Post
by Tom of the Woods » November 26th, 2016, 1:58 pm
Seems like an old topic but since it's temporarily resurrected, I'll risk going out on a limb. I've seen two, absolute certainty, close range, in daylight. Very likely a third, not absolutely sure but less than 1% chance it was anything else. The 2 "definites" were nearly 40 years apart ... so don't hold your breath. Now that I'm spending more time in the Cascades and less in the Coast Range I've started running into more tracks, typically 1-3 a year. I found one partial and one complete track about a month apart this summer. Both were a ways off trail and away from camping areas where nobody is very likely to go. I've gotten 2, maybe 3 vocalization recordings. I deleted a 4th ... bonehead move.
Zero doubt, for me. Not mere believe, but certain knowledge. However, some of those questions people ask thinking they're undermining the arguments for existence are still valid, just in a different context. For instance .. yeah, where are the bones, and why so few trail cam pictures, and what about DNA? Behind our inability to answer the question are assumptions about what the answers CAN be, thus where we're willing to look for those answers, what we're willing to consider as answers, that are apparently wrong and misleading.
There's no proving a negative. People can CONCLUDE for themselves there is no bigfoot. That's not proof. At this point, despite what I "know" for myself, their existence is not proven to science either. Without existence proven there can be no experts, there are only people with differing levels of experience. Some of the narcissists in the bigfoot arena ... and man, it draws a LOT of them ... claim expertise. Don't buy it. Discovery is a process. We're in the middle of it. It's not done. Frankly, I can't promise that if I find absolute proof that I'll share it .. depends on what that proof would say about them and how I think we'll react. If my suspicions prove correct, then it's likely a secret I'll take to my grave. Even that is an "if", however.
If you happen to have some sort of "encounter", sighting, etc. I suggest being cautious. I've seen people who shared with trusted friends, family, or even people at work expecting a supportive reaction get brutally shredded with ridicule. Take notes. Write it up for yourself. Be sure to separate what is observation vs what is interpretation of the observation. Both matter but they need to be identified for what they are. Contact Oregon Bigfoot or BFRO via their web sites to file a report and/or read up on others' experience in the same area. You might well be contacted by an investigator who can answer questions and set your mind at ease about what you experienced.
- Tom
