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‘Bigfoot’ search under way
By KIM HOYUM, Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — The Bigfoot Field Research Organization hosted a media conference Thursday in Chocolay Township as they began a local expedition to search for evidence of the legendary creature often called “Bigfoot” or “Sasquatch.”
About 20 residents came to a scenic turnout on M-28 to find out more about the organization’s project, which will go on until Sunday. Also on hand for the event were representatives from the Detroit News and Fox News as well as local media. The Fox television crew planned to follow BFRO investigator Matthew Moneymaker and his team on their search throughout the week. About 55 or 60 team members came to the U.P. for the project, which involves observation and recording in areas where “Bigfoot” encounters have been reported.
Moneymaker interviewed two women who had heard about the search and had come to tell their stories of encounters with what they believe to be Bigfoot in the Upper Peninsula.
Sylvi Carrington, 43, of Bark River, drove up to tell her story after 25 years of being disbelieved by those she told it to.
She said her encounter happened on a road between Cornell and Watson in Delta County, as she was driving to pick up her then-boyfriend.
“I kind of looked and thought it was somebody hitchhiking, and I got closer and said, ‘Ooh, my God, that’s a big man.’” She described the creature as having arms hanging past its knees and reflective eyes.
“It was a prehistoric ape-
# man, that’s what it looked like,” Carrington said.
“I quit talking about it because everyone laughed at me,” she said. Before that incident, she had never really thought about whether a creature such as “Bigfoot” exists, she said.
A Skandia woman had a similar story, though it happened over 40 years ago on a road near Sagola in Dickinson County. Sharon Gardner said she was driving when a tall man-like creature crossed the road about a quarter-mile in front of her vehicle. It took four strides to cross the road, she said.
“I got a chill down my spine and stopped the car,” Gardner said. She said she had not told anyone about her story, including her husband, until Thursday. “People don’t really believe it, so I thought I’d save myself the anguish,” she said.
Moneymaker said the BFRO is searching in Marquette County this week because more recent sightings have been reported in this area, but he may plan a trip to the western U.P. in the future.
He said the organization’s search Wednesday night proved fruitful, with what he believes to be a Bigfoot call recorded, but there were radio problems throughout the night due to the geography of the area they were in and the density of the woods in eastern Marquette County.
The BFRO describes itself as a scientific research organization, and Moneymaker said they don’t indiscriminately investigate reports.
“We’ve seen circumstances where either it’s a giant man in a costume, or the people are lying, or it’s a Sasquatch,” he said. “And we can usually eliminate two of the choices.”
Representatives of the Marquette County Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau also stopped by to welcome the BFRO to the area.
Pat Black, director of Marquette Country CVB, commented on the perception of the Upper Peninsula as a wilderness, which may contribute to the interest in Bigfoot locally.
“People from lower Michigan think this is the type of place where Bigfoot might be running around,” she told Moneymaker. “You know, they probably think we have Bigfoot, or psychic moose or whatever.”
Moneymaker later said the idea is often a clash between urban and rural culture. He said when he speaks with “city people,” they often wonder where a creature like that would hide, because they don’t have any experience of extensive forests. “It’s inconceivable to some people,” he said.
CAPTION:By KIM HOYUM, Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — The Bigfoot Field Research Organization hosted a media conference Thursday in Chocolay Township as they began a local expedition to search for evidence of the legendary creature often called “Bigfoot” or “Sasquatch.”
About 20 residents came to a scenic turnout on M-28 to find out more about the organization’s project, which will go on until Sunday. Also on hand for the event were representatives from the Detroit News and Fox News as well as local media. The Fox television crew planned to follow BFRO investigator Matthew Moneymaker and his team on their search throughout the week. About 55 or 60 team members came to the U.P. for the project, which involves observation and recording in areas where “Bigfoot” encounters have been reported.
Moneymaker interviewed two women who had heard about the search and had come to tell their stories of encounters with what they believe to be Bigfoot in the Upper Peninsula.
Sylvi Carrington, 43, of Bark River, drove up to tell her story after 25 years of being disbelieved by those she told it to.
She said her encounter happened on a road between Cornell and Watson in Delta County, as she was driving to pick up her then-boyfriend.
“I kind of looked and thought it was somebody hitchhiking, and I got closer and said, ‘Ooh, my God, that’s a big man.’” She described the creature as having arms hanging past its knees and reflective eyes.
“It was a prehistoric ape-
# man, that’s what it looked like,” Carrington said.
“I quit talking about it because everyone laughed at me,” she said. Before that incident, she had never really thought about whether a creature such as “Bigfoot” exists, she said.
A Skandia woman had a similar story, though it happened over 40 years ago on a road near Sagola in Dickinson County. Sharon Gardner said she was driving when a tall man-like creature crossed the road about a quarter-mile in front of her vehicle. It took four strides to cross the road, she said.
“I got a chill down my spine and stopped the car,” Gardner said. She said she had not told anyone about her story, including her husband, until Thursday. “People don’t really believe it, so I thought I’d save myself the anguish,” she said.
Moneymaker said the BFRO is searching in Marquette County this week because more recent sightings have been reported in this area, but he may plan a trip to the western U.P. in the future.
He said the organization’s search Wednesday night proved fruitful, with what he believes to be a Bigfoot call recorded, but there were radio problems throughout the night due to the geography of the area they were in and the density of the woods in eastern Marquette County.
The BFRO describes itself as a scientific research organization, and Moneymaker said they don’t indiscriminately investigate reports.
“We’ve seen circumstances where either it’s a giant man in a costume, or the people are lying, or it’s a Sasquatch,” he said. “And we can usually eliminate two of the choices.”
Representatives of the Marquette County Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau also stopped by to welcome the BFRO to the area.
Pat Black, director of Marquette Country CVB, commented on the perception of the Upper Peninsula as a wilderness, which may contribute to the interest in Bigfoot locally.
“People from lower Michigan think this is the type of place where Bigfoot might be running around,” she told Moneymaker. “You know, they probably think we have Bigfoot, or psychic moose or whatever.”
Moneymaker later said the idea is often a clash between urban and rural culture. He said when he speaks with “city people,” they often wonder where a creature like that would hide, because they don’t have any experience of extensive forests. “It’s inconceivable to some people,” he said.
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Sharon Gardner of Skandia, center, shows Matthew Moneymaker of the Bigfoot Field Research Organization, right, where she had a “Bigfoot” encounter 42 years ago near Sagola. (Journal photo by Kim Hoyum)
