Expedition 2019

The Olympic National Forest

Day One - Arrival

First and Foremost, Congratulations to Michael Hassett from Tulsa, OK, and Guy Fortin from Gentry, AR for winning this years Olympic Park Expedition and raffle drawing from event conferences.   We chose the last weekend in June (4 day expedition) as the timing was aligning to a new moon and we would have the most likely trip without rainfall.   The team got everything scheduled and off we went.

Late May, Chuck picked up the RV in Peshastin, WA then headed over Stevens Pass, and on his way to Portland, OR and dropped off the RV at the KOA in Castle Rock, WA.   This way he didn't have to tow it into Portland traffic.  We figured we could save some time that way and get the team a decent nights sleep - and since we were headed to the Caves weI knew we could pick up the RV after they stopped at the Firehouse Deli before heading north to the Olympics.   As Chuck noted on the show, it was erie coming over Stevens Pass so figured he knew they would be in for a good would be a good weekend.  

We had Michael and Guy depart Tulsa, OK and arrive in Portland, OR.   Our goal was to take a trip from Portland to the Toutle, WA area and immerse them in the Lore of the PNW before heading to the Olympic National Forest for a short field trip.   Unfortunately like with any expedition we had some scheduling challenges but ultimately it was smoothed out and the guys made it safely to Portland, OR.

They guys first stop was at Ape Caves in Cougar, WA.  

Day Two - Ape Caves (Cougar, WA)

Chuck met Michael and Guy for breakfast and then the guys hit the road to Cougar, WA.    Since we did not know exactly what kind of physical condition the guests were in, we wanted to progress slowly throughout the adventure and we also wanted to have some fun.     After breakfast at the Marriott Courtyard, the guys made their way up to Cougar, WA by way of Skamania County and I had Michael read the county ordinance along the way.     ​

Chuck wanted to show the guys a theory he has about Sasquatch going underground in Lava Tubes during the day, and wanted to show the lava tube complex and systems underneath the Cascades.     The guys headed to Ape Caves, and Chuck and the Forest service took them on a tour of not only, the south and north caves, but some old artifacts the USFS had discovered over the years left by ancestors long since passed.  Some great photos below.

After the guys left Ape Caves @1pm they headed up to Toutle, WA and to see Mount Saint Helens.   Sadly they were under cloud cover and so Chuck made the decision to hold short of the Visitor Center and tool the guys to the A-Frame house and Bigfoot Gift Shop before heading to the Firehouse Deli for some lunch and cobbler.

Toutle, WA

After lunch the guys hit the road around 3pm.   They cane back down to I-5, picked up the RV back in Castle Rock, WA then headed to the Olympic National Park and Sol Duc Hot Springs - check in was @8pm and we had a long drive up the peninsula arriving @9:00pm.  They then ate dinner and turned in to the cabins for the night.

Guy Inspecting the Merchandise

Day Three (Sol Duc Hot Springs)

The guys started their morning at the lodge, had a good breakfast then headed out to the Camping Area to orientate to their surroundings, review the agenda, and do some preliminary casting.    

Casting Lesson

After our brief orientation, we reviewed paperwork, safety guidelines and health check items, prior to the fun.

Day Three - The Olympic Forest

Not a bear

After seeing how everyone did for the day, we chose to head up to lead on an area Chuck had picked up from a lady outside of Forks, WA.   The area itself was outside of Forks (Within 10 miles).  The lady was 74 years old but spent over 30 years outside of the area she suggested.   The reason she felt it was a good area was due to the location and the current weather patterns, as this was a chum year, she pinpointed a certain animal migration path to the river she is well aware of.      While Chuck always has hie ears up for next hoaxster, or the conveniences of a suspect encounter.    He felt it would be a good area, as he knew this individual was in no shape to get ahead of the expedition, nor did we specify an area or time and date we would arrive.

For more images on what we found please subscribe to our ALL ACCESS area of the website, and you will see much, much, more and some of the best images we have ever found.  You will enjoy the rest of this story.

While we all know tracks are not evidence, through review of other casts in the area including single step and double step bear prints there is no comparison with this track and that of a black bear whom frequent this area.

Ultimately day three was awesome and the first time Chuck had been with anyone that found anything with so much definition in the last 20 years, more photos on ALL ACCESS.    So it was a major success for our 2019 group.    While we did not have a visual encounter we did have a few interesting things happen on the way back out including wood knocks and some movement in the brush we questioned about a half a mile from us.   We sincerely wish to thank Guy Fortin for this amazing find on his first time in the bush looking for Sasquatch, we will return in 3 months to collect the trail cams and update you on a later episode of the show on what we found.   Stay Tuned.

Day Four - Departure

Sol Duc Hot Springs

Chuck and team had a great time organizing the expedition for the group, and we had an amazing time getting to know our raffle winners, they were amazing and polite guests, and always up for anything.     

We wish Michael Hassett and Guy Fortin safe passage home, and until we meet again, may peace be your journey!~

For those that have never been to the Olympic National Forest, pictures will never do it justice and the team hopes you join the Syndicate for the next Expedition in 2020.       Expedition Sign Up

BELIEVE

By, Expedition Team 2019
Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.