So I was pondering the list of distinguished squatchy luminaries who'll be presenting/present at the upcoming symposium. I don't know about you kids, but this will be my first time around any of these guys. I'm assuming there will be ample opportunity to ask them all the buring questions that have been...well, burning in me all these years. Problem is, I can't think of too many burning questions. So, how 'bout you? What have you always wanted to ask one of these guys?

Distinguished list of squatchy luminaries:

* Mr. Dmitri Bayanov, Author, Hominology Investigator since 1964, State Darwin Museum, Moscow, Russia

* Dr. John Bindernagel, Retired Wildlife Biologist

* Dr. Igor Bourtsev, Author, Hominology Investigator since 1965, State Darwin Museum, Moscow, Russia

* Mr. Jimmy Chilcutt, Crime Scene Investigator/Latent Fingerprint Examiner, Conroe Police Department, Conroe, Texas

* Dr. W. Henner Fahrenbach, Retired Invertebrate Zoologist and Head of Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center

* Mr. Doug Hajicek, President of Whitewolf Entertainment, natural history television documentaries

* Mr. Alton Higgins, Assistant Professor, Mid-America Christian University, Oklahoma, BFRO physical evidence coordinator

* Dr. D. Jeffrey Meldrum, Associate Professor of Anatomy & Anthropology, Idaho State University

* Ms. Kathy Moskowitz, Forest Archaeologist, Stanislaus National Forest

* Mr. Rick Noll, Curator, Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization

* Mr. Bob Gimlin, participant in 1967 expedition resulting in the Patterson-Gimlin film clip of a female Bigfoot in the Bluff Creek drainage in northern California

* Mr. John Green, Author, Journalist, Bigfoot Investigator for 44 years

* Mr. Al Hodgson, Resident of Willow Creek since the 1930s, acquainted with and assisted many Bigfoot investigators as well as personally conducting investigations since 1962

* Mr. Jim McClarin, Bigfoot Investigator since 1963 and member of early expeditions from northern California to Alaska

* Mr. Ed Schillinger, Engineer/surveyor, observed 1958 track finds in Bluff Creek drainage

* Mr. Tom Steenburg, Canadian Sasquatch investigator since 1978 and author (Reserve Speaker)

I'd like to know what each of their estimates are regarding the population of the North American Great Ape, regardless of any considerations given to any variations within that group.

I'd like to know how many 'variations' (for lack of a better word) they think exist in N. America. Also, I'd like to know what Chilcutt thinks of prints with less than five toes.

Dammit... I wish I could go to this thing and hang out with all of you!!!

I guess I would be most interested in picking the brains of both Gimlin and Green regarding the Patterson stuff, especially the hands-on descriptions of what Gimlin can provide. I've read it in text a million times, but coming from the mouth of one of only two actual witnesses to the greatest film of all time would be spectacular. I'd like to see how Gimlin and Green discuss the film together. I'd be like some crazed bigfoot groupie around these guys!!!

Well, if they allow videotaping, which I doubt, maybe I'll be able to fix you up!

Why do you think they wouldn't allow videotaping?

I can't make the symposium, but I'd pay $ to view the lectures by Meldrum, Bindernagel, and Bayanov.

I'd like to ask:

1. Are we really any closer to solving this mystery today than we were in 1967

2. Do they think the recent 'mystery ape' discovery furthers the probability of finding definitive proof of bigfoot in North America Why or why not

3. With the present wildfires raging in British Columbia, is it reasonable to expect a rash of sightings from firefighters, etc.

4. If they could narrow it down to one thing that has most advanced the search for bf, what one thing would that be
(ie. the internet, advancing technology, etc.)

5. What, in their opinion, has been the biggest stumbling block to having mainstream science take bigfoot seriously (other than the lack of a body). ie. the lack of funding, the lunatic fringe, etc.

I'm sure I could come up with a few more if I sit and think awhile....

Shhhhh....I'm thinking...

RayG

[edited to try and fix thingamabobbies]

re:



Here's what the CA-TUL-0019 rock art looks like:
http://www.bfro.net/leiterman/Bigfoot-rock.htm

This would also be an interesting lecture.

You gotta go, Ray...

I gots a couple more:

6. Do they think bf is genetically closer to human or gorilla

7. What, in their opinion, accounts for the difference in hair color Are they more like humans in that respect, or merely like bears

Does anyone know if the proceedings of any of these yearly bf conventions/symposiums are videotaped for public purchase/consumption?

RayG

I've never attended a Professional business or research seminar that allowed video taping. Part of the lure to attend attend a seminar is that you can't get the information anywhere else. If attendees could videotape the conference for their friends and co-workers there probably wouldn't be enough revenue generated to cover the cost of the event.

I would expect, however, that the conference organizers have made arrangements for some kind of professional recording of the seminar. But again, in order to cover costs I wouldn't expect the price tag to be cheap

Somebody ask all of Rays' questions, cause I want to know the answers, too!!!!!

Oh-mah, I'd love to!!!

Sadly, travelling to my mom's recent funeral depleted the bank account.

I've yet to make it to one, though I did meet John Green back in 1981. I was on a military course in Victoria, and got to visit with him one day. He was a very gracious host, showed me his maps, and plaster cast collection, etc. I even got him to sign my copy of Sasquatch, the Apes Among Us.

I spent a total of 5 years in British Columbia (76-78, 81-84) and never really pursued the bigfoot angle. I did speak informally with two locals on the Queen Charlotte Islands, and had my own rather creepy 'encounter' late one night, but if I could do-over, I'd have been MUCH more active.



Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20.

RayG

This is cool. Way to go Bipto.
If the q's were presented in a line up for ea. guy/gal
maybe we could get people to present them and publish the answers back here on a return thread. Maybe this one

Mr. Green: Why do you think the footprints are so hard to comeby ?
For all the reports we have, it seems that they are astonishingly rare.

Dr. Meldrum: What states are lacking in footprint casts ? Do you have what appears to be verified casts with dermals from a third of the estimated range of these creatures? half? Or more?

Mr. Chilcutt: Do you have verified footprint casts with four toes?
three toes? What is the most extreme feet you have examined and still regard as legit?

Mr. Gimlin: When you were hanging with Roger and you saw him take his tumble and this ape thing walks off and he is chasing after it... what were YOU thinkin? How close were you from brandishing your weapon? When it was all over and you and Roger were standing around what was it like to review in your mind what just happened ?

Mr. McClarin: So what kind of experiences have you had? Any luck with vocalizations? Had rocks thrown at ya? What do you think of these creatures now? What is your opinion on why they still are unverified? *** (universal question for EVERYBODY)

there's a bunch that come to mind. I could go nuts here, but having a pair, I think I will just hang back.

Now there's an idea. If they allow for a list of questions, is it possible for someone who IS going, to take along all of the questions asked herein?

Let's put our thinking caps on....

RayG

Some excellent questions SR!!

C'mon you Monty Python types.... "ooooooh, I hadn't thought of that"...





Good one...

RayG

Seems like with the representation of the BFF there that would be likely. I hope so. RayG did you comment on your experiences someplace on this forum? If not, wouldja? Thanks ! Just can't get enough of this stuff.

You're reading my mind, man...

RayG "I" wrote that ??????????? hehe

Thanks for the comments on the q's.. I bet we can all come up with more and I like Misfit and so many others hope all yours get answered too!

Universal question to all participants:
Just what is the largest size estimate as indicated by footprint casts or other evidence? (I keep hearing 12 feet and a few references to higher.) What indications do we have via secondary evidence in house on that? And any comment on locations? (general - states - mountain ranges, etc.)

Yegads, it's probably on here somewhere in one of my first posts, but I honestly don't remember where. Here's where, when, and what happened:

It happened on the Queen Charlotte Islands, near Masset, back in '76 or '77. I don't recall the exact date but I'm pretty certain it was in '76. I and three friends had driven to the end of Cemetery Road, a small paved side-road leading from the main road to the beach. After spending some time at the beach, I and a female military police officer decided to walk back to the main road, and then continue on to the station. The other couple decided to drive back. It was very late in the evening, I believe it was around or after midnight.

We were walking along chatting with each other, when we noticed something walking parallel to us in the woods to our left. Let me say that this road was not very wide, two vehicles could pass each other, but not with much room to spare. The trees grew so close to the road that they hung out over it, causing it to be even darker than it normally would be. We looked to our left, but the combination of darkness, and thickness of the woods, prevented us from seeing anything. The sounds we heard were small twigs snapping, and as we walked the snapping of twigs stayed parallel to us on our left. When we paused to see if we could make anything out, the snapping noises stopped. We started walking again, and the snapping began as well. We stopped, it stopped. This went on at LEAST three times, might have been four. Each time we continued walking, the snapping sounds to our left would start up again. After the third or fourth time, when we started walking again, the snapping twigs were now on the right side of us, indicating that whatever was making the noise had seemingly crossed the road behind us. Talk about hairs standing up on the back of your neck!!

I believe it was at about that time our two friends who had left us earlier drove up in their car. They had come back to get us to go to a party, as best as I can recall. Initially my thoughts were that it was a bear, but I checked with some of the locals afterwards, and they thought it would be strange behavior for a bear.

I never thought of sasquatch at the time, nor did I notice any strange odor. I did think about the incident afterwards. I also initially entertained the idea it may have been someone playing a prank on us, but I can't fathom how a human would have walked through those woods as stealthily as they did without a light source. No one ever came forward in the days that followed, nor did any prankster jump out at us on the night in question. It remains a mystery what, or who, was stalking us that night.

Am I convinced it was bigfoot? No. I'm also not convinced it wasn't.

RayG

I'd like to know who among these people think we are dealing with more than one species of animal. And if they do, do they contribute the differences in characteristics to this.

Here ya' go Ray:

http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?act...t=0&#entry37147


Gratuities are gladly accepted.... but not required... chocolate-covered strawberries come to mind...

Hey RB, how the heck you do that?

Oh teach me, teach me great Oh-mah wan-kenobie.


RayG

What happens if its found,in your opinion.. (open question to all)......so far everyting else I can think of has already been asked.

Ok... but we're talking a least a half-dozen Sharri's Berrie's here...


Ok students... that one was easy Ray, as you only had about 50-some posts to check...

I suppose there is more than one way... if you know the exact words you used, you can do a search (top of the page)... play around that that feature, it pretty cool...

But that's not how I found it...

First, I clicked on your name next to your avatar (are those gunboats your's, BTW? wow!)... it will take you to your stats page... then click on the link that says "Find all posts by this member"... a few clicks looking through all your past posts (this is where a fast connection comes in handy... I couldn't do this at home anywhere near as quickly)... and there it was...

Did I find the right post?

Ok, that's what I thought, but you seemed to find it so fast!



Nah, my feet are downright ugly compared to those beauts.



Thanksamucho. I hadn't thought to do it that way.



You did indeedy. It's funny that I never even thought about it being a bigfoot at the time, given that I had seen at least two sasquatch movies within the year prior to that.

RayG

Yeah Ray... a Bigfoot isn't the first thing I would think of either...

jim... mighty fine question there, sir... I agree...

"Ok, let's say we find them. What happens to them then?"

Man, now I gotta think!
Gimme a few days and I'll have some(like, when I get home from my mini-trip poking around Oscoda area).
But, for starters....
1). What, if anything, do they consider possibly valid in the manner of stick/tree formations or other specific possible artifacts of sasquatch origin?
2). What, if any, sounds have been successfull in iliciting a response on a regular(or as regular as could be expected) basis.
3). What level of knowlege to any of them believe the government/millitary may have in regards to sasquatch?
4). Have any of them attempted to leave "gifts", such as trinckets, or food, at a possible contact location, or have they heard of this, and if so what seems to be most popular among squatches(what do they take, what don't they take).
5). Outside of the PNW, what other areas of North America do they consider likely to hold a PERMENANT, non-transient population.
6). What are their thoughts on migration/hibernation during winter months in areas with harsh winters, and additionaly, why is there so very little in the way of sasquatch sign found in the winter months(why not more tracks in the snow, near deer yards, for instance).
7). Thoughts on simple tool use..is it possible?(this would tie in, I suppose, with the question of what they really are).
8). If THEY could have one question of sasquatch aspect answered(besides the obvious..do they exist), what would that be?

ok, that's my initial list....plus, of course, all the other great questions that have already been posted.

You know, if you then canvassed additional experts (OK, sophisticates) with those questions, and then canvassed them all again to critique one another's answers, you'd have enough material for a very interesting book! And all without much keypunching on your part.

As far as questions go, mine would all be of the nature of asking what they thought of the suggestions I've made in prior posts about how the BF community or leadership could "firm up" the existing evidence and obtain new evidence. E.g., to mention my latest idea, which I haven't posted, what about trying to get a few investigators (one each in CA, OR, WA, & BC) to obtain a couple of dogs that are willing to follow a BF scent trail, so they could be taken to sighting spots to try to track a BF down?

Anyhow, as long as I'm in question-asking mode, here's a question for you, bipto. What does "Everlasting gobstopper of love" mean?

Bipto, I love this idea. Bravo!

Next please change your avatar back to the martian fellow. This one scares me. Mars comes really close on 8/27 please bring him back.

I have some questions for Dmitri Bayanov, "What evidence about our Russian hairy friend if any has come to light since the collapse of the former Soviet Union and is it now possible to research government files about this subject?" And are more people willing to open up?

For Bob Gimlin: What does he think made them lucky that day? What kind of camp did they set up? What did he notice about Patty that is not evident in the film?

It would be great to get Gimlin's take on my old thread. But I am really being selfish with that question because I am not even considering going to the Symposium, although I would love to.

Um..hehe.

It's the traditional title for one who administers an internet discussion board.


I'm getting ready for Halloween...

I think we have just barely opened the cookie jar here.

Here is one I really want to know:

How far in distance is the same pair of tracks turning up on the opposite ends ot its "range" ??
What is typical
and what is extreme? Have we even got enough information to
accurately portray this question??

I'd ask that to every researcher in this forum, all the people in field work at that symposium and anyone else that I thought might have a "fix" on something like that.

By the way RayG
Thanks for that. Interesting how there is so many reports that describe that in so many areas. Wonder why?

Bipto,

You and my Mom. Halloween forever. I'm a Christmas ornament collector myself. And what's great is my husband loves to decorate the tree every year.

This doesn't have anything to do with questions for speakers at the upcoming Symposium. It's in response to Roger's suggestion about finding dogs to track bigfoot. If someone could get some cloths or papers that were impregnated with the odor male gorillas exude from the scent glands in their armpits, perhaps dogs trained to track that scent might be willing to track a bigfoot's scent. I haven't ever experienced the scent of a male gorilla, myself, but I've noticed that others have said it's downright rank and rather similar to the smell of bigfoot.

Have made a list of all questions suggested thus far - Please review for any omissions. Also note that I have included the original questioners alias after their question or series of questions.

Symposium questions…

1- What each of their estimates are regarding the population of the North American Great Ape, regardless of any considerations given to any variations within that group? (RB)

2- How many 'variations' (for lack of a better word) they think exist in N. America?

3- What does Jimmy Chilcutt thinks of prints with less than five toes? (Bipto)

4- Pick the brains of both Gimlin and Green regarding the Patterson stuff, especially the hands-on descriptions of what Gimlin can provide. I've read it in text a million times, but coming from the mouth of one of only two actual witnesses to the greatest film of all time would be spectacular. I'd like to see how Gimlin and Green discuss the film together. (GG)

5- Are we really any closer to solving this mystery today than we were in 1967?

6- Do they think the recent 'mystery ape' discovery furthers the probability of finding definitive proof of bigfoot in North America? Why or why not?

7- With the present wildfires raging in British Columbia, is it reasonable to expect a rash of sightings from firefighters, etc?

8- If they could narrow it down to one thing that has most advanced the search for bf, what one thing would that be? (ie. the internet, advancing technology, etc.)

9- What, in their opinion, has been the biggest stumbling block to having mainstream science take bigfoot seriously (other than the lack of a body)? ie. the lack of funding, the lunatic fringe, etc. (RayG)

10- Do they think bf is genetically closer to human or gorilla?

11- What, in their opinion, accounts for the difference in hair color Are they more like humans in that respect, or merely like bears? (RayG)

12- Mr. Green: Why do you think the footprints are so hard to come by ?
For all the reports we have, it seems that they are astonishingly rare.

13- Dr. Meldrum: What states are lacking in footprint casts ? Do you have what appears to be verified casts with dermals from a third of the estimated range of these creatures? half? Or more?

14- Mr. Chilcutt: Do you have verified footprint casts with four toes?
three toes? What is the most extreme feet you have examined and still regard as legit?

15- Mr. Gimlin: When you were hanging with Roger and you saw him take his tumble and this ape thing walks off and he is chasing after it... what were YOU thinkin? How close were you from brandishing your weapon? When it was all over and you and Roger were standing around what was it like to review in your mind what just happened ?

16- Mr. McClarin: So what kind of experiences have you had? Any luck with vocalizations? Had rocks thrown at ya? What do you think of these creatures now? What is your opinion on why they still are unverified? *** (universal question for EVERYBODY

17- Just what is the largest size estimate as indicated by footprint casts or other evidence? (I keep hearing 12 feet and a few references to higher.) What indications do we have via secondary evidence in house on that? And any comment on locations? (general - states - mountain ranges, etc.) (Streamrunner)

18- Who among these people think we are dealing with more than one species of animal? And if they do, do they contribute the differences in characteristics to this. (JayLeeD)

19- What happens if its found,in your opinion.. (open question to all) (Jimf)

20- What, if anything, do they consider possibly valid in the manner of stick/tree formations or other specific possible artifacts of sasquatch origin?

21- What, if any, sounds have been successful in illiciting a response on a regular (or as regular as could be expected) basis?

22- What level of knowledge to any of them believe the government/military may have in regards to sasquatch?

23- Have any of them attempted to leave "gifts", such as trinckets, or food, at a possible contact location, or have they heard of this, and if so what seems to be most popular among squatches (what do they take, what don't they take).

24- Outside of the PNW, what other areas of North America do they consider likely to hold a PERMENANT, non-transient population?

25- What are their thoughts on migration/hibernation during winter months in areas with harsh winters, and additionily, why is there so very little in the way of sasquatch sign found in the winter months (why not more tracks in the snow, near deer yards, for instance)?

26- Thoughts on simple tool use..is it possible?(this would tie in, I suppose, with the question of what they really are).

27- If THEY could have one question of sasquatch aspect answered(besides the obvious..do they exist), what would that be? (nightwing)

28- what about trying to get a few investigators (one each in CA, OR, WA, & BC) to obtain a couple of dogs that are willing to follow a BF scent trail, so they could be taken to sighting spots to try to track a BF down? (RogerKni)

29- for Dmitri Bayanov: What evidence about our Russian hairy friend if any has come to light since the collapse of the former Soviet Union and is it now possible to research government files about this subject? And are more people willing to open up?

30- For Bob Gimlin: What does he think made them lucky that day? What kind of camp did they set up? What did he notice about Patty that is not evident in the film? (CocoB)

31- How far in distance is the same pair of tracks turning up on the opposite ends ot its "range" ?? What is typical and what is extreme? Have we even got enough information to
accurately portray this question?? (Streamrunner)

32: Dr. Meldrum, to the best of your knowledge, does the foot you are studying subscribe to more of an ape (as we know them) or a human type foot or do we draw the conclusion that its simply neither and so different it belongs in its own select category ?
33.) Could you comment with any update on what kind of power/speed/locomotion we are dealing with here ?
34.) How would this compare with the present known accepted power of known great apes? (Or people since neither type of primate presumably reaches the sizes suggested by observers and the footprints alledgedly left behind by sasquatches. )
(Streamrunner)

A few people have claimed that bf's have left objects behind in such a way as to appear to be "gifts", or saying something like "I was here."

So to expand on NW's question #4, I would like to ask some of the big names in BF research if they've ever been presented, so to speak, with anything left behind by a squatch that made them think they were being given something.

Another part of #16 - Have you ever had one of those "pee your pants" encounters? I would love to hear some descriptions here.

Oh yes, what are your feelings on agressive behavior?