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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2006 19:33:09 GMT -5
On Wednesday September 20 my son and I were hunting bear and deer on the west side of Harrison Lake. It was a miserably wet day and we spent most of our time driving the logging roads. There was very little fresh track around but we did find what looked like old sasquatch track on a steep gravel slope on the side of a logging road. Needless to say, tracks do not show much detail in gravel but the shape was very suggestive of sasquatch. The track was heading straight up the 45 degree slope and had a narrow heal and you could almost see toes. They were 13" long and quite close together. An interesting thing is that they didn't cause gravel to slide behind them (maybe because of their age?). I haven't checked "Bigfoot Evidence" yet but I seem to recall that it was hypothisized that the ankle was more flexible than ours so maybe they can walk straight up a slope like this without as much of a disturbance as we make. I did have a digital camera along but had messed up the focus and didn't relize it until I loaded them on my computer. The tracks are probably still there and I could provide fairly good directions to find them again if anyone is checking out the west side of Harrison Lake.
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vilnoori
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Post by vilnoori on Oct 2, 2006 13:40:25 GMT -5
Would you consider going back yourself and taking pics with something like a ruler for measurement comparison? Also take some shots of the general area, and you can post the exact location here. Just open up Google Maps or Google Earth, find the spot, use your art/photo program's screen capture function, save as jpg and post it online. Use photobucket as a photo repository where you can link the photo to here. Don't forget to date the photos.
There's no need for a party to go there, it might mess things up anyway. I'm interested in seeing what you come up with.
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vilnoori
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Post by vilnoori on Oct 2, 2006 15:05:56 GMT -5
like this:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2006 9:36:05 GMT -5
Those tracks have been haunting me for the last almost 2 weeks and I have made plans to return there this afternoon and check out the surrounding area till dark. There is a small stream near the tracks and I plan to follow it to see if I can find tracks crossing it. I will take pictures and they should turn out this time. I am curious as to how the tracks will have changed in 2 weeks. Google Earth seems to be fairly lores in that area. Unfortunately I don't have a GPS but I will post direction after I return. I am pretty sure I can find the place again.
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Post by Gerry on Oct 4, 2006 13:11:57 GMT -5
How did you make out?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2006 20:29:56 GMT -5
I got good pictures this time although they are 2 weeks older and have had some rain. I will post them here once I figure out how to do it. I walked the rest of the clearcut and found many more similar tracks on the road shoulder although I think the first ones are the clearest. I tried not to disturb the other tracks in case someone with more expertise wants to see them. I did not find any definitive track (ie toes) because the soil is mostly gravel and it was propably dry when they were made. They are NOT bear tracks. As I see it these are most likely possibilities: 1. Someone with very big feet had worked in this clearcut in the summer. It has been replanted at least a year ago. Do footprints in gravel grow with age like footprints in snow? The pictures will show tracks about 14" to 15" long with wide straight toes. 2. A sasquatch has been feeding on the berry crop (blueberry, salal, etc) and or other vegetation, probably in July and August. With our dry summer, the tracks have lasted well.
I will try to figure out picture posting now.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2006 0:39:38 GMT -5
OK, let's see if I've got these pictures figured out. First footprint. Second footprint. Seperation of tracks. Tracks continue to top of bank. Wider view of path.
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vilnoori
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Post by vilnoori on Oct 6, 2006 13:29:51 GMT -5
Wow, that's great. Did you take plaster and attempt castings, or are you going to leave that to some of these experts here? I've never done casting. Also don't forget to estimate or measure the depth of prints, which give info on how much weight is being put on the foot. Measure the length between the footprints too, not just their size. Just a couple of opinions, and I hope this doesn't put too much of a spoke in things--after all, you are the bear hunter, so what do I know...but in the first picture, about half way between the top and bottom of the print, there appear to be claw marks: The second shot is more like what I'd expect a primate print to look like, with rounded edges. However, I thought that sasquatch had flat feet. These prints clearly show either an arch or a spot where the animal is not putting weight on. So it is looking more like a human print that way. But what human print is that big? Also, check on and around the stone for hand prints! I'd expect a sasquatch, if there was one, to be pulling up or anchoring off that stone, wouldn't you? Lovely photos!
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Post by Gerry on Oct 6, 2006 16:49:03 GMT -5
The breakage in the print could be indicative of the mid-tarsel break often associated with Squatch prints. I agree, great pics. Shame the ground was so porous and rocky.
Bear Hunter! Where did you hear about the Squatch sighting back in July?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2006 20:36:03 GMT -5
I did not cast the prints since I didn't think they had enough detail to be useful for anything. Also they are on about a 45 degree slope so you would have to have a big dam on the heal. I would like to put together a casting kit to include with my regular gear so if the opportunity presents itself in the future I will be ready. Any ideas of where some of the better casting compounds can be obtained in the Fraser Valley?
The prints are about 1" to 1.5" deep but that info is useless unless you know how the soil compresses. The prints I made on the bank were also about this deep but I was digging in with the side of my boot to get traction. The big tracks seemed to just walk right up the bank which indicates to me good flexion in the ankle.
In the first picture you show an arrow pointing to what looks like a claw mark. This point is actually about a quarter of the way from the toe end not half. Remember this print is probably a month or two old and has been rained on. As I set up for the picture a small rock fell from about this point and rolled down to the heel (45 degree slope doesn't show in picture). When bear tracks join to make a long track it is usually when they are going a constant speed on open ground. On a hill like this they will usually go up diagonally or leap up pushing with both hind legs together. There were aver 10 other long prints on the shoulder further up the road. Normal bear prints were in neighbouring clearcuts.
I didn't check the rock for hand prints but I don't think they would show up. I was approaching the prints from the other side and didn't want to disturb more than I needed to. I think the rock was too far away for me to use but something taller - with longer arms? - might.
Has there been a sasquatch sighting in July??? Please let me know more details. I was only speculating that the tracks were made in July or August because I suspect that is when the berries would be ripe.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2006 20:40:12 GMT -5
I just checked my hires image of the distance between steps and it shows 28".
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Post by rastaman on Oct 6, 2006 23:41:44 GMT -5
Great find. Shows you that BF tracks don't always come out perfect with all toes showing, especially on hard or semi-hard surfaces. What ever it was that walked through there had to be a hefty sized animal. A doubt it was a bear. Takes an eagle eye in the forest to make such a find.
Good tracks are hard to find, however, considering a BF must realize as it matures that it can leave tracks on the ground, if its not careful. Most well-defined tracks seem to be found during wet conditions, along recently logged areas where muddy, thickset ground conditions exists, or close to sandy banks of rivers and streams.
An animal's tracks are the best indicator that it lives in the area. No real forest dueling creature can hide forever its presence.
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Post by thomassteenburg on Oct 9, 2006 7:07:52 GMT -5
Hello Bearhunter If you would give me a phone call (604) 826-4118 I would be interested in having a look at the area where you took these photos as I think I have been there about a dozen times this past two summers with Bill miller.
Thomas Steenburg
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vilnoori
Really into this!
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Post by vilnoori on Oct 9, 2006 13:40:55 GMT -5
It is a very narrow print, suggestive of a female or younger adult, don't you think?
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Post by rastaman on Oct 11, 2006 23:08:21 GMT -5
Thomas, I hope you come back and tell us about your findings on these tracks.
Photos can sometimes be deceiving.
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