For the past 3 years, around the same time every year, I visit a remote location in Washington state for solo camping and hiking. It's several hours away, and with my work schedule I don't get to visit very often. I go at a time when the campgrounds are all closed and no other humans are around. I have a pretty built-up rig that can get me places most others can't during the off-season. I don't want to reveal the location for obvious reasons. Every night that I have camped in this particular spot, I have clearly heard booming vocalizations (screams and howls) that have both terrified and intrigued me. As a skeptical person, I'm not going to jump to conclusions and say "It's Bigfoot!"... But as a [former] hunter and frequent outdoorsman, I'm also not quite sure what other animal to compare them to at this time. I also do quite a bit of solo backpacking, so I'm not a novice when it comes to spending nights alone in the wilderness, and encountering large North American animals. It's just this one particular spot that keeps me coming back.

The previous years I went all alone, and the vocalizations were very close to camp. Last time I had an old Hi8 video camera next to my sleeping bag, but of course I was not quick enough to get it turned on and recording in time to catch the screams and howls. It didn't help that I was pretty scared at what I was hearing. The noise was incredibly overwhelming. It made my hair stand on end and my hands were fumbling at the camera controls. These vocalizations were answered by distant coyote calls. I also heard something large "huffing and puffing" and stomping around the camp early one morning (sounded like someone repeatedly making 'raspberries' or blowing out through closed lips).

This year I traveled with my dog, and again I took the Hi8 camera, this time with a extra-large battery pack. The dog is very alert to any noises around camp. Shortly after midnight I began hearing the vocalizations, which woke both of us up. I was almost expecting it, so it doesn't frighten me any more. They were singular "screams" or yells (sometimes two or three in quick succession) which echoed loudly through the forest. No coyote response. This time the vocalizations were more distant, but still clear and distinct. I turned the camera on, and let it record for about an hour... nothing. So, I turned it off to conserve tape (I think the tapes last 3-4 hours on LP mode). Then, an hour or so would pass, and the screams would begin again, with two or three screams before stopping. Again I would press record on the camera as quick as possible, but not quick enough. This happened several times during the night. After the 3rd or 4th time, I left the camera recording non-stop as long as the tape lasted. I have not finished reviewing the entire tape yet to see if I captured anything, but I was not woken up again the rest of the night.

By now you are rolling your eyes... So am I. I hate that I'm hearing these sounds repeatedly, several years in a row now, and have nothing to show for it. Obviously this is a problem with not having a reliable recording device running constantly. I'm hoping to resolve this issue next time and find a digital device which will record 10-12 hours of nonstop high-quality audio, and support external inputs so I can set up a parabolic or omni-directional microphone of some sort. Perhaps those who have invested in such a system can offer suggestions. At this point I'm fairly confident that I can return to this spot again for repeat observations.

phoric,

I just posted a series of four articles about this subject on my main page at stancourtney.com.

I am no expert in field recording but I do have quite a bit of experience using different recorders and techniques. I typically am recording 24/7 at my research area. Please feel free to ask any questions and I am sure others will chime in with their advice also.


Field Recorders Part 1

Field Recorders Part 2

Field Recorders Part 3

Field Recorders Part 4

Stan Courtney

Hi - This is very interesting stuff. Would you mind sharing what part of our beautiful state you are in when you hear these sounds (without giving away your exact location, of course)? I hope you can get back out there with some good sound equipment so that the animal you are hearing can be analyzed and compared with other sounds. By the way, have you heard other alleged BF recordings, and (if so) do they sound like what you are hearing? Looking forward to hearing more of your research in the future.

Stan, thanks very much for the links and info, I'll check these out.

CuriousJ, Yes, I have collected many supposed audio clips of bigfoot over the years. There are a few that sound quite similar. I don't have the exact names of the clips here at work, but if I recall the latest screams I heard are similar to the Puyallup scream and Snohomish scream. I will have to listen to them again to be sure. On previous outings I also heard whoop-howls that sound similar to other alleged clips.

Am I simply hearing a mountain lion scream? Not sure. Supposedly this is a extremely rare occurrence. And the mountain lion audio clips I've listened to sound weak in comparison. That cat would need some pretty strong vocal chords. And it doesn't explain the howls.

I have been interested in the Bigfoot phenomenon to varying degrees for many years, but I generally don't post about my activities. I never go out with the sole purpose of finding Bigfoot, it's just an interesting side-subject. I don't want to start revealing locations or even counties at this time because then it will turn into a guessing game that can be narrowed down quickly. This region is the way it is because very few people go there during some parts of the year. Maybe if I can produce some solid audio then I will come forward with more location info.

The frustrating thing about this is, even if one produces multiple clear recordings of an unknown animal, it still proves absolutely nothing. Only that you have audio of a possibly unknown animal. I think for me to assume that this unknown animal is a Sasquatch is irresponsible. Oh well, it adds an interesting aspect to camping and backpacking in the backcountry.