Sasquatch in Central Alberta?
By Sean M. Viala
Western Canadian Sasquatch Research Organization, Co- Founder.
The Western Canadian Sasquatch Research Organization, a group that researches & investigates the creature known as Sasquatch (Bigfoot) in Western Canada. We cover the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia & Saskatchewan, as well as the Yukon Territory.
We invite you to visit our website at: http://www.freewebs.com/casr/
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Does Sasquatch exist in Central Alberta? The answer is: Yes.
The first recorded report of Sasquatch (Bigfoot) activity in Alberta dates back to the year 1811. The famous explorer David Thompson noted in his journal about something he had found near the present day Townsite of Jasper, AB.
In the journal entry for January 7th, 1811 , Thompson wrote:
"I saw the track of a large Animal - has 4 large Toes abt 3 or 4 In long & a small nail at the end of each. The Ball of his foot sank abt 3 In deeper than his Toes - the hinder part of his foot did not mark well. The whole is about 14 In long by 8 In wide & very much resembles a large Bear's Track. It was in the Rivulet in about 6 In snow.
When proceeding up the Athabasca River to cross the mountains, in company with....Men and four hunters, on one of the channels of the River we came to the track of a large animal, which measured fourteen inches in length by eight inches in breadth by a tape line. As snow was about six inches in depth the track was well defined, and we could see it for a full hundred yards from us, this animal was proceeding from north to south. We did not attempt to follow it, we had not time for it, and the Hunters, eager as they are to follow and shoot every animal, made no attempt to follow this beast, for what could the balls of our fowling guns do against such an animal? Report from old times had made the head branches of this River, and the Mountains in the vicinity the abode of one, or more, very large animals, to which I never appeared to give credence; for these reports appeared to arise from that fondness for the marvellous so common to mankind: but the sight of the track of that large a beast staggered me, and I often thought of it, yet never could bring myself to believe such an animal existed, but thought it might be the track of some Monster Bear."
Out of fear, his Native guides would not follow the creature’s trail.
And the sightings & activity have continued on throughout the 19th, 20th & into the 21st century….
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“Wildman” sighted near Rocky Mountain House….
Date: Summer 1899
Time: Mid – afternoon
Location: Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Occurrence: Reports of a “tall, hairy, & savage Wildman” that was spotted chasing some horses one afternoon. Several days later the creature was seen drinking from a stream, it ran away when the people on horseback approached. The creature also supposedly chased a young man one night, when he was returning home. The creature gave up the chase when the young man fired at it with a shotgun.
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Farm workers have an unexpected encounter….
Date: Spring 1949
Time: Unknown
Location: 4 kilometers west of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Occurrence: Several people were working outside at a farm that was (once?) located west of Rocky Mountain House, AB. One of the people noticed that something was watching them from the tree line. The person notified the other people that they were being watched by something. Everyone stopped working and looked towards the area that was being indicated. After a few moments the people spotted the creature. It was described as being 7 – 8 feet tall, with brown hair. When the creature realized it had been spotted it moved deeper in the trees and out of sight.
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Large Sasquatch spotted in the forest….
Date: Summer 1972
Time: Late Afternoon
Location: 2 kilometers west of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Occurrence: Three people reported that while they were walking outside of Rocky Mountain House, AB. They heard movement in the bushes off to their left, when they looked to see what had made the noise they spotted the upper body of a large Sasquatch in the bushes. The three people estimated that the creature was 8 – 10 feet tall and had black hair. They said that the creature looked as if it were chewing on something, as it was working its jaw when they spotted it.
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Men collecting firewood find huge footprints….
Date: September, 27/ 1987
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: 10 kilometers west of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Occurrence: Two men were collecting firewood when they stumbled across a short trail of huge footprints. Each footprint measured in at 18 inches in length, 6 inches in width, & each print was pressed 3 inches into the coarse, rocky soil. The two men followed the footprints for a short way, but lost the trail when the footprints intersected a dirt road.
There were no other reports in the area at this time.
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Motorist has early morning sighting on Highway 11….
Date: June, 18/ 2000
Time: 5:30 am
Location: West of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Occurrence: A man was driving from Rocky Mountain House towards the Nordegg area when up ahead he noticed a large creature standing on the shoulder of the highway. The man slowed his vehicle thinking that perhaps it was a bear that was trying to cross the road, as he drew closer the creature stood up and began to cross the highway on two legs. The creature swung it’s arms when it walked and took no more than 6 steps to cross the width of the highway.
The man estimated the creature’s height at 6.5 – 7 feet. He said that the creature was black in color, and that it made only brief eye contact as it crossed the highway. The entire sighting lasted for no more than 10 – 15 seconds.
Three men on All Terrain Vehicles find footprints in the mud…
Date: May, 17/ 2002
Time: 1:30 – 2:00 pm
Location: West of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
Occurrence: Three men were riding their ATVs in the ditches outside of Rocky Mountain House, AB. One of the men stopped to wipe some of the mud off of the visor of his helmet, while he was doing this he spotted several large footprints in the mud. Each footprint measured in at 16.5 inches in length, 4.5 inches in width, & were pressed 3 to 4 inches deep into the mud. He tried to follow the footprints but found that the trail had been destroyed by the ATVs.
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