Uncategorized – Sasysquatchgirl

9/11 The Brave Went In…

Brave Went In…

“On September 11th the brave went in

From those that went in to work

To the ones pledged to defend

They are not just a name, number, rank

They are those we should stop everyday to thank

A prayer, a thought , there is no wrong way

Just remember they went in there that day

Every passenger on those planes they too have a name

Brave, hero, friend, child, son, mother, father and daughter

They did what they did to give you the life to live that you ought to

Remember, just remember, and not just today

Don’t let their heroism like time just fade away

I thank you, I thank you all

For saving many of our lives

In those towers fall…”

Heroes all, thank you.

Poem titled Brave Went In by me

Down on Main Street Part 4

What are the people in the neighborhood…

I was a baby when we moved into the neighborhood so I can’t tell you anything about moving day. I do know the house started out as a brown shingled one though. I only knew three neighbors when I was very young. Well, three and the local priest. See, we lived next to a church. St. Mary’s church. I remember it being very ominous to me when I was young. I had many nightmares about that church. My sisters did too. My nightmares were either end of the world types with the church’s bell tower coming down on us, or about aliens invading. In the dream I’d look out the window and see their ship above the church. Nightmares, I had them almost every night. I didn’t know what was worse. Sleeping or being the only one awake at night in the house. The priest was very kind and patient with me. I would ask all kinds of questions about life and death and he would do the best he could answering them while I ate all his cookies.

I also lived next to a professional puppeteer who taught us how to make paper mache puppet heads. I mention this because as if it wasn’t bad enough being scared of my home, being scared outside by them was too much. Every Halloween the puppeteer donned a witch’s costume, stood on stilts, and scared the neighbors. I knew it was her. I did. But all the same she still scared me off.

The only light in this deal for me was when I hit my tweens. Someone new bought the house across the street. That light would be the boy next door. My best friend still to this day. We survived puberty as friends, if you can do that together as a boy/girl friend mix, you can do anything.

I loved escaping to his house, no worries and fears, or so I thought, but as it turned out the whole neighborhood had gone to the ghosts. But I’m going to let him tell this tale, because it made him a true believer, from just believing me to knowing it’s true isn’t easy. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but lord I needed one friend who did…

Jay’s house as of a week ago. Abandoned because no one stays living there either.

As I said, I’ll let Jay tell it in his own words:

Oh You’re My Best Friend...

“I remember it being a nice summer night. We were in my pool as usual and no one else was home. While splashing around in the pool we happened to look up into the second floor window and saw a women in the window.

It was not a woman we recognized. She scared us so bad we jumped out of the pool running across the street to her house soaking wet looking for safety. After talking to my mother she mentioned she had seen some strange things in the house as well but was keeping it to herself.”

J.E.R

I asked him what the one thing about my house that scared him the most was, here was his thoughts…

“I had a best friend who lived across the street in an old house like mine. To get to her door I had to pass the stairway to the basement every time. All the time I had this eerie feeling anytime I passed. Sometimes the feelings were stronger, I remember often it was stronger at night. You just felt like something was waiting to grab you on your way passed the entrance”

J.E.R

What little research we could find on his home did say that someone had fallen down the stairs and died from a broken neck.

I Aint Scared Of no ghost…

There were other neighbors as well that reported strange activity in their home. The house to our left had come up for rent and my father’s best friend at the time was looking to rent it. Although my dad was not a believer, he let his friend know what everyone else believed. His friend didn’t believe in them either. He and his son lasted one month. They heard doors, windows and drawers opening and closing all night, voices, and odd sounds. My father’s friend made sure he let my dad know on his way out that it was true. It was all true.

Everyone on the street seemed to have one common scare. They would hear someone or something running up and down the stairs at all hours and jiggling the old doorknobs trying to get into the house. And no one was ever there. Ever. And how did I know this was happening to all of them?

Who you gonna call….

My mom was the only stay at home mom on the block at that time so they would call her scared out of their wits that someone was trying to break in. I remember she used to grab the broom and head on down the road. The broom was just a prop really, she knew who (or what) was in their house and they weren’t trying to break in because they already were in and they weren’t going anywhere. But these particular friends were not believers yet. They would be, eventually…

To be continued…

My BFF, no, my brother, son to my parents, uncle and godfather to niece and nephew and my best thing…love you Jay, thanks for doing this when I know you hate writing lol.

Down on Main Street…Part 3

It’s nothing new to most that animals are known to be able to sense and see what us mere humans can not . Of course some of their senses are stronger than ours. Their ability to smell and hear from a distance might give them an edge over us predators. Of course we have no concrete proof that these senses can see dead people, but enough unusual experience reports have us believing they can. And I’m telling you if you asked my beautiful family cat, affectionately named Puss, she would tell you they sure as shit do. Here’s the story of a spoiled cat surviving with dastardly ghosts hanging around.

Look what the cat got dragged into….

Puss was one of the most beautiful, spoiled, evil, awesome Maine Coon kitties you’d ever meet. She did not want to be petted and picked up. She just wanted to tear up every awesome rock poster you ever had on your wall and move on. Specifically my life size Vince Neil poster. My sister and I smuggled her into the house when her friend’s cat had a litter. We got briefly yelled at. My dad yelling, “Bring that cat back where it came from!…yada yada,” then once we weren’t looking he was all, “Here kitty, kitty,” and we knew it was a done deal. It was what we were banking on. But some days I wished we never had brought her there. It wasn’t easy in that house. And I knew that she knew we weren’t alone. Don’t ask me how I knew, it’s just a feeling and from watching her actions. Running out of rooms like her ass was on fire. Looking and tilting her head and staring at things that weren’t there. If you were there you would know she knew.

I think the first time or times maybe you could say, because this happened on more than one occasion, that we knew she wasn’t safe at home alone was when we had a late night out as a family. Which happened often. But on this particular night we all went to see a show and got back from Boston pretty late. As soon as we came in the door we looked for her everywhere, calling her and freaking out. I don’t know what made us check our buffet in our dining room that first time but we did and the bottom doors were magnetic and always stuck. I mean, I would have to brace a foot and pull hard to open it, but we did and there she was, jumping out and running away. Believe me when I tell you, she couldn’t possibly paw that open then lock herself in afterwards. I could just barely do it. But every time we went out there she was locked in there or a closet. My mother was refusing to leave her home alone after awhile.

This might sound horrible to hear and it was not pretty to see either but she went flying through the air a few times.

One night my sister and I were listening to music in her bedroom, the cat was lying in the window. Now her bed was up against that window. You could see her through the slots on the bedpost. She would jump on top of the bed post then jump down into the window. But this time she was literally shoved sideways through the slots. She would not be able to do what we saw. We thought she had to be injured but she took off running. Immediately afterwards my bedroom phone started ringing. And then it stopped and rang again and so on for a couple of minutes. So after I composed myself from what I just witnessed, I went to answer it. My girlfriend was yelling, “Who is the guy the keeps answering your phone, saying hello and then hanging up on me?” Now it took a minute to hit me but when it did, I unplugged and threw that phone across the room. Not seconds later my other sister who was passed out watching tv on the living room floor came in the room asking what the hell we were doing and why did we keep walking back and forth right next to her? We didn’t. But those are the kinds of things that kept happening to her and us.

She got locked in closets, cabinets, rooms, etc. all the time so I know she knew. It must have been hard for her to resign herself to that fate, but she did. So, for 19 years she stayed with us. And we spoiled her rotten. My dad always said if he asked my mother to choose between him and that cat he was a goner. But I’m really sorry Puss, we probably never would have brought you home If we understood then what we know to be true now…

Animals can sense things. You know it’s true. Watch and listen to the signals they are giving you. If they are telling you to run, then run damnit.

This post was actually one of my favorite to write. Although the content is a little stressful, it was nice to think about and look at pictures of my first baby again. Miss you Puss…meow

Down on Main Street…Part 2

I’m not quite sure what makes one a believer or not. I’m not sure why some people are, as they say, open enough to see things of a paranormal nature but it’s true. There are two types of people in the world. One who sees with all their senses and one who is closed off. In our house it was my father who was closed off. The bread winner, the one who worked till he dropped and was never home. Thus we were stuck in our house till we could move ourselves out. But my mother knew that we were in trouble the day we moved in. Stuck there for life knowing my dad would never believe her, or us…Here is her story.

The mother ship has landed in Hell…

Her tale started on day one. The moving was tough going. She had my older sisters and soon to be me to contend with. Don’t get me wrong, she was a tough cookie. But we had a very big house and all the arrangements and unpacking were going to be on her. The day of the move she was exhausted so she laid down for a second in my sister’s bed. Upon getting a great shoulder rub she said, “Thank you junior,” to my dad (him…rub shoulders? Never). That should have been a red flag. But he didn’t answer. No one did, because no one was there. She knew on day one we had to get the hell out of there. There was a period of quiet here and there she said, or later what we would all call dormant. We would have periods off and on when the house would feel less, I don’t know, heavy, I guess you could say. We knew when “they” weren’t around. So it was awhile before her next encounter happened. But it did happen, at night, when she was sleeping in her bed. A place where everyone should feel safe. But as she slept she felt as if someone was staring at her and it woke her up. When she opened her eyes, an old woman was standing over her staring at her. She laid there for hours in shock and fear she said. She would never sleep much at night again after that, and later on, nether would we. And just so you get an idea of what she, and later we were going through, my dad died three years ago, still not really believing. Accepting it finally, but not necessarily believing. He saw one suspicious thing the entire time we lived there. We were screwed…

To be Continued…

Down on Mainstreet…Part 1

The house as it looks now.

This post is a tough one to write. It’s a very personal one. I’ve written and erased this several times over the past year. It’s my story, my tale of a haunting. Of a scared child growing up with spirits in her home as if it were something everyone had. Constantly afraid and not able to share it because I didn’t want to be the crazy kid.

The paranormal wasn’t always the in thing. You kept that shit to yourself and just dealt. But it had a big impact on me and my family. As adults now we all have sleeping issues. We have paranoia that our future homes could be haunted. And god forbid if we walk by or go near that house again and accidentally take one of the spirits with us.

The push to finally tell this tale was due to the Travel Channel approaching my sister at her place of employment looking for assistance with research on a possible haunted home on our street two doors down. I should mention a few of the houses in the neighborhood were also active with paranormal activity. It wasn’t until we were much older that we all revealed it to each other. Again, the paranormal was still not the in thing. I wish it were. But I thought there was no way the Travel Channel should tell this tale first. (No offense to the Travel Channel, truly) But still It should be someone who lived through it, who knows the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I wish there was an outlet, or a show or something out there we could relate to, to help us, but we lived it alone In secret. And if the truth is finally going to be out there? Then I’m going to be one of the voices that tells it. I’ve never shared this story with anyone, not even colleagues of the cryptid and paranormal kind , because inside is still this scared kid that doesn’t want you to think she is crazy. I search and write about Bigfoot. A believer. Adding a haunted past seemed…well, crazy. Who is going to believe this bull? But it’s true, I promise you it’s true. You have my word that I will never fake a paranormal or cryptid encounter ever, my life is already insane I have no time to make that stuff up. I’m going to explain it all In a few posts, one can’t really do it justice. I will share some witnesses stories as well. So if you feel you can take me seriously, asked around maybe, and found out I’m a sincere person, then I thank you and welcome you to my nightmare…

Part 1, I’m looking at the man in the mirror…

The flu is a terrible thing to get when you’re young. I was around five when I got it. My fever ran high, scary high. My parents wanted to be able to keep an eye on me so I slept in their bed that first night. The area where their bedroom was always felt creepy and off to me but I was too young to understand why. In their bedroom was a bureau with a large mirror. The same bureau that’s in my bedroom now. In the mirror’s reflection you could see the equally scary hallway. The hallway had a linen closet whose door just never shut right. While I was laying in there I saw a small man in the closet, he was holding my favorite red coat and I was not happy. In my delirium, I kept saying “mom, there’s a man in the closet taking my red coat!” I said it over and over, we all chalked it up to fever dreams, but deep down inside she knew, knew something much more than that was happening. Not to long after, my sisters were teasing and annoying me or I was annoying them. Probably me following them around. So I went out on our porch to play. When I looked up in the windows overlooking the porch, I saw what I thought at the time was my sister. I ran back up the stairs to tattle that they were teasing but no one was around, no one near that window. I went back outside to the porch and there it was again in the window, looking at me. I ran back up and found my mother who informed me no one was near that window. I remember being very confused and a little scared. And my mom? She knew it was almost time. It was almost time to explain to us just who or what else was living in our home…

End of part one…to be continued…

The Fouke Monster…

First Before we dive in let’s take care of the elephant in the room. The Fouke monster is probably the most missed pronounced name in the entire cryptid world. And when said with an accent? I cant be the only one thinking this, I just can’t. I understand it’s named after a town. One I’m equally glad I don’t have to pronounce on a regular basis. I can hear it now townspeople saying “what the Fouke?”, “that’s Fouking awesome”. There i got it out of my system. No wait I lied “Fouke yeah!” . Okay I promise I’m good now, really. I might add a video of me trying to pronounce this at the end, for pure fun and not for any scientific value.

The Fouke Monster sightings originally started in Fouke Arkansas in 1953/55. First reported by a 14 year old boy. It was described having reddish hair. It was later explained by an investigator as a black bear, my question to that is, was the boy colorblind?

Prior to the 70s there are a few sightings here and there around Arkansas, but then, in the 1970s, when I would say, present time excluded, there was a big surge in Bigfoot sightings and popularity. In 71′ the creature was reported to have a attacked the home of Bobby and Elizabeth Ford. It had supposedly reached right throw the screen window (Fouke that) and Mr. Ford scared it off. Then later that same month it was scene crossing the highway. And so on.

In then in 72′ Charles Pierce released movie/documentary The Legend of Boggy Creek. To me this movie was like the War of the Worlds release. I watched it at a very young age with my mom because she loved it. And I believed every word and also believed Bigfoot was out there, haven’t stopped believing since. My mother was a believer so there was never a “it’s okay honey, Bigfoot isn’t real” conversation. He was real and out there and that’s that.

That movie captivated millions of believers not just myself, helping to shaping some of our paths in life. I have not one regret even if I never see him. I’m sure if I question everyone, else they will tell you the same.

Now we have the book, The Beast of Boggy Creek by Lyle Blackburn out there, (which I loved by the way). This book gives us stories of more recent sightings most likely igniting a new generation of believers. I hope for his sake he reads somewhere, someday that a researcher started because he read the book…and had to know the truth for himself/herself. There is also the remastered version of Legend of Boggy Creek Movie in the theatre some 50 years after the original release.

Also keeping the legend alive, the town of Fouke Arkansas has their annual Fouke Monster Festival. (Say that five times fast) Drawing people from all over. I understand some of the town officials are not necessarily believers themselves, but they definitely believe in the revenue it brings in.

Picture of Charles Pierce’s daughter from Texarkana Gazette

The Fouke Monster is one of the most known of Bigfoot encounters, whether you’re a believer or not, you most likely know the stories. It is now made timeless from the movie, book etc. and a place I hope to visit soon and take it all in for myself and say Fouke like a million times…

Finally, I kid the town of Fouke, you have a lovely name and an awesome living legend in your mist…

Art by the extremely talented Devin King

American Dogman of Elkhorn

So as many of you know, I normally write primarily about our beloved Bigfoot. But I wanted to step away today and write about a certain Crypto who is the much scarier of the two but decidedly less known.

The Beast of Bray Road himself, Dogman. Stalking that infamous street in Elkhorn Wisconsin. I must admit, I have heard of them both but never made the connection till now that they were one in the same. Although I picture him as more of a werewolf type. I was told he was actually more of a mix of canine and Sasquatch. Well then in that case, insert every joke here about their possible breeding program and then we can all move on. Need more time? Then I’ll give you the time it takes for me to explain what the veterinarian told me about my dog. I was told she was a beagle when I know that she’s a mix of Dachshund and German Sheppard. Now tell me how the logistics worked there and then I’ll try to piece together how this half hominid and half canine creature came about.

The lore had said it was first reported in 1887 in Wexford County, Michigan. But I’ve always been fascinated by the Beast of Bray Road in the state of Wisconsin, which had their first reported incident in 1936. So we are going to move this story ahead a bit.

This Beast of Burden has been described most often in two different types. So if our brain goes back to breeding again? Well It’s not my fault, It’s the fault of witnesses that led us down this path. One way it is described is as a half hominid and half canine type. Walking on hominid/human legs but having a muzzle of a canine. The second type is more of a canine in whole. Muzzle, ears, clawed hands and feet and hock legs. It is this description that has me envisioning him as more of a werewolf. The difference I guess is that there is no pesky full moon nonsense. No transformation from human, etc. And that also means my silver bracelet isn’t going to save me from a possible attack.

Unlike Sasquatch, Dogman is known for actually attacking people. As of yet, I know of no fatalities. And no one I know is scratching their ears with their feet, which means no known cases of any humans turning into one of the creatures.

All of his features must make for an ideal predator. His sense of smell to find you is probably exceptional and if he can travel fast on four legs but use two for height you’re a goner, and of course no pesky moon controlled behavior and some idiot like me can’t kill him by shoving said bracelet into your mouth. (I’m sure I’d still try. You know, just to be sure).

In the town of Elkhorn, he is usually seen loitering on Bray Road. There was a rash of sightings in the eighties and nineties that drew the interest of reporter Linda Godfrey. Who later wrote a book based on her articles. The now famous, Beast of Bray Road. So why anyone not researching him and who may have read that book would still drive on that road I wouldn’t know. I’m sure I’ll visit someday on my travels, and naturally I would be compelled to go to it immediately and then be sub sequentially eaten and made famous as his first known kill.

But the residents themselves have a built in excuse I would definitely take advantage of. I would be like, “I’m sorry I can’t make it, I really wanted to come to your cheese tasting party, but the only way there is through Bray Road”. I mean the crappy things you could get out of doing due to that road could be endless.

I know the book on his sightings is the most known resource of him haunting that street, but we can’t leave out the awesome movie by the SyFy channel called you guessed it, The Beast of Bray Road. Despite having an actual resident of the area telling me the monster was ridiculous. I, still in the name of cheesy fun rather enjoyed it.

But if you would like more information about his hairy goodness, I found several informative and riveting videos on YouTube you could check out and of course, if you haven’t yet read Beast of Bray Road by Linda Godfrey you definitely should. And finally, Small Town Monsters recently released their documentary on the subject as well. All of which I recommend.

And if you make it out there before me remember to stick to the road, you remember what happened when the moors were used as a shortcut don’t you?

A Walk Through History…Monastery Park

This week I’ve been squatching around in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Before I head out I like to find the history of the land I’m roaming through. Here is some history about Yesterday’s destination, Monastery Park.

The Monastery Park is comprised of 530 acres of land that was once used as the monks orchards and pastures and a beautiful stone building once called Our Lady of the Valley Monastery. The monks traveled here from Nova Scotia in the 1900s when their former home burnt to the ground. Some of the monks dispersed and went back to Europe but twelve monks or the Trappist order, stayed together and had this beautiful piece of architecture put together. There is no fancy glass windows, etc. because the Trappist didn’t believe in having anything extravagant.

They Monastery was completed in the 1930s and had a fire in the 1950s in which they abandoned and went on to live in Spencer Massachusetts. I’m not sure, but I think this order had a fire bug with them. All in all they had three Monasteries burn down around them.

After a few years of back and forth with the property, the town of Cumberland acquired the land and turned part of it into their local library.

The land surrounding it is now nature trails (some unmarked), fields and it also holds the monument for Nine Men’s Misery. If you are unfamiliar with that tale it is the site where a skirmish during the time of King Philip’s War took place. During the fight, the Colonists were all slaughtered save nine by the Narragansett Indians, whom tortured the remaining nine and left them for dead on the spot where the Colonists made a stone monument in honor of their sacrifice which still stands today. It is now considered the first war memorial in the United States.

Both the forest trails and the monastery are known to all the locals as haunted. My sister who worked there at one time said every morning they could smell fresh coffee brewing. And while shelving one night she heard the monks chanting in the meeting room. At the time, she said the monks chants were an in thing and she thought it was a library program happening, when she went into the room to check it out no one was there. And no one else heard what she thought was otherwise loud.

In the forest its been reported that at night you can hear the Colonists troops moaning and even see one or two wandering around out there. I had a strange happening there myself yesterday while heading to the memorial site (which you can check out in the video below). I was making a video explaining about the history of the area and monument and when I got to the end of the story I heard strange drumming sound.

There are other accounts as well of chattering and whispers, peoples full names being called, and doors opening and closing. A staff member reported little stones being left on the seat of their car, but all the doors were locked. The old infirmary and a spiral staircase are considered the top hot spots.

So if you decide to come for a visit here yourself there is plenty to keep you entertained. The architecture of the monastery, beautiful grounds, playground, nature trails and plenty of rich history and a couple of ghosts thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here which As I mentioned did include some potential high strangeness. I definitely plan to come back and visit at nighttime and listen for those whispers and moans and I’ll let you know if I find anything…

My unusual video from out on the trails by Nine Men’s Misery

All pictures and videos are my own.

Walk Through Bigfoot’s Wilderness…

My trip this year to Virginia was a great one. Time with family I love, time in the forests (occasionally sun bathing), and time with a good friend. I was able to hang with Mike from Bigfoot’s Wilderness, and formerly Blue Ridge Bigfoot. He was the first person to say, “hey” when I started blogging and being serious about my search for Bigfoot. That meant a lot, and we’ve been friends since. We may not always agree on everything, but we enjoy the debate. So here’s a little Q&A for you, all the way from Virginia…

Q. What ignited your interest in Bigfoot?

A. To me, as a kid I felt that Bigfoot seemed to be more relatable than say, the Loch Ness monster. Bigfoot could be anywhere in the woods, but the Loch Ness monster lived thousands of miles away. Bigfoot also walked on two legs, probably lived in a family or group of other Bigfoot (s). The Patterson Gimlin film showed what I still believe to be a real Bigfoot. It’s evidence, plain and simple. That video is and will always be the gold standard in my opinion that Bigfoot exists. To my knowledge, it has never been debunked.

Q. What made you a believer?

A. That’s a great question. I’ve known people to have had some strange occurrences. Some paranormal, others experienced what they said was a Bigfoot. When you hear their stories, and other people’s stories as well, the only conclusion I could draw was that it couldn’t be anything else but a Bigfoot. That made me a believer but i’m actually a step beyond just being a believer, because now I know they exist. I had an encounter and witnessed a Bigfoot.

Q. How long have you been interested in Bigfoot?

A. Since I was 6. I won’t get into the math but it was a pretty long time ago. To me, It’s alway been Patty! I can remember our Sunday night dinners with family. I always ate in front of the TV with my TV tray in front of me. To me, the Patterson Gimlin film was the first and most persuasive piece of Bigfoot evidence I’d ever seen.

I’ve been interested ever since I heard Leanord Nimoy describe Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin’s experience on the tv show, In Search Of.

Patty, walking along the stream at Bluff Creek was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. At the time, I didn’t know it but I was watching a rerun.

The sighting ocurred a few years prior. I’m pretty sure I was watching the PG Film on , In Search Of , in 1972.

Q. What does your family think about your Bigfoot belief and you being a part of this community?

A. Well, having a Bigfoot encounter story channel at times seems weird to them, but the longer I do it the more they seem to accept it. At first my kids were not very interested. But little by little they’ve shown (some) interest. My youngest wants to be a YouTuber, at least thats what he says whenever I ask him what he wants to be. I guess he thinks its cool. I’m not sure he thinks I’m cool?!

The community itself seems flawed and not very friendly. I really have my own world and try not to judge anyone else. Which effectively keeps me out of it. The community can bring whatever they want to the table. It’s their right. I don’t mind people giving their opinion but please don’t tell me what to believe.

Q. Do you believe in other cryptids as well? Aliens?

A. I definitely want to believe in other cryptids, but there seems to be very little proof or evidence. I recently read an article about the Loch Ness Monster and retrieving DNA from the waters of the Loch. If I read the article right, there may very well be something living in that massive body of water. I’m hoping more results will come in shortly. I’m all for a Loch Ness Monster, but does anyone have a real picture? The most popular picture available is from a hoax in the 1930’s.

To be completely honest, I’ve never seen any proof of Dogmen or Mothman. But I have seen some very talented artists create some amazing pictures of them.

And Aliens? Well, I really hope that we aren’t the only life in this universe. That’s a lonely thought. I think I’ve also read that scientists have detected several thousand Stars (suns) with planets revolving around them. Maybe around one of those stars, there’s a planet out there in that sweet spot that may have water and a suitable atmosphere to be habitable, and if so, let’s hope they’re friendly.

Q. What prompted you to start your channel?

A. I was and still am a big fan of the Youtube channel PacWest Bigfoot. I’d been listening for several months and thought I’d reach out and tell Dave how much I like his stories. At the time I wanted to make a suggestion about other people reading a story on his channel. I was thinking maybe a minor celebrity, but he responded back and said “why don’t you do it?” So I did, and it was a lot of fun! I contacted my friends and persons of interest to document their encounters. Anyway, the rest is history and I think my subscribers and listeners are enjoying them! I really appreciate the nice comments and the time they take to listen.

Q. Have you had a channel, blog or podcast etc. earlier?

A. I did. Blue Ridge Bigfoot was my first channel but there was a change in philosophy and so Blue Ridge Bigfoot is no more. Bigfoot’s Wilderness actually works better because my scope is larger. Even worldwide. Not just a region like Blue Ridge Bigfoot.

Q. What is your approach to the encounters you receive?

A. When it comes to Bigfoot, there is a potential for just about anything to pop up in a story. Bigfoot and aliens, Bigfoot and orbs, Disappearing Bigfoot etc. I ask a lot of questions and if I don’t get answers I usually just file it. I always try to be objective when reading or talking with a witnesses encounter. The process in getting the complete story can take a day, weeks or even months. It all depends on the witness themselves.

Q. Have there been some you’ve struggled with believing?

A. Yes, of course. I listen to everybody and their stories, but I have noticed that most people seem to believe in a tangible Bigfoot, meaning something real that lives and breathes. Those who believe Bigfoot is a portal jumping alien typically have no explanations and therefore no story to produce.

Q. What is the best or favorite story that you’ve told?

A. I like my story the best. Its called ‘The Bigfoot Incident’ on my Youtube page, Bigfoot’s Wilderness. These were real pictures, including a footprint and a Bigfoot sitting in the bushes watching our cabin, as well as the terrain of where the encounter took place. I believe it helps paint a better picture for the listener.

Q. What are some other channels or podcasts you enjoy listening too?

A. I’d have to say (1) PacWest Bigfoot is my all time favorite. Next would be (2) Homesteading Off The Grid. This is a guy in Virginia who thinks he has Bigfoot living in the woods around his farm. He may well have Bigfoot, but the way he goes about documenting it is just hilarious. Real or not, it’s just hilarious. Guranteed to make you smile, if you can sometimes laugh about Bigfoot. Next would be a recent discovery for me, its called (3) how to hunt.com. The host of the channel is Steve Isdahl. He discusses mostly hunting experiences, but on occasion drops in an encounter story about Bigfoot. Some are from friends and family while others have been his personal experience. Very good channel.

Q. Who would you say you look up to or admire most in the field?

A. I’ve always liked William Jevning and Jeff Meldrum. They are both extremely credible and deeply entrenched in the Sasquatch subject.

Q. What is your Bigfoot philosophy, Neanderthal, ape, etc.?

A. From the witness reports i’ve read , most believe that the physical appearance resembles that of an ape which i believe is why most instinctively say “ape.” when asked. But is it more than just an ape? That’s the question nobody can seem to answer, including me! Maybe somebody will come forward with more physical proof, maybe even a body. Now that would be incredible. As terrible as it sounds a body is the ultimate proof of something that most people deny exists.

Q. Do you enjoy getting out there in the woods yourself?

A. Yes, definitely. I enjoy getting out in the woods but mostly for exercise and with the family. I’m not a researcher by any means, but I have found prints in several different state parks and private lands here in Virginia. I’ve also found tree structures. Virginia is loaded with mountains and dense forest. It’s a great place to hide.

Q. Can you tell me more about the encounter you had yourself out there?

A. Yes. On that spring break trip when I saw a Bigfoot, I like to joke that I had the tri-fecta of witness encounters. I found a print, heard talking/chattering/ape sounds and saw a Bigfoot sitting in the bushes watching our cabin from about 30-35 yards away.

Having my family there during the encounter made me feel pretty helpless. I was very concerned that if I provoked this creature, what would be the repercussion? Possible rock throwing or some other form of intimidation and maybe injure someone? I have to say it was a humbling experience. I didn’t have any real protection to protect my family and myself.

Q. What are your future plans for Bigfoot’s Wilderness?

A. The channel is fairly new so for now I’ll just keep reading encounter stories and hopefully they’ll be well received.

*On a side note. I was receiving these pictures from Mike in real time as it was happening, and there was genuine concern there for his families safety. Luckily nothing progressed and he was able to collect what evidence he could to share with us.

If you would like to hear more about his encounter, here is the link to his story from his channel:

https://youtu.be/MWjHL8HfFAU

All pictures property of Bigfoot’s Wilderness, used with permission.

Oh God..You 😈

You’re probably wondering what these three could possibly have in common? Well John Denver had to have some serious faith to believe god could possibly inhabit the body of George Burns and believing in the Jersey Devil is gonna take a similar amount of that faith, and we don’t have him in our car to make it rain inside.

I’m finally understanding the back history of this devilish creature, and I believe I chose not to write about him previously because it always confuses me, but let’s see if I have this right?

The Jersey Devil, also called the Leeds Devil is the 13th child of Jane Leeds, also called Mother Leeds. After finding out that she was going to be burdened with another child, (because apparently having the 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 weren’t a problem), curses the said child, and in turn he was born normal but then changed into Jerseys favorite cryptid, killed the midwife, then flew up the chimney like St. Nick. And now he prays on anything disturbing him in the infamous Pine Barrens. I’ve been in these Barrens for two days now, and apparently I pose no threat. I am acknowledging he may not be worried because I’m rocking my awesome pinktastic camos and singing along to Tubthumping. He’s probably popping popcorn right now and sitting back to see if Bigfoot actually bothers to come out scare me off.

Pic by me inside the Pines

I should warn you that this is the part that gives me the brain ache. How do you find a cryptid who has more different descriptions than Doctor Who?

JD (new nickname, lets make it stick) has been described as kangaroo like, wyvern like, goat headed, horse headed, hooves , horns on his head (hence the devil moniker) and clawed hands. There is more but the migraine is coming. Frankenstein’s monster has body parts from several different bodies and he’s got nothing on this cryptid.

So what description should I be looking for out here? I’m used to searching for Bigfoot. And all his descriptions are pretty much the same thing, tall, smelly and hairy. This may be too complicated for me. I think maybe staying still and singing Tubthumping may be my best bet, hopefully I’ll annoy him enough to come out and play. I mean there is only so much of that song that a person can handle right?

To get through this hunt I’m going to go with an image I think of when I consider his existence. I picture him more like a small gargoyle. It makes sense. And his tale happening at that time period could be easily explained. Mother Leeds may have gotten pregnant from someone she shouldn’t have. When she gave birth, it most likely had birth defects or possibly even still born. If stillborn, maybe they put it on the fire and now the midwife was a unwanted witness. And then boom! A cryptid was born.

I’m not saying I don’t believe in the Jersey Devil necessarily, every tale has some kernel of truth. There is a real women named Deborah Leeds that had 12 children and lived in the area where JD’s story began. And there was also a lot of political intrigue surrounding the Leeds family. Daniel Leeds, was called the “Leeds devil” because he was an almanac writer and was in competition with Benjamin Franklin, so Ben was throwing shade his way and the name just stuck. My tale is also just as good as any explanation out there. (Except the friends around her watching her giving birth). So I’ll keep an open mind as always, but like John Denver in the movie Oh God, I’m going to need more proof.

So JD, get ready to make it rain…

History obtained from Wikipedia

Gargoyle picture from google used in accordance to fair use act

Top picture from Movie Oh God staring John Denver and George Burns, with added devil by Jay Bachochin from wpihuntsthetruth.com