 Happy Holidays 2019 Pretty much everyone in North America knows a jolly ol’ figure dressed in white and red that goes lurking around our houses at Christmas committing some light b-and-e to leave gifts behind. Santa Claus is one of the most famous beings from folklore out there. This joy-filled creature is one of the most loved beings of the western world’s winter season, especially by lucky little kids that get to open up nicely-wrapped gifts on Christmas morning. But what is this creature that we call Good Ol’ Saint Nick? Is Santa Claus a Cryptid? Before you start laughing hysterically at the idea that Santa Claus is a cryptid, really think for a moment about the similarities between him and other cryptids like Sasquatch. It might surprise you how many there are.
Both Santa Claus and Sasquatch are backed by legends and folklore older than anyone alive that have been passed down for ages. Stories that will remain consistent far after we’re all gone. Like Sasquatch, Santa Claus cannot be seen or easily tracked—Google’s Santa Tracker does not count. We tell our children that Santa stalks around delivering gifts every Christmas, then mark some of them with his name on it to keep the story alive. Not to mention, much like other cryptid, Sasquatch included, Santa Claus makes a distinct, recognizable sound. And, I’m not sure if it’s relevant, but he’s described as being hairy—which also seems to be common ground. Now, is Santa Claus really a cryptid? Technically a cryptid is defined as an animal or other creature that’s been claimed to exist but never proven. So, it’s possible. However, there is also a decent theory that Santa is a Tulpa instead—something that’s created through spiritual or mental powers, like a collective manifestation. Similarities Between Sasquatch and Santa ClausBut at the end of the day, we can probably all agree that Santa Claus is not technically a cryptid because he’s not real. Sorry to spoil any existing children’s fantasy, but unlike the Tim Allen franchise, the real Saint Nicholas passed away a long time ago and we’ve simply carried on the legend. The similarities between Sasquatch and Santa Clause go beyond the stuff of folklore and tales though, there are similarities between how we as a collective body see the two creatures. Santa Claus is known for bringing joy and excitement to both children and adults alike. Sasquatch, on the other hand, provides people with wonder, a sense of adventure and the idea that something is out there that we can discover if we just look for the signs. Beyond the feelings that both bring, they’re also both tied heavily to the economy. According to the World Economic Forum, Americans were poised to spend over $1 Trillion on Christmas in 2019, including everything from gifts and decorations to food and other goods. While Sasquatch isn’t worth quite that much to the economy, in our Pacific Northwest feature we discussed how the mysterious and shy cryptid makes a specific impact on the ghost tourism economy. The thing about both Sasquatch and Santa Claus is that they’re worth something to us economically because they provide us with something that is far more valuable—the spirit of belief. We might not be able to prove their existence, but they’ve certainly found a place in our hearts. So, if you find yourself looking for something to give the Sasquatch enthusiast in your life this Christmas, stop by the Syndicate’s shop and pick up a fashionable t-shirt because everyone needs a little adventure in their life. What do Sasquatch and Santa Claus mean to you? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! BELIEVE By, Tae Haahr Research Writer - Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.
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 For more than six decades, Loren Coleman has dedicated his life to Sasquatch. Since beginning his investigatory fieldwork in 1960, he’s written books, given talks, and taught university courses related to the concept of Bigfoot and other cryptids — the accepted term for animals which straddle the borders between the documented, the imagined, and the forged. In 2003, he founded the International Cryptologist Museum in Portland, Maine, a federal nonprofit dedicated to educating visitors on the creatures. Coleman and those like him don’t restrict cryptozoology to the more dramatic examples such as the Sasquatch or Chupacabra; they use the term to encompass the search for any previously undocumented or rumored animals based on regional sightings, folklore, and found evidence. “Because we’re involved in cryptozoology, we’re very forcefully of the opinion that there’s more animals out there, and that there are unknown species being discovered every day,” he told me over the phone from his house in Maine. Coleman may not be far off in his belief. One example often held up by cryptologists as an example of the field’s legitimacy is the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish long thought to be extinct, only to be accidentally rediscovered after a fisherman netted one while trawling off the coast of South Africa in 1938 (it swims agape across the ICM’s official logo). By definition, the coelacanth is a Lazarus taxon — a term for organisms thought to be extinct only to be later found living in the wild, and the closest cryptids have to an official taxonomy. A subtle but key distinction between cryptozoology and zoology, one could then argue, might be the motive behind a creature’s discovery, either through hopeful searching despite improbable odds for the former, or by pure chance and more mundane cataloging for the latter. Among recent cryptozoological finds, scientists discovered traces of eel DNA within Loch Ness earlier this summer, suggesting that there potentially was a strange beast in the Scotland lake, and that someone might have seen a massive eel at some point and declared it a “monster.” Researchers this spring filmed some of the most striking footage of a giant squid so far, a creature long belonging to ship-faring folklore for centuries, only to be confirmed very much a reality within the past 150 or so years. Given that these cryptids turned out to be (somewhat) real, then might Sasquatch be somewhat real, too? If Sasquatches are real, then they would be by no means immune to the effects of climate change. The creatures are most closely associated with the remote forests of regions such as Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest, areas which are at increased risk of wildfires, rising temperatures, and severe shifts in flora and fauna populations. It’s possible that these rapid changes might prove too much for these areas’ Bigfoot populations, and that the cryptids would go extinct before we could get our hands on one. Alternatively, if they’ve survived this long without us actually confirming their existence, they might just be resilient enough to make it through our looming ecological disaster. And if that happens, the drastic environmental changes could lead to Bigfoots popping up all over the place and coming into their own as a legitimate Lazarus taxon. It’s debatable just how much the cryptozoological community contributes to the thousands of flora and fauna species that are found each year, especially when compared to the work of actual in-field zoologists and the blind luck of enthusiastic amateurs. But Coleman argues otherwise. “Cryptozoology is really based on science and the sciences,” Coleman told me. Climate change is on the minds of those who visit the International Cryptozoology Museum, Coleman told me, and most questions related to the topic have to do with sightings of non-native animals in various areas of the country. “Somebody comes in and they say, ‘Well, why am I seeing rattlesnakes this far north?’ Or, ‘Why is the Virginia opossum being seen in Maine now?’ All we have to do is say, ‘Well, that’s climate change. Apparently, it’s warmer up here [now],’” he said. “Usually, people’s jaws’ just drop when confronted with the notion [that it’s] not an out-of-place, teleported animal. That’s an animal that is extending the pattern of its range based on approaching, changing climate.” It’s possible that places like Coleman’s International Cryptozoology Museum could serve as a learning tool for children, a way to ease them into understanding and caring about something so dire as climate change. Meanwhile, for those who accept cryptids’ existence as incontrovertible a fact as climate change (there’s certainly a healthy population of them who don’t), it stands to reason climate change’s dramatic effects could influence cryptids of all sorts. There is one cryptid for whom climate change may very well prove to be a boon — in a sense, at least. That would be the chupacabra, arguably the best-known cryptid after Sasquatch and the Loch Ness monster, which is said to roam the American southwest as well as Latin American countries, preying upon livestock and pets. According to Benjamin Radford, a folklorist who has written a book on the beast titled Tracking the Chupacabra, the form the chupacabra takes depends on the region. “The original, first seen in Puerto Rico, looked like an alien,” he told me via email, continuing, “In the common American version [of chupacabra stories], they are typically hairless dogs and coyotes.” Radford added that per to his research, “Many of the [American] chupacabras are actually animals with sarcoptic mange that are mistaken for monsters when their fur falls out.” In colder climates, he explained, animals suffering from such ailments quickly succumb to the elements, while in warmer areas like Texas, they have a greater chance of living long enough to be falsely identified. “I call Texas a chupacabra factory because of that,” he wrote. As the deserts of northern Mexico and the American southwest expand thanks to climate change, the number of chupacabra sightings could very well go up.  The Outline As for Sasquatch, some cryptid researchers hold out hope that if climate change can’t be stopped, it may at least send Sasquatch populations on the move as they react to changes in temperature, rainfall, and migratory patterns in their prey, making it easier for humanity to make contact with one. “I think [climate change] would actually make it easier, right?” asked Chuck Geveshausen, founder of the Seattle-based podcast and online collective, Sasquatch Syndicate, during a separate interview. Unfortunately, there aren’t any studies on time-lapse cryptid sightings which might indicate large-scale Sasquatch migration so far — the closest comes from data scientist and cartographer, Joshua Stevens, who mapped all 3,313 known North American Sasquatch sightings from 1921 to 2013. If nothing else, Stevens’ work appears to indicate that there’s been a recent drop-off in reports, suggesting that if Sasquatches are really out there, they might be feeling the effects of climate change, deforestation, and the commercialization of our forests in the same way that North American species of bears, birds, and deer are. I asked Geveshausen about cryptozoologists’ decision to pursue and conserve potentially nonexistent species, versus those that are categorically real and endangered. “They're a lot of animals out there that need protection, for sure. Not to mention the oceans and their contamination, and all the pollution that's happening there, as well. So, from a place of advocacy, you know, it's all the same to me,” he said. In this way, any cryptozoologist worth their weight in Sasquatch footprint molds should advocate for climate change action and reform, arguing that all creatures, both those we know and those we hope to exist, require our conservation. “Certainly, [the Sasquatch] is considered an endangered species. In some counties here in Washington State, there are actually laws against poaching or taking one of these creatures out,” Geveshausen said, referring to Skamania County’s Ordinance No. 69-01, which prohibits the harming or killing of any “ape-like creature” or “sub-species of homo sapiens,” under punishment of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Upon further research, however, it appears the county ordinance was more for the protection of humans from ourselves than the preservation of any unknown ape-men lurking in the surrounding woods. By 1969, two years following the release of the Patterson-Gimlin film — an early (now discredited) bit of documentary evidence of Sasquatch in the wild — those in Skamania and neighboring areas of the Northwest saw a massive increase in visiting recreational hunters hauling arsenals and looking to bag a Bigfoot. Local leaders passed the ordinance to deter any maiming or murder of other bipedal apes that might get confused with a wandering Sasquatch. Years after the number of curious hunters dwindled, Skamania officials passed Ordinance 1984-2, which demoted the crime down to a gross misdemeanor punishable by “a $500.00 fine and up to six months in the county jail, or both.” Despite my sincere hopes and relative optimism for the future of our planet, the fact remains that humanity is currently killing off species much faster than we are discovering new ones. Finding the most improbable creatures while they still exist seems more and more remote. I sometimes imagine a distant future on this planet dominated by someone else — whether they’re alien colonizers or a civilization that’s evolved from those pythons currently taking over the Everglades doesn’t matter too much — and wonder what they might think of us. Would we long be extinct, with only traces left behind for them to excavate and attempt to understand? Would there be nothing of us except rumor and legend, and would a few fringe members of this new society dedicate their lives to proving that the absurd myth that a group of bipedal mammals once nearly killed the planet was actually true? Or perhaps, some lone human will be discovered in the reconstituted wild, marveled at by researchers as the ultimate Lazarus taxon, a real-life specimen of a monster long thought extinct. By Andrew Paul, FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE HERE - The Outline  JAL 1628 Depiction Japan Airlines Flight 1628 originated in Paris and was bound for Tokyo loaded with cases of wine from the Beaujolais region of France. To this day, Tokyo has a love affair with the Beaujolais Nouveau vintage and locals celebrate the annual French release of the new harvest on the third Thursday of November with parties and wine baths. This particular long haul flight plan would take the familiar polar route over Greenland with fuel stops in Reykjavik Iceland and Anchorage Alaska before finishing the journey in Japan. At the Reykjavik stop, the three-man flight crew consisting of Captain Kenju Terauchi, First Officer Takanori Tamefuji, and Flight Engineer, Yoshio Tsukuba took over operations for the flight leg to Anchorage and boarded the Boeing 747 cargo plane. The crew was relaxed as the flight time was an easy six hours and twenty minutes, a relatively short hop for a cargo haul. They took off without incident at 8:42pm local time with an early expected arrival around 6:00pm in Alaska. Their sense of ease, however, would prove to be the calm before the storm. Just after the plane crossed the US-Canada border at approximately 5:00pm Alaska time, the Japanese flight crew experienced something that would hit major television and media news desks and reverberate around the globe for decades to come.  Captain Terauchi After crossing into U.S. airspace near the vicinity of Fort Yukon, Alaska, JAL 1628 Captain Terauchi noticed what appeared to be two aircraft flying at roughly the same altitude in front of them and to their left at the 11:00 o’clock position. Initially the crew ignored the white and amber lights of the aircraft, believing them to be two military craft from one of the local bases. After several minutes of observation, the two aircraft had not changed their location. They were maintaining the exact same speed and position as the Boeing 747 cargo airliner travelling at 900 kph. At this point First Officer Tamefuji inquired to Anchorage Traffic Control to see if there was any “traffic” in the area. Anchorage reported negative. There was no other traffic in the area. Captain Terauchi then took out his camera and attempted to take a photo of the aircraft lit up in front of them, however he could not work the camera and he had the wrong film for nighttime conditions. The crew then used their onboard weather radar to attempt to make a hit on the unknown aircraft and were successful. When Anchorage asked again if they still had visual contact, Terauchi responded affirmative and that their radar indicated the aircraft were seven to eight miles in front of them. Then Anchorage sees something on radar, too. Except they see a craft exactly five miles behind JAL 1628 at their six o’clock position. Captain Terauchi responds “Negative – eight miles ahead at 11:00 o’clock”, exactly as the crew had reported previously based on their internal observations and radar readings. Anchorage then brings in the regional air traffic control (ROCC) team and asks if they see anything and if they can confirm there are no military craft in the area. ROCC confirms that there are no military craft and that they, too, can confirm JAL 1628’s position and something in front of them at their 10:00 o’clock position at about the same distance (seven-eight miles). ROCC and Anchorage both lose radar contact of the object (both in front of and behind JAL 1628) shortly thereafter, however as they are approaching Fairbanks, Capt. Terauchi insists that now there is one large aircraft directly behind them. Captain Terauchi would later state and add drawings depicting the UFO craft to be many times “larger than an aircraft carrier”. Anchorage asks the Fairbanks air traffic control to confirm, however they see nothing except for JAL 1628 on radar. Anchorage suggests to the the JAL crew that they could have a military aircraft scramble to fly up and confirm the unidentified aircraft. The crew quickly rejects the offer out of fear for their safety. Anchorage then asks the nearby United Airlines flight UA69 traveling to Fairbanks if they can get a visually of the UFO following JAL 1628 and they, too, can only see the Japanese cargo plane ; and this is where the media firestorm started. An experienced major airline captain with nearly 30 years’ flight experience reports seeing multiple unidentified flying objects. The same reported objects are independently confirmed on government radar. Terauchi’s crew gives consistent independent accounts to FAA investigators after the incident. Much like the “tic-tac” incidents involving UFO’s encountered by military fighter pilots over the last decade, it took years for the official government documents to be released to the public regarding JAL Flight 1628. I encourage everyone to dig through the more than 1500 pages of FAA documents including interviews, flight paths, weather, radar, press releases, etc. and judge for yourselves as to what happened over Alaska on the evening of November 17th, 1986. For a pilot of decades of experience Terauchi is still perplexed. “Once upon a time if a hunter saw a television, how did he describe it to other people? My experience was similar to this.” These are the first sentences that Japan Airlines Captain Kenju Terauchi wrote down via translator in his official recount to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the events that took place in the skies over Alaska during the twilight hours on November 17th, 1986.  Captains Depiction The occurrence took place over what is known as the Alaska Triangle, where over 16,000 people have disappeared since the late 1980’s. Does this have something to do with the event?
Over the week following the JAL Flight 1628 encounter, numerous Native and First Nations tribal members in northern Alaska and Yukon Territory described seeing similar lights in the sky and mysterious crafts landing in arctic lakes during late November, 1986. Some of the crafts were said to be piloted or ferrying large hairy men. Let us know what you think! Some of the FAA investigators have sided with Captain Terauchi – others have explained the 1986 event away as simple radar error. What about the other events that occurred up north in the days following that are eerily similar to what the JAL 1628 crew experienced? BELIEVE By Kevin Weberling Research Writer, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.  Bitterroot Mountains, Montana The Bitterroot Series - Russell Accord Author'Footprints of a Legend' is one of a series of three stories involving an unwilling captive who is submerged into the wild and secretive world of the legendary Bigfoot. While, many mysteries of their existence are revealed throughout the pages mixed with heart pounding suspense that will make even the biggest skeptic question his own doubt. This novel is filled with landmarks, facts, laughter, tears and white knuckle action that will take you deep into the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. In my heart I believe that many mysteries of the great wilderness have only been revealed but to a select few, who share their experiences in the face of skepticism. From all that I have seen for myself; heard from others and have blind faith in; this is my story for your enjoyment. - Russell Accord "Author"  Russell Accord - Author We first met Russ Accord in the fall of 2016 at the Inaugural International Bigfoot Conference. Russ was a gracious host and just beginning his entree into the world of Sasquatch and the Bigfoot Community. As with any new face on the scene we assumed Russ was ultimately in it for something bigger, but as I will tell everyone thinking about coming to town in the Sasquatch World - THERE IS NO MONEY IN IT. You see after 30 years if there was, we would all be doing something else. The world of Sasquatch is about the discovery and being IN TO IT, but we knew everyone had an angle and Russ definitely had more than one. As an author Russ excels, his work combines fiction, and non-fiction accounts into the roots of a story imbedded in his past, and the three part series is definitely worth the read. Over the past three years Russ has turned his attention to Film as well and had produced documentaries for Adam Davies and Bob Gimlin as well as others. While his work is evolving, he continues to bring researchers, entertainers, authors and others together on an Annual basis as the host of the International Bigfoot Conference and it is a fantastic event we highly recommend. Expedition Bigfoot - Travel Channel  Expedition Bigfoot Crew Russ Accord will be appearing in Expedition Bigfoot team on Travel Channel in fall of 2019. We are so thrilled he was given the opportunity to show off a bit as Russ has taken the back seat on more than one occasion, and Russ deserves to strut. From hosting the International Bigfoot Conference, to handling Bob Gimlin on his travels, we wish Russ and the team all the best.
Are you enjoying the new launch of Expedition Bigfoot on Travel Channel? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below or email us. We'd love to hear from you. BELIEVE By Chanelle Elaine CMO, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.  The Four Horseman There are countless big names, researchers, scientists and voices in the field of Sasquatch. People who dedicate their time to seeking out these creatures and proving their existence. While everyone’s contributions mean something, even in a small way, there are four men who have made significant impacts within the community and beyond. And they’re collectively known as the Four Horsemen of Sasquatch. So, who are the four horsemen, you ask? Meet John Wilson Green, Rene Dehinden, Grover Krantz and Peter Byrne. Researchers, authors, academics and, most importantly, Sasquatch believers. These are names we should all know. John Green, Author of Encounters with Bigfoot John Wilson Green was a Canadian journalist and Sasquatch researcher who made big waves. He started searching for Sasquatch in 1957, when he teamed up with fellow horseman, Rene Dehinden. The two paired up to conduct interviews and first-person sightings. Green graduated from the University of British Columbia, before taking his Master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He lent his writing skills to the cause in 1968 when he published his first book, On the Track of the Sasquatch, that recounted incredible tales of possible sightings. He continued searching for Sasquatch and writing about them, publishing five additional books that included Year of the Sasquatch, The Sasquatch File, The Best of Sasquatch Bigfoot, Encounters with Bigfoot and Sasquatch: The Apes Among Us, which was touted as “best written book on the subject” by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. He was also featured in the documentary film Sasquatch Odyssey. Sadly, Green’s search for Sasquatch ended in 2016 when he passed away at the age of 89. René Dehinden, Researcher René Dehinden was born in Switzerland, but moved to Canada in his early 20s. His interest in Sasquatch was sparked shortly after his arrival at his new home and he spend decades collecting interviews and conducting research, trying to prove the existence of Sasquatch. Dehinden was an advocate of the controversial film by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin that was largely touted as being a Sasquatch hoax. He also co-wrote the book Sasquatch/Bigfoot: The Search for North America's Incredible Creature with Don Hunter and was the inspiration for the Sasquatch-hunting character in the 1987 film Harry and the Hendersons. René Dehinden died in 2001 at the age of 70. Grover Krantz, Author and Anthropologist Grover Krantz was an anthropologist and cryptozoologist, and one of the only scientists who not only researched Sasquatch but also openly professed his belief. While he started his Sasquatch research in 1963, he also played a significant role as a scientist in the field of evolutionary anthropology as well. Unfortunately, much of Krantz’s research was dismissed by scientists outside of the Sasquatch community because of its subject matter, it made a huge impact on the community itself. He’s one of the few scientists to contribute credentials to the community alongside his research. In addition to academic papers, Krantz also contributed written works to the research of Sasquatch, including The Scientist Looks at the Sasquatch, The Sasquatch and Other Unknown Hominoids and Bigfoot Sasquatch Evidence. Krantz passed away in 2002 at the age of 70. Peter Byrne, Author of “The Hunt For Bigfoot” Peter Byrne is the last remaining of the horsemen. He has spent much of his life searching for Sasquatch. He’s known inside the community for his immense contributions to Sasquatch research, but to the external world, the possible Sasquatch hair he sent to the FBI in 1976 is what he’s most known for. While recent documentation released by the FBI has stated the Byrne hair was that of a dear, not an unknown creature and possibly Sasquatch, he’s still “95 to 98 percent sure” that Sasquatch is out there lurking in the woods. Throughout the years, Byrne published a number of books including The Hunt for the Yeti and The Last Great Elephant. But it’s his 2016 book, The Hunt For Bigfoot that made a real splash. It recounts his comprehensive research on the creature, and on the back cover he said it is a comprehensive record of the phenomena, “leaving only one more book to be written—when a physical finding is made.” But the publication of the comprehensive Sasquatch book wasn’t the end of his career. He’s still out there, walking the woods in Oregon's Coast Range, seeking Sasquatch out. Inspired by these Sasquatch researchers? It’s time to start researching yourself. Grab your favorite Sasquatch cup, pour yourself a coffee and check in with the Sasquatch Syndicate podcast. We’ve got some stories you should hear! Have your own favorite of Sasquatch Researchers let us know in the comments below, or email us. We'd love to hear from you. BELEIVE By Tae Haahr Research Writer, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.  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.  Big Thicket National Preserve The Big ThicketWhen the woods go silent around you and all the insects and birds stop making a fuss, it’s possible Sasquatch is lurking around the corner. At least, that’s what Rob Riggs thought. He told that to Michael Hardy who wrote a 2014 essay in Houstonia about his hike through the thicket led by Riggs.
Rob Riggs searched for Sasquatch in Big Thicket National Preserve Park since he moved back to the area in 1979. He wrote the Big Thicket: On the Trail of the Wild Man: Exploring Nature's Mysterious Dimension in 2001, and Bigfoot: Exploring the Myth & Discovering the Truth in 2014, co-authored by fellow researcher Tom Burnette. He was so dedicated to the cause that he “moved into a Chaparral camper on the edge of the Thicket in order to mount cameras and set out bait” prior to his death in 2015. But unfortunately he never had the pleasure of meeting one of these shy creatures face-to-face. So, the question remains, is Sasquatch hiding out in East Texas Thicket?The state of Texas is home to 246 Sasquatch sightings according to many research organizations. That’s the seventh highest state sightings number in America. But Hardin County, where the Big Thicket National Preserve Park exists, has only one reported sighting. It took place in 2019, on Bragg Road. A motorist and his son were driving down the road when a “large, solid-black animal came out of the woods on the east side of the road” he was “walking slowly on two legs.” The motor, a retired combat vetran, said that he doesn’t scare easily. But the 20 foot creature that came wandering out of the trees was a frightening sight to behold. It had glowing eyes and made its way briefly onto the road grade before wandering back off to the bush. He also noted that he spotted swamp gas lurking up from the area before he saw the creature. While not many sightings have been officially documented in the East Texas area. There are other areas that such as Bragg Road where the sole sighting occurred, is also the home to the ghostly light of Light of Saratoga or the Ghost Road of Saratoga. It leads one to believe, why there are so few sightings recorded in the area when the area is known to be so active. Is there something lurking out there in the woods, or is it just a figment of our imaginations? You’ll have to let us know what you think... Also we may be leading a Sasquatch Expedition in 2021 in East Texas so stay tuned to our event section. Also don't forget if you decide to make the Trek to the Big Thicket National Preserve Park for your own Sasquatch expedition, you’ll want to make sure that you bring some bug spray and your favorite Sasquatch hoodie for chillier evenings. Please let us know what you think about the Big Thicket in the comments below or email us. We'd love to hear from you. BELIEVE By Tae Haahr Research Writer, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.  Forest Entities Exist What is really going on in the forests?Exploring the forest is a foreign domain to many arm chair researchers. However, having an understanding of the natural world helps us disconnect from the connectedness of society. and helps reconnect us to our soul. Planet Earth is our home, and the beauty and wonder should never be taken for granted, nor should we ever give up our curiosity and inner child to explore all it has to offer.
For many of us land mammals, exploring the planet has it's limitations. For those however willing to explore the forests, and diverse bio-based ecosystems, what lies beyond the pavement of our society is a natural world filled with a new discovery at every turn. There has never really been an expedition that took place in a forest that we have not discovered something new or that ended without a bizarre twist. The forest is full of surprises, and based on what we have seen, anything remains possible and while yes we are focused on Sasquatch, that is not all that remains a mystery. So if you care to look a little further on what may be lurking in the forest, you may just get a few surprises. Myths, Legends, and Folklore abound across the planet. From Ireland, Scotland, and Finland to name just a few, and a few of these legends still carry their weight today. So you have to ask yourself where do these creatures derive from? Are we just discovering the tip of the iceberg with the Cryptids we know about? It seems there is much more to the story, on encounters of odd entities that are still seen across the world. Perhaps Sasquatch is not alone out there in the deep woods, and perhaps there is simply more to the story than we could ever comprehend. On this month's podcast we will be meeting with Kevin Ian-Beagle he is an Irish Folklorist and professor in Washington State. So relax with a cup of Joe, in one of our new camping mugs, and let us know what your thoughts are on Folklore? Is it derived from actual truth? or just some fanciful tales? Please let us know in the comments below, or email us. We'd love to hear from you. BELIEVE By Chanelle Elaine CMO, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.  Courtesy Bigfoot Captured (History Channel) Do we need a body? For those that have had a genuine encounter with Sasquatch, nothing more is needed to confirm their existence. The absolute size differential in the presence of the giant hominid, the overwhelming stench permeating the air, the rocks and branches being thrown like child toys into a back country camp, the midnight wailing and shrieks bolting them awake in their tents. For the experienced, this is proof enough. For the skeptics that dismiss the reported sightings and associated evidence as either hoaxes or misinterpreted encounters with a bear or other large animal, there is only one thing that will convince them of Sasquatch. They need a body. Where is the body? Footprint casts are often dismissed as pranksters walking along trails and logging roads with fake molds strapped to their feet. Tree structures attributed to Sasquatch could be from natural causes or human construction. Hair samples submitted for DNA analysis have yet to bring forth a smoking gun proving the species existence. The FBI recently released that in the mid-1970’s, even the government looked into a comparative species analysis of unknown hair samples sent to the Bureau by a Sasquatch research organization based out of The Dalles, Oregon. The FBI concluded that the hair samples were of “the deer family”. It is an interesting conundrum. Why don’t we have a Sasquatch body yet? Surely with all of the reported sightings over the past century, someone, somewhere would have stumbled across a bone or carcass at some point. Or is it that strange? Even for the most experienced outdoors person, how many bear or mountain lion carcasses have they come across? The answer for most is probably zero. It is well documented that predatory animals at the top of the food chain rarely die naturally out in the open. Humans are their only predators and they normally hide and die in private. When they die, natural decomposition and scavenging by other animals quickly disperses the remains. Unfortunately, the unbelievers and naysayers do have a point. Without a body, alive or dead, it is difficult to officially confirm Sasquatch existence. To that point, it is near impossible to officially confirm any living organism, flora or fauna, without a documented “body” sample. This is where the “voucher specimen” comes into play with all newly discovered species. Upon discovery of a new species of a plant or animal, there are academically accepted guidelines and methods for collection, processing and storage of new species. This is important because it allows for definitive comparison and analysis of any future tissue samples, DNA, etc. back to the originally documented voucher specimen. This takes the conversation into the legal and ethical realm. Do we stage hunts to capture a live Sasquatch? Do we need to kill a Sasquatch to enter the species into the traditional voucher specimen system? Is it human? How do we classify it? States like Washington, Oregon and California already ban the hunting and killing of Sasquatch. Other states like Texas deem any “non-game animal”, including Sasquatch, fair to hunt without bag limits. For us at the Sasquatch Syndicate the definitive answer on killing is, No. For a fascinating conversation on the subject of capturing Sasquatch, have a listen to the Sasquatch Syndicate podcast with former professional wrestler “Rockin Randy” Stewart. Randy and the team discuss his encounters as a child and methods of capturing Sasquatch using non-lethal means. They also bring up the numerous benefits and consequences of proving the existence of Sasquatch. Do we tranquilize and tag them like bear and lion programs? What is the government response if we make a discovery? Will the discovery be hidden and classified? Is the general public ready for Sasquatch? Over the last century there have been thousands of documented encounters with Sasquatch in North America. Some of the reports are probably false. Some are certainly hoax. Many are certainly real.
However, if even ten accounts are valid – how would that make you feel? Let us know what you think, leave your comments and perhaps you'll get a shout out on the show. BELIEVE By Kevin Weberling, Research Writer, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc. |
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