort, it's obvious that Mr. Smith believes in Bigfoot, too.

Right across the two-lane Highway 96 (Bigfoot Scenic Byway) is the newer entrance to Bluff Creek Road. The older starting area of the road, which Patterson and Gimlin and all the other Bigfooters and road contractors like Jerry Crew and Ray Wallace would have used, is a wild old series of switchbacks just up the road a touch from here, before one gets to Bluff Creek itself as it enters the Klamath River. The old switchbacks can still be made out on the mountainside above (sorry, we forgot to get a photo of this one).

This road eventually leads up to Fish Lake and Blue Lake, areas with predominating, towering old growth Port Orford Cedars, heavy vacationing use in the summer, and actually loads of Bigfoot vocalization and wood knocking and other activity reports and sightings still coming in from there. Unfortunately, these lakes are also surrounded and infested by by the fungal disease (See our previous blog on that HERE). That means they are closed until the soil is basically dry, and not as likely to spread the spores on tires and boots.

We found, indeed, that the famous road that leads up to Onion Mountain and Blue Creek Mountain from the south-east was still closed. Anyone thinking of hopping the fence and hiking in should really consider that you may be helping to kill beautiful old growth trees, and that your vehicle will most likely be ticketed or towed if left along the highway pull-off. Plus, it is quite a nasty uphill haul of a hike. There are other ways in to the area that may give you access, including Cedar Camp Road, which appeared to have no barricade, but is probably mostly mud at places right about now. The G-O road is open, too, to the north, but hits snow at higher elevations (see below for that).

IMAGES: CLICK TO ENLARGE. The Port Orford sign will give you the lowdown on the situation. All photos save where noted or historical were taken by Steven Streufert, 2010. The first one below was shot by Denali Brown.

Soon after the road off to Fish Lake one comes to the small but dramatic canyon where Bluff Creek has eaten its way through the rock to get to the Klamath River.

There the narrow Bluff Creek Bridge spans over its depths where one may view the raging snow melt pummeling the grey-blue serpentine rock and washing down whole downed trees in a wide "S" shaped curve. For a creek that is a trickling wade only a few inches deep upstream in summer, Bluff is impressive down here when there has been any significant level of recent rain.

There is the Bluff Creek River Access trail here down to the river. It was an enjoyable short hike, but there certainly is no possibility of swimming this early in the year. You'd have to be crazy to enter the rushing grey-green, frigid flood. No signs of Bigfoot were found on the gravel bar below; in fact, there hardly was any gravel bar at all, it having been covered and washed away by the river. 

Right across the highway one may endeavor upon the steep climb up the "Bluff Creek Historic Trail." We have not attempted this yet, but some of the maps show it going all the way up to Louse Camp, along the creek. This would mean that in some spots it covers part of the old road along the creek that washed away nearly for good in the 1964 flood. It was replowed, as this was the road that Patterson and Gimlin first tried to take out during the torrential rain that followed during the evening of the day they took their famous film. The road was impassable then due to mud slides.

We have it on good locally-sourced word that this trail is not in actual fact "historical," but was constructed later starting at this point. The source says that the real old trail started at essentially the same spot as the old Bluff Creek Road starting point, and that Bluff Creek actually used to subsume Aikens Creek and enter the Klamath a touch farther south near where the Aikens Creek Campground now is. Strange, but true? We are looking for the maps and aerial photos that could prove this, and our source may have them for us this summer.

After a meal at the ever-strange Orleans Mining Company Diner, complete with stuffed two-headed calf and about a thousand decorated wrought-iron frying pans on the walls, we headed up "Eyesee Road," otherwise known as the G-O Road (Gasquet-Orleans), Route 15, heading up toward the headwaters of Bluff Creek and on to Elk Valley.

This is the road to the Patterson-Gimlin Film Site, but sorry to say, we did not make it that far. As expected, higher elevation north-facing slopes all were covered in snow. We stopped 13.5 miles up from the Orleans cut-off (just past 15N01F), which means we were only three miles from 12N12, and the "Sasquatch Road," as it was traditionally known by local loggers and road contractors. This is the way to 12N13, which passes the spur down to the P-G site and eventually lands below Notice Creek at the famed Louse Camp, site of the Pacific Northwest Expedition and so many other historical Bigfooting camp bases.

Back to reality from dreams of summer--a 4WD vehicle could easily have made it farther up the road than we did, but count on it that there will be deeper snow banks just a ways up the road. We know this from experience. One does not wish to get stranded with an eight year old kid in tow. Given good weather one should be able to hike in to the Film Site from the gate (which will surely be locked at least another month) at the 12N13 turnoff from Cedar Camp Road (12N12) in a week or two. Full driving access will have to wait until mid-late June, we think; and that is saying nothing about rock slides and downed trees covering the road, of which there are surely many. Watch this blog for future updates--we will be in communcation with the local Forest Service rangers.

No Bigfoot tracks or sign were found in the new snow dropped just days before, given about a quarter of a mile of hiking and searching up and down the road and side trails. But wait! What are those tracks in the background behind the kid in the photo above? Could it be that a Bigfoot was following us?

Along the way up the G-O road we had two BEAR ENCOUNTERS and one potential marten sighting, along with some squirrels here and there. The first bear sighting was special, but lo, there was another one, both juvenile yearlings. On the way down we saw two more, one a cub that was so startled when we slowly rolled up behind it that it literally leapt up into the air in shock, its limbs starting to run even before it hit the ground. If anyone ever asks you why there are no photos of roadside Bigfoot sightings just consider how difficult it is to get a photo of a bear seen by the side of the road. By the time one slows down, grabs and powers on the camera, the creature is long gone. Later, though, we found this circumstance quite decidedly reversed. Read on....

Images: Along the G-O Road. The last is a view northwards up into Oregon. Above that, the last road sign before the snow pack starts in earnest. Steven Streufert, 2010.

On the way back toward Willow Creek, however, just outside of Weitchpec, we had a bear encounter that lasted about ten minutes. Like the others along the roadside, this one was feasting on the fresh Spring grasses and berry shoots that grow prolifically after the winter breaks along the sun-exposed roadbed. We pulled up right behind this bear, about ten yards away, and it barely gave us any notice. It moved off just a few paces in caution and went back to feeding. We were able to observe and commune with it, taking numerous photographs. When a car came by along the road it hunkered down into the shadows of the trees and brush, pufffing itself up and lowering its head in threat-defense, but then just as quickly came back up to its food source.

It was only when it finally grew irritated with the beeping sounds of our camera that it decided to move across the road. From a pile of downed tree logs on the other side it perched up high on one old fir trunk and observed us for quite a while, sniffing the air.

Obviously, it wanted to get back to its food, but we were not about to end this experience! Surely, even if one does not see a Bigfoot, this time of year is an amazing time to see other wildlife out in the Bluff Creek area!

Some of you may still be concerned about the massive rock slide (see our previous blog entry) just six miles north of the Orleans Klamath River Bridge. Well, news was that it has been cleared, and lo, we proved it. The evidence of the collapse of the roadside mountain face is strewn along the pull-out along the western side of the road, and debris is littered down the cliff into the Klamath below. This is not to mention the innumerable truckloads of rock removed from the site. The road is rough from damage, but now fully navigable. It gives one a horrid feeling of uncertainty driving along this stretch, though, as many of the remaining boulders seem to be just about ready to fall on down and crush one to a bloody pulp. A permanent slide barrier is going to be built, hopefully before it is too late.

That's all we can report for now. Rest assured, Bluff Creek is alive and well, teeming with wildlife and new plant growth, and ready for a fine summer of Bigfooting.

One more bear picture, for the road...!

Read on for more Bonus Features...

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ADDITIONAL IMAGES:

Bluff Creek Resort and company store, as it appeared in the apparent very late 1960s or early 1970s. We're guessing. Photo received from an internet source, photographer and exact date unknown. We'll be trying to confirm the date with the current owner.

The new BIGFOOT BOOKS BOOKMARK. Just click to enlarge, and then print. It is sure to be a collector's item... yeah, right! The footprint source is Al Hodgson's 1963 Bluff and Notice Creeks track find and casting, as seen outside of the Willow Creek-China Flat Museum and Bigfoot Collection. This is the first in a planned series of bookmarks that will feature local Bigfoot history. Coming soon... JERRY CREW!

 Here's DENALI out in front of the Willow Creek-China Flat Museum and Bigfoot Collection building, proving she's... BIGGER THAN BIGFOOT!!!

And here's one for MK Davis and the GCBRO. Look, in this image one may see the RED EARTH that predominates in parts of the Bluff Creek Region. What's that you say? "Red?" Oh my, there MUST have been a family of Sasquatch slaughtered there. And over here. And over there. And everywhere. A massacre! It's outright genocide!!! And if you think this is red, you should see the wet stuff--it's close to blood red. Enough to drive MK crazy!

And now, just for it's own sake, a photo of the lovely springtime scene one may observe along the Klamath River. This one was taken facing north just up from the mouth of Bluff Creek. Wild California poppies, daisies, and many others are currently in bloom.

Images: All above, save for the historical Bluff Creek Resort and Patty Bigfoot enhancement, taken by Steven Streufert, 2010. CLICK ALL IMAGES TO SEE THEM ENLARGED.

Here is a piece of art seen at Eureka's fabulous ACCIDENT GALLERY during their Ladyfest 2010 musical show. No artist label was on display, so we unfortunately can't name its creator. Perhaps the artist desires anonymity after having "slept with Bigfoot"? Perhaps the artist is afraid of those demonic "little people" in the painting? Who knows, really?

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And now... THE BIGFOOT BURGER! Available at the Early Bird Restaurant, right near Bigfoot Books, this two-patty, two-third-pound-of-meat, seven-and-a-half-buck monstrosity in a foot-shaped bun should surely tide you over for a Bigfooting trip or after a hard afternoon of book shopping. Images courtesy of Bryan, of Humboldt County (last name withheld by us for privacy), who actually ate one after buying a copy of TRIBAL BIGFOOT at our shop. We, ourselves, are mostly vegetarian, and don't eat beef sandwiches.

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ANGRY BIGFOOT SPEAKS!

Me think hu-man just big, dumb ape. Some say I like hu-man, or am hu-man. Ha! What insult! Hu-man just naked ape, scrawny rat runt thing compared to me. Bigfoot big, tall, strong, free. Me no wear deodorant. Me no wear underwear. Hu-man can talk. He talk about nothing. Just babble. Hu-man can think. He think about nothing that matter. Hu-man the ape. Me the smart one, primates!

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This weblog, website, soapbox, or whatever you call it is copyright 2010, Steven Streufert, Bigfoot Books Intergalactic. Sharing and borrowing is allowed (and often practiced by us, too) if you give full credit and citation, and a fair and nice link back to our page. SPREAD THE GOOD WORD! Thanks!