*It’s a fact that for more than 400 years people have reported seeing large, hair-covered, man-like animals in the wilderness areas of North America.
I'm no hoax!
According to the *BFRO, (Big Foot Research Organization), Vilas County Wisconsin has only had 2 documented Big Foot reports. Since there was no internet when I was a boy and I’d have had no time for it if there had been, my experiences have gone unreported until now. It was not until watching Eastern Rises and learning about Frank Smethurst’s fascination with Big Foot that I recalled my early interactions with the creature.
From the age of 6 until I started working in Alaska, I spent most of my summers along with a few other seasonal visits in and around Camp Manito-wish. The camp is located on Boulder Lake, adjacent to the town of Boulder Junction Wisconsin, which lays claim to being the Muskie Capital of the World. My father was the executive director at the time and camp was home for me as much as or more so than our official residence in Whitefish Bay (Milwaukee).
*It is a fact that, for over seventy years, people have been finding, photographing, and casting sets of very large human-shaped tracks. Most are discovered by chance in remote areas. These tracks continue to be found to this day.
During the time when camp was in session, my dad was pretty darn busy. I’d say his deal was a lot like mine as a fishing guide in that there is no down time in-season and something always needs doing. Being a boy, I had unlimited downtime and a great big area to spend it in. Fishing was often the mission, but I also fancied myself a woodsman. I spent countless hours stealthily wandering deer trails and old logging roads. I even made a sort of tree stand with a big 2”x12” wedged between the perfectly aligned forks of two oak trees. I could lie across the board and silently watch as deer walked the trail and paused for acorns.
*It is a fact that the cultural histories of many Native American and First Nation peoples include stories and beliefs about non-human “peoples” of the wild. Many of these descriptions bear a striking resemblance to the hairy man-like creatures reported today.
I knew that I was the only human wandering the woods and I never saw any bear scat, but sometimes I’d come across other unexplained sign. Tree stumps uprooted, huge rocks pulled from the earth and strange diggings. Something else was out there in my woods. Back at school, I managed to find some books at the library about Bigfoot and I was pretty sure there was no other explanation. I read everything I could find about the creatures and did at least one class book report on the subject. I’m sure the girls and some of the boys all figured I was a true nerd.
Then there was the incident that left no doubt. I was poking along the lake shore, rolling rocks for crayfish and chasing minnows when it happened. From out of the woods came strange grunting noises and as I turned toward the sound, a giant boulder whizzed over my head and splashed into the water.
*To many, these facts, taken together, suggest the presence of an animal, probably a primate that exists today in very low population densities. If true, this species, having likely evolved alongside humans, became astonishingly adept at avoiding human contact through a process of natural selection.
I’m not talking about someone throwing a rock. It was truly a boulder hucked into Boulder Lake and right over my head. The intensions were clear. Something did not want me there and that something was Big Foot. Heart thudding and head buzzing, I crouched for a moment, ready to dodge the next barrage, but that was it. My woodsmen instincts soon kicked in and I crept up the slope toward where the rock had been launched and there was nothing to see. I was both relieved and devastated. The ground in the area where the creature had been was packed dirt covered in a deep layer of pine needles. My meager skills could not discern a trail. One thing was clear however; there were no rocks on that slope.
*It is a fact that sightings of these animals continue today. Real or not, these reports are often made by people of unimpeachable character.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I love Big Foot sighting stories. For all our technology I find it interesting that no one can come up with a decent photo.
It is pretty amazing that no one has come up with any undeniable proof and yet so many sightings and unexplained encounters occur. I have no other explanation for what I experienced.
Until proven that they do not exist, I’m gonna assume they do.