Sasquatch Chronicles - SC EP:470 Rest Area Sasquatch Encounter

Episode Date: September 15, 2018

Jackson I hope this show takes your mind off of the storm. A listener writes "I am a long haul truck driver, two years ago I had an encounter that changed my life, almost gave me a psychotic break and has turned an alpha male supposed Billy badass into a man that is afraid of the dark and refuses to stop at rest areas. I've only told my daughter and now my current partner that I drive with because I had to explain my behavior at night and my refusal to stop in rest areas. I've been holding this in for almost 2 years and, well I could use a debrief so to speak. Love your podcast, it's helped me a lot as I'm equally obsessed with Bigfoot as I am terrified." Spoke to the witness last night and he jumped out of his truck to go pee. When he jumped back into the truck a very large creature came out from behind the dumpster and stopped and just looked at him. The witness said "I was in shock and terrified, he stood there looking at me…" There are many more details the witness will share with us.

Black thing go from left to right, and I thought, I'm going to die out here, no one's ever going to know. I couldn't believe what my eyeballs were showing me. I'll never forget how evil the eyes were. It was horrible. I mean, I've never seen nothing that evil. It ran towards me at a rate that I can't even explain, turned and stared at me,

and this look of, I just want to kill you. I want to say it was human, but it wasn't. He was yelling at me to grab a gun, grab a gun. I was like, for what? He said, just grab a gun. And there's footprints all the way to the door of my house. It had went inside my garage all the way to the door. 911, what are you reporting? Get somebody out here.

What's going on now, sir? That son of a bitch is about six foot nine, I don't know. Do you see him now, sir? Yes, I'm looking right at him. You're listening to Sasquatch Chronicles. Check us out online at Sasquatch Chronicles.com. If you've had an encounter, email me. My email address is Wes at Sasquatch Chronicles.com.

Welcome to the show, everyone. Thanks for being here tonight. Got a great show planned for you tonight. I want to give a shout out to my boy, Jackson. He's 11 years old. He's one of my biggest fans there on the East Coast. Send me a very nice email. He said, Wes, would you play an additional show?

this weekend to get my mind off things. Jackson, my boy, your wish has been granted. Tonight is a great show. I got Sean and Kelly coming on. Both had encounters in Oregon. Sean's actually a truck driver. He got out of his truck near Baker City, if anyone from Oregon knows where that's at.

He actually got out of his truck, stopped a peek, got back in his truck, and saw one of the creatures. And then I'll be talking to Kelly. And he had an encounter in Oregon, too, as well, near Corvallis. If anyone's familiar with Oregon, if you're not familiar with Oregon, you're probably no clue what I'm talking about. But he had an encountering Corvallis back when he was 11 years old. He'll be sharing that with us tonight.

If you've had an encounter, shoot me an email. My email address is Wes at Sasquatch Chronicles.com. And I know some of the members are probably like, why are you back so soon, Wes? We just heard you. I had a show where a gentleman was from Pennsylvania. He saw a white Sasquatch in a river eating fish. Very fascinating stuff. If you get a chance, check it out.

Sasquatch Chronicles.com. Jackson, buddy, this is for you. Let's jump into it tonight. I want to welcome Sean to the show. Sean, thanks for coming on. Thanks, thanks for having you. Yeah, I appreciate you being here. And I know you're a long-haul truck driver.

Your encounter took place near Baker City, Oregon, which is pretty desolate. But if you would, would you kind of start from the beginning? Tell us what you're out doing and walk us into what happened. I was my first solo load. I picked up some potatoes outside of Pocatello and had it in Idaho and had to get them out to Portland. So I had plenty of time on my load. You know, it was a really nice day. There's a couple of passes that you have to go through that are pretty tricky.

you know, to get down into the flatlands in Oregon off the 84. So I decided to pull over, it was around 5.30, 6 o'clock. I pulled over at a, it was more like a break check station, not really a rest area, just off to the right side of the road. And there was another truck there at one end, and I pulled towards the exit, so I'd have an easy off. And there was a dumpster there and some, like some recent. cycle. And anyway, like I said, it was around September, late September, early October. So the days

were still really warm, but it got cooler at night. And the truck I have, when the temperature drops below 70 degrees, it'll automatically cut off if you leave it highly. But I went to bed with it on. You know, I had my coffee, everything like that. I was excited to start my, you know, the day tomorrow, my first drop. So I crashed out at around seven. And the way on our hours, work, had to wait for them to reset. So I could have taken off, I believe it was around four is what I planned on the 430, but I set my alarm for three and I went to bed. And I'm a smoker, so I leave my windows crack a little bit so it doesn't gas me out.

So I go to sleep, you know, it was a comfortable night. Everything was normal. And I get up around 3 o'clock before 3. as I woke up before my alarm, and, you know, I lit a cigarette, poured some coffee into my, you know, open my thermos, and I hop out to take a leak. And the way I was parked, I didn't want, you know, if any traffic was to drive by, they'd see me, you know, in Kent. So I walked around the front of my truck to the passenger side and did my business by the dumpster and hopped back in and I grab my phone. Yeah, mind you, while this, everything happened, I had my phone. in my hand. I could have taken photos. I could have filmed it. But that was the farthest thing

from my mind. So I'm logging into Facebook, you know, check some shit on. And I catch movement by the dumpster. And this thing, it looked tawny at first, and it was down low, just rose up and came around the dumpster and just stood there staring at me. It was just there. And I just froze. we like locked eyes and I uh it was he was just there everything you know I've heard of these I've always been a fan of big foot I've always believed in the legend but that was the farthest thing I ever thought would ever happen to me in my life I was just horrified yeah I can imagine so was he right in front of the truck looking up at you he yes like within five feet from the front of my truck just right on the other side

side of that dumpster one. Because I was parallel to the dumpster. The dumpster was off to the right of me. And my job could quit running, and I had my parking lights and my running lights, so I could see this thing. Yeah, I wanted to ask you, what, for the audience, can you describe what you saw? Ugly, huge. The way it stood up, it was standing kind of at an angle with his right side to me and his left off towards the tree line. and he just kind of swayed.

Like, I told you yesterday, it looked like he had something wrong with him, like his arm. His right hand was kind of cupped, curled in. And he just swayed his head, staring at me. And he looked pissed. Like, absolute disdain. I can't even describe it. I can't just in the feeling I had. I mean, my whole body went ice cold.

I thought I was done PN, but I proceeded to do so again in my pants. Yeah, and that definitely happens when people run into them. When you saw it, did it look more human in the face, or did it look more like a gorilla or chimpanzee? How would you describe the face? The face, and when you've heard people say it looked almost Aboriginal, that's pretty down accurate. in the face. The head, the forehead was really short and was conical, was kind of conned up. It wasn't that big up top, but the face was huge. The jaw was huge. Had a flat nose, kind of like ours, but like it's been mashed in and really broad, really flared out, broad nostrils.

And I guess it's hard to describe something that, like, I just, I don't have. have words. The distance from the nose to the upper lip was longer than from the lip to the chin. And it had a hair line. It was so close, I could see pine needles and leaves and shit

its hair. And it just stood there staring at me, swaying, making weird face. I told you that if a human was to make this face, it would look like they were going, you know, it would like purse its lips out and growl the whole way. bear its teeth. Like I said, I can't describe it. It's like something right out of a war.

Yeah, it is. I mean, and I understand exactly what you mean when you say that because I can relate. And it is. It's like I always tell people, when you see it, you almost don't believe it. It almost looks fake when you see it. I mean, it's so real.

It almost looks fake. But I would imagine, and that's a pretty desolate area you're in an I mean, you're on your own out there. No one's coming to help you in that general area. Oh, yeah. There was absolutely nothing I can do. Nothing. And so what happens next? He's looking at you. You're looking at him. And it's snarling and crowling up. Well, next step, we're just locked eyes. Mindy, this whole thing probably took about 10 to 15 seconds. And to the left, there was another one come out. And I told you it looked like she had something in her. she had breasts, looked like she had dead coyotes, or something, it was more than one, small animals in her hand. Did she look at you?

Did she stop and look at you, or did she just, so she comes out? Did not, didn't even acknowledge me, didn't so much as glance at. So I'm wondering, like I said, like I told you yesterday, and that's the part that, that still terrifies me to this day, stop at night and places like that. You know, how long was that thing standing there watching me? You know, when I went out there, they could have took of me, and there wouldn't have been nothing I could do. It's fascinating, Sean. It reminds me of, I can't remember the name, the guy's name.

He was a delivered driver, not so much a truck driver. I think he was more of a delivery driver. And he had gotten out one time to pee. And when he's peeing, he looks up and basically it's standing right there. He's practically peeing on the thing. And I'm always surprised he was able to walk away with his life because, And he was terrified. I mean, the guy was bawling through the whole thing. And I don't blame him. If I was in his shoes and I was recounting that story, I'd probably be bawling through the little unnerving. Because you get out, you pee. It's right by the dumpster. You basically jump back in and this thing walks out and probably thinking, what in the world are you doing? And that's terrifying. And to have him have that expression, you know, him showing his teeth and giving you the stink eye and kind of making those. facial movements.

Was it like, when you say, when you and I were talking the other night, I was thinking like, you ever seen like an old man swear underneath his breath at someone? Was it kind of like that, or was it more of, you said it was growling? Was it vocalizing at you? Beyond growling, was it vocalizing at you? No, it was just doing this, I didn't even think anything alive could make it sound like that. The fucking was huge. huge.

Yeah, they are. And that's the part that always shocks a lot of people is how big they actually are when you run into them. How big do you think it was? Well, yesterday after we spoke, just to make sure I took my tape up. Because, like I said, we locked eyes, and I have my seat all the way up. And where I dropped the tape to the ground was eight and a half feet. And that's the lead's room for four. So you're thinking it was about eight feet up?

Oh, yeah. It's practically looking right. I said looking up. It's practically just looking at you in the bed of that truck through the windshield. I would imagine it just sitting there. Didn't have to really strain any of its neck or anything. Was there anything else? No, it didn't have to do a thing.

Yeah. Was there anything else that you remember any other details you remember about the face or an expression it made? Was there anything else that really stood out to you when you were looking at either or creature? The eye. The other one was really dark, but this one looked like almost like I had a cataract or something. Yeah. Thing looked rough. Which makes it more terrifying.

Kind of that blind look, kind of that blind look in its eye. You know, it's interesting. There's one in the planet. Yeah. No, I hear you, man. It reminds me of the planet of the apes. You know that one ape that has that blind eye and has a big spot. Yeah, exactly.

Which makes it more terrifying, really, when you're sitting there and it's looking at you. So they walk off and was that pretty much the end of that? Did you just basically get in a truck and drive out of there? Yeah, I took off. They, like, he was in two steps. He was gone. Two steps. And, yeah, I drove out of there and I didn't stop until I was in Pendleton until I got down.

Well, probably at the Flying Jada and meet him. I stopped and just threw my jeans away. Yeah, I didn't sleep for a day after that. I can imagine. I hear people talk about encounters where they hear hooping and or they see him and then go right back to sleep in their tent. You know, here I am in a truck and I thought I was going to die. This thing could have probably just reached through and the glass wouldn't even have made a pause. It would have took that cab apart.

Yeah, it was terrifying. Yeah, it is. It really is terrifying, you know, especially when he sees the size of them. I wanted to ask you on the female, was there, did she look like the male or did she have a different appearance than the male beyond the breast? She looked way better, way better. This thing looked snarled up and grizzled. She almost had a patty look to it, but they were both really, really muscular. How can I put this?

It's like comparing Patty made these things made Patty look like that one drunk sister-in-law that always wears sweatpants and nails out her kids. Just a little swab. Yeah, I know what you mean. Yeah. It's funny to say that because I thought after my encounter, somebody had asked me that. And I said, the creature I saw, I mean, muscle-wise, Patty looks like a, like a, you know, the cat woman, the out-of-shape, saggy breast, cat woman. And what I saw did not, you know, wasn't even close to that. you know, we're talking night and day, it was way more muscular.

So this female you saw, you're saying she was very much more muscular? Yes. Because everyone's seen Patty. That's faster. And the thing that still kind of bugs me, I had my phone in my, you know, I was scared if I would have moved, blinked, that that would have been hit. Yeah, I wouldn't feel too bad, man. I mean, I've even talked to researchers that have been out there for 20 years trying to chase

them down. There was one I was talking to one time. He had a video camera in his hand, and one ran across the trail right in front of them, and he forgot he had a camera. So, I mean, it even happens when you're out there actually looking for them, most people don't break out the camera. When you're in your truck and you just got unpeeing and you had a smoke and now you're trying to wake up for the day, I'm sure the camera was the last thing on your mind. What do you think that they are? I'm curious, because you got such a good look up close and personal with them. If someone were to ask you, Sean, what do you think Sasquatch is?

What would you say to them? You know, I put a lot of thought into that. I think they're primeval. I think they're their own thing. I mean, you could say, do they look like a monkey? Yeah, but so much more. Do they look kind of like a person? Yeah, but so much more.

They just, they don't belong. They just look wrong. But I think they're their own thing. I think they've been here for a long time. And I don't know how they managed to hang on. And, you know, to not be in the mainstream, we could have what they do, what they do. But, yeah, I think that they're their own.

Yeah, it's fascinating. I hear people say that they think they think they're aliens or whatever or a government experiment. And, you know, I might buy that. But the reports have been going back since the 1500s, 1600s. You know what I mean? Yeah, way before there was a U.S. government. Yeah, I agree. So that's my take on that.

All I know is I never want to see one again. Yeah, I don't. Maybe on TV. I don't blame you. Well, it has affected you. I know when you and I were talking the other night, you were saying that, you know, some rest stops you won't stop at unless it's well lit.

There's a lot of people there. I wouldn't blame me one bit for not stopping at a rest stop. And I've heard encounters with truck drivers at rest stops where they run into a lot of weird things. you know, even beyond Sasquatch. So a lot of your truck drivers, they'll go to like a double flying J or something like that to kind of rest.

Well, I even get sketchy talk about it with people. You know, I told my daughter and I told my partner, the guy I'm running with right now, is like, what the hell is wrong with if I have a corridor and it takes me in some other places that are really desolate. Starts in with the whole blah, blah, blah. And I don't even know how to explain to the guy.

That's a good way to get yourself killed. You mean shooting out one of these things? Like I told you. Oh, Jesus. Even if I had it done that night, I wouldn't even try it. Wouldn't even try it. Yeah, well, I'm glad it worked out the way it did, you know, and they just kind of moved along, and that was the end of that.

I wanted to ask you, Satsquatch aside, what's the strangest thing you've seen while truck driving? And it could be anything. That's a good one. Los Angeles. Well, I kind of feel put on. on the spot there. I've seen some pretty,

pretty weird things out here. Damn, I can't really put anything to mind. No, that's okay. It was hard enough for me to do this interview. No, no, no. I don't talk very well with people. No, and he did fine, Sean. I mean, I apologize for putting you on the spot.

I just thought, you know, truck drivers, and I'm sure the moment we hang up, you're like, ah, I should have said that. But, you know, truck drivers. The minute you hang up, I'll have 100 things. Yeah, there you go. because you guys always see weird things. I mean, Sasquatch aside,

I've talked some of the craziest stories I've ever heard were from truck drivers. You'd think it'd be from hunters or you'd think it'd be from, no, truck drivers take the cake. But be safe, you know, as always, be safe. And I really appreciate you sharing the encounter. I think it's beyond fascinating,

especially since I know the general area of where you stopped. And there has been a lot of encounters in that area. And I'm so glad. Oh, really? Yeah. And there's a couple I'll send to you when we get off here. But thank you so much for coming on and sharing it, Sean. I really appreciate it, ma'am.

Thanks for having me. I did my best. You did great. As most of you know, my bookie is now sponsoring Sasquatch Chronicles. And last week I was, I'll tell you guys about that in a second, but last week I was asking anyone of the listeners out there, Have you guys won any money with my bookie? And I got an email from Kirk. He says, hey, Wes, use the code.

Got a $300 with the Chronicles code. One, $280 on a $60 bet with the Colts and the Bengals. This is fun. Hopefully the luck continues. Also, I know absolutely nothing about sports. I talked to the guy who's setting up my account. He goes on talking about setting up account. But good job, Kirk.

I hope the luck continues too, brother. $280 on $60 bet. I should have put some money on that game. Join now. MyBooky will match your deposit, dollar for dollar. I think that's what Kirk was talking about, that extra hundred bucks. You use promo code Chronicles to activate the offer. Visit MyBooky online today. That's MyBooky.

And don't forget to use the promo code Chronicles when creating your account to claim the bonus. You play, you win, you get paid. And who do we got this weekend? Ah, New England's playing Jacksonville. Well, I didn't realize My Bookie was just going to give away money. this weekend. Go with whatever the odds say on that. We all know New England's going to win that game. I was also going to bet against the Browns this weekend. And then that guy from the Confessionals, I can't remember what his name is. He was telling me he's going to put his money

on the Browns to win against the Saints. He's going to bet the odds. When he's not invited to the show, somehow he finds his way on the show. I'm Tony Merkel from the Confessionals podcast, and I approve this message. Taking anything serious that Tony has said during the commercial is completely prohibited. He's not professionally. He's just trucked over the podcast. please you can release yourself. Man, if the Browns win this weekend, I've got to take this episode down. I'll never hear the end of it.

Hope everyone enjoys this episode. If the Browns win, it's coming down. Thank you to my bookie. Let's jump into it tonight. Next up, I want to welcome Kelly to the show. Kelly, thanks for coming on. I really appreciate being here. Hi, Wes.

Thanks for having me. Yeah, I appreciate you being here. And you were 11 when your encounter happened, weren't you? I was, yeah. And I'm almost 49 now, so it's been while. The memory's still pretty fresh. Yeah, never quite goes away, does it? No. And I know it happened down there in Oregon. I say down there because it's south of me, but near Corvallis is where you're in countertick place. If you would, would you kind of just start from the beginning and walk us

into what happened? Sure. So, oh gosh, I think it was probably about 1981 or so. My mother passed away, I was 10 when she died and turned 11 soon after that. And I think dealing with grief and everything, my dad had me stay with some friends of the family. And they lived, I think, on a probably a little subhouse on a farm, little workers' house, something like that. because he worked on this farm and I stayed with them for probably, I don't know, a week or two. So I was staying out there with them and, you know, they do various things to take me fishing or whatever.

But I remember one night, probably just before dusk, Sharon took me out for a little ride on the farm. And it was a pretty large farm, grass seed, a little bit of mint that they grew. and the land was, of course, it had the grass fields and some other fields with different crops, but all around it was woods. And it was beyond the woods was the Willamette River. And we drove out a little ways on a dirt road and stopped,

and I think we were just going to take a little walk. So we stopped on the dirt road, and facing the direction the car was facing off to our right, there was a field and it was shaped about like a cul-de-sac, not an extremely large field, but then to our left, it was as if the field continued on the other side of the road. And then around the edges of the cul-de-sac, you might say, was woods,

and then it came out a little bit behind us. The woods came right up to the road. So we got out and started walking a little bit, and all of a sudden, these deer, I think I recall it was a buck and two doze. They jumped out of the woods right by us, so you almost could have reached out and touched them. And I remember thinking, that's strange.

I mean, why would they run out of the woods toward us? And, you know, we just kind of watched them go and kept walking. And I'd say we kind of turned and started walking into that field that was like a cul-de-sac. And I'm not very good at distances, but, you know, know, maybe a couple hundred yards to the woods, not very far. And we had just taken two or three steps into that field. And I heard this sound. It was this deeply resonant, roar bellow sound.

And it just, it's like nothing I've ever heard. It was just such a deep sound, and it froze me in my tracks. And at about the same time, I looked and I saw this dark figure just crashing through the brush tortoise, the brush, the tree branches. And the things I remember was it was very tall, probably about eight feet tall. And I knew that because, you know, I'm about six, four now, and I can reach up just over eight feet. And I would say it was as tall as I could reach. Of course, back then I wasn't that tall, but I still left. with the impression that it was about eight feet tall.

I remember this huge mouth that the sound was coming out of. And then these big long swinging arms as it ran, just pushing inside the brush and the vegetation. And I remember at the time, I think my young mind tried to categorize it. And I thought, this is some very angry person running through the woods toward us, maybe a homeless guy out there camping or something.

And then my mind said, no, this isn't a person. It's too big. and you know when you're especially when you're that young you just kind of go into this tunnel vision it was almost instantaneous panic like the fighter flight reaction kicked in and after i stood frozen for what was probably seconds i took off running toward the car which by that time we had walked a short distance and it didn't take me long to get back to the car but sharon was was not really able to run.

And, you know, she was a little bit older. And so I saw that she was back there. I didn't even have the courage to look back at whatever this thing was that was chasing us. I was just in this haze. And so I ran back to her and tried to help her. And I was, I remember just running back and forth between her and the car certain that we were going to die. And we took off. We didn't look back.

We just took off. And then we went and saw to where her husband was and told him about it. And he called the Fish and Wildlife Department. And they said it was probably just a bear coming up from the river. And, you know, even at 11, I said, well, no, bears don't run on their hind legs. I mean, it wasn't just like something stood up and was staggering tortoise. This thing was running. And like I said, it had those very, very long arms.

So it could be, you know, it was a very terrifying event for me at the time. and, you know, in the whole situation with my mother dying, it was just kind of overload kind of too much. And I kind of wonder if there's not some repressed memories in there where maybe I would remember some details. And sometimes when I think about it or talk about it, I remember a little bit more. But, you know, time went on and I wasn't sure what it was. that, you know, I came back home and we moved from Oregon to Minnesota at the time I ended up going back to Oregon years later. But just kind of, you know, filed it away as kids will do. Yeah, it's really fascinating.

What did Sharon say? What did she think it was? Or did you and her ever, did she kind of look at you when they said it was a bear? I mean, did she give you any input on what it was? what she thought it was. Yeah. She said, too, that it wasn't a bear. And, you know, I was young and there was a lot going on my life at the time, so I can't

remember exact conversations. But I know, you know, at that time, there's a lot of kind of church people like to do. They talked about demons and things like that. And she might have ascribed it to some sort of demonic activity or something, you know. And for me, like, you know, I'm a preacher's kid. I believe in a spirit world, but I didn't really. think that it was that and you know that actually seemed more scary to me in a way but i i we we just we said that that wasn't a bear but i don't know that we ever came up with with with

anything but like i say you know sometimes um people of a certain bent you know they see demons around every corner or whatever so that might have been her her default well it was some sort of demonic activity but um for for me uh you know it was it was something very real and And I think later probably, you know, we got on to Minnesota and I was in a new school and new surroundings and everything. So I didn't really have a lot of space to think about it a lot. But I think at some point it probably did under my mind that maybe, you know, maybe this was a Sasquatch thing. But it was later when I was in college and I was probably 18 or 19 years old, I was talking to a friend. And he said, you know, I think you had a Sasquatch encounter.

It just kind of, it all made sense. It fell into place. And it was like I sort of had the brain space to reexamine it and look at it. And I still remember the sound very, very clearly. It's like nothing I've ever heard before. And it's kind of funny because I just recently, I tried to replicate it myself and I made a recording of it, probably a pretty poor attempt. And I just happened to stumble across that Ohio Bigfoot track. Yeah, the Ohio. Yeah. And of course, I'm a poor imitation, but they actually sounded very, very similar.

And what I heard was very much like that. But it also had a certain roar or ferocity or growl to it. And I think, you know, I look back and I think probably what happened was this thing was hunting the deer and we got in the way or somehow spoiled the hunt. And I tend to think it was angry and it was either running after the deer and saw us or it mock charged us and warned us off. But the funny thing, which I mentioned to you before, West, was that I ended up going back to that farm one summer when I was in college and going back there and working. and driving combine and different farm equipment and bringing in the grass harvest. And at night I would stay out in one of those little outbuildings, little trailer or something. And, you know, I've spent a lot of time in the woods. I was in the woods all the time as a kid in the woods in the fields.

And it's never scared, walk around it dark and everything. But for some reason, staying out there on that land, I just had this just anxious, scared feeling at night and I was so mad at myself for being scared but uh and and maybe a you know part of me was remembering that but um it just felt like I'm out in this trailer it felt like something's watching me or like there's a presence out here like I say that might just be um because somewhere in the recesses of my mind I was remembering this event but uh you know I was a big strapping you know 19 or 20 year old whatever I was at that time and one night I got sick of it and I ran out into the night, probably in my underwear or whatever, and just yelled,

all right, if something's out here, you're going to get me, come get me, because I'm tired of being afraid. And, of course, I heard nothing, you know, crickets. But I faced my fear. Of course, the next night, I had the same feeling again, so I don't know if it helped. Yeah, it's strange. And it could be that that's where you had the encounter. But one thing I've noticed, even with myself, you know, and I guess I can only speak for myself, sometimes you do go into areas and you get this weird feeling like there's a presence, there's something there. And there's no noise has been made. There's no reason for you to fill that way. But I have walked into areas where I'm like, I don't like this at all. I don't, I, there's some, something's not right here and I

don't like it. But it's really hard to explain that to someone. You know what I mean? And I'm sure it's easy to chalk it up and say, well, I was scared when I was 11 year old kid. But sometimes you got to listen to your gut, man. I don't know that that is PTSD. That's, I almost makes you wonder if a lot of times I tell people, if you feel like a presence is nearby, it probably is. If you feel like your life's in danger, you're probably right. And I think you have to go off of that gut. I was going to ask you why you thought it charged you. You kind of alluded to it.

But it never came out in the open. It just made like a dog barking and no bite. It just made a huge display, which would be enough to get me out of there. And I'm a grown man. So it just made it a big display. It never actually stepped out in the open with you guys. Not that I saw. Of course, I was too petrified to look back, but I really think probably it stopped, you know, just before the edge of the woods.

And it was clear, you know, it was clear enough to see it very clearly. There was some brush and branches and things in the way, but it was a very tall, you know, bipedal figure running toward us to the point where I thought, this is some really angry, deranged man coming at us. And then my brain just kind of said, no, this is not, it couldn't put it into a category. But I don't think it probably ran out into the field. And unfortunately, Sharon passed away, I don't know, 10 years ago or so. So I wish I could call her up and say, hey, do you remember seeing if that thing went out into the field, you know? But I did talk to her a little bit about it.

Oh, gosh, at least 15 or more years ago. And she still just kind of didn't know what it was. And I brought up the possibility that could have been Sasquatch. And she thought that that could have fit. Yeah, it's fascinating. I'm sorry here she passed away. It's one of those accounts because do you think it was basically just making a bunch of noise? to scare you guys away. Do you think it was trying to kill you? Or do you think it was just,

I'm going to make a bunch of noise over here and scare you two away? Well, I, by this, by the sound that came out of its mouth, it was like pure rage and intimidation. So I don't think it was, you know, just curious or something like that. I got the sense that it was, it was really pissed off that we were there. And, you know, I just kind of put two to two and two together. And with the deer running away, thought it, we, probably was pursuing the deer or sneaking up on them or something and here come these people talking and ruin the whole thing. So I kind of imagine if I was on the other side of the woods, you know, this thing is stalking up on them and getting closer and suddenly we drive up and

start talking and the deer get aware and then realize this thing's stalking them, run away, and then it's just furious at us. But like I've heard, you know, I just started listening to your podcast, but I've already heard quite a few people say, if that thing wanted to kill us, it could have. I mean, this thing was big enough to where I didn't even feel safe in the car. I felt like, you know, we've got to put some distance here because, you know, it was, I don't know what it was at the time, a little gremlin or something. Yeah.

But I felt like this thing was big enough to where we wouldn't have been even safe in the car. Yeah, and that's terrifying. You know, the other thing, too, is, and I always tell people, too, because they do have short tempers. And I think most people realize that they have short tempers at this point, you can be harmed. And just because you're a woman or child doesn't mean you're going to be not on the receiving end of one of these things. And I just think it's fascinating. As I listened to the

encounter, I think you're probably right. It was probably full of rage and piss and vinegar and it was ready to hurt someone. But I think it was more or less, it's kind of like when a dog barks at you and barks and growls and barks and growls and barks and growls, but they never bite anyone. You know, it's kind of like more of a display, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. seems like it was more of a display. How did that affect you throughout your life? I mean, I know you're successful businessman now. You've moved on with your life and everything, but does that still affect you to some point in your life? I would imagine you still think about it from time to time. I do. Yeah, I actually went on to get a master of science degree and a

bachelor's degree. And, you know, it's funny, Wes, because, you know, I went through the whole science program. And so I learned the scientific method and things, and I consider myself pretty rational. I like to study and I like to prove things. So I tend to be somewhat skeptical of alien stories and things like that. But at the same time, I'm not purely academic. I'm not, I think, pure materialism has its limits because there are, I think, very obviously other things out there that aren't just described by the motion of molecules. I mean, you know, even as you go into the underpinnings of reality itself, we get down to energy and information on all those types of things.

So I think to some extent, even getting my degree and pursuing my profession, it always gave me the sense that, okay, science can categorize things and we can classify things, but there are always possibilities of other things out there that haven't been documented. And honestly, I think the scientific method supports the idea of curiosity and that we don't know everything. And usually for me, when somebody's trying to be scientific or sound scientific, you can tell they really don't have the background because they talk of certainty and they talk of proof. A theory is something that's very well established by a lot of. of tests and trials and information and things. But any real scientist would tell you, we don't talk about proof because things are

subject to revision as we find more information. So I think, you know, for me, I might have been skeptical of this if I hadn't seen it myself. And I'm kind of in a place now of where like, I don't really care if somebody believes me or not because I know what I saw and experienced. And it was very, very clear. And in fact, I had the experience before I really even knew what I was seeing or what I was experiencing. So I think in that sense, professionally speaking, it impacted me greatly. On a more personal level, I have five kids now.

My oldest is 17. And I've told him the story. And he's very, very fascinated with Bigfoot. He said, Dad, let's go out on an expedition sometime and try to find. one. And my reaction was, and it's like, Dad, wouldn't you like to see one again? I said, no. You know, I'm six, four, 225 pounds, very strong. Literally, almost nothing scares me. If I saw a mountain lion out in the woods, an aggressive mountain lion, I would be concerned, and I would be, you know, like, okay, how do I get out of this? But there's something about

this creature that I hate to say it, but I even admitted to my own son, that is, that is, is the one thing in the world that scares me. It's some sort of primal fear, and it's hard to describe. It's more than like there's just a big ape out in the woods. It has this presence, and my son's tried to pick my brain about that. What do you mean, Dad? And it's evil presence. I said, I don't know.

It's just something where just at a very primal level, it creates this intense fear inside of you. And it's different than the fear of like, oh, I'm out camping and there's a bear and it could rip me to shreds. It's very, very hard to describe, but it's deeper than that. It's not just a fear of being harmed. And I can't fully explain that. And so I'm not afraid to go out in the woods. In fact, I took my family out camping recently in New Mexico. And we had a horrible night.

We had what I think was a mountain lion stalking around the camp. And I got up and shot into the air. And I think scared that off. and then all the sudden, of all things, we're in a forced service campground, these drunk people show up and are threatening us things, and it was a horrible night. But, you know, that kind of thing doesn't hold a candle to what I experienced.

I'll still go out in the woods, and if there's animals, I'll deal with that. You know, you're always concerned about people, but this is just another level. Yeah, you're right, Kelly, you're not in me, chaos, but you're right. there is something, I know what you mean. I mean, if I came across to Cougar, listen, the Cougars probably can kill me, but guess what? I'm going to strangle it and poke its eyes out the whole time it's trying to eat me. I mean, I will hurt it.

It may win in the end, but I'm going to hurt it. But when you come across these creatures, you're right. There's this weird, primal. I've said it in the past where it's almost like it's like in your DNA. It's almost like we've met before. We've come across each other before, and it didn't work out well for me in the past. Somewhere in the past we've met. And it's just weird.

And I know exactly what you mean. I'm a big guy too as well. And, you know, I'm not so sure a black bear or a cougar would strike the fear in me like Sasquatch does. And Sasquatch can just stand there and look at you and strike fear into you. It doesn't even really have to roar or scream or do anything. So there is this weird primal fear with it. It's interesting to hear you talk about science. You said a bunch of things in there.

The doc would have loved you, Dr. Benernoggle, because he spoke a lot like how you did. He talked about curiosity. And so he always cracked me up. Again, I won't go too much on this. I just love the man. God rest of the soul. He, sometimes he would talk to me like I was a scientist. You know, like I had spent years in college and I'd be like English, Doc.

I'm just a dumb hick from Washington, English. But he used to say the same thing. You know, he'd say he doesn't understand these scientists. because it always starts with curiosity. And you can always come up with a theory. And sometimes you've got to be careful on the proof you come forward with because some guy down the road can come up with something that totally destroys your theory. And now your book is no longer good.

So there's this weird politics and science, you know, that is frustrating at times. I know it frustrated the doc. It doesn't really frustrate me that much. I figure they'll jump on the train when the time comes. and I'll move on to aliens or something else. Yeah. Yeah. I think in science, you know, everything's, well, at least at the higher levels, things are peer reviewed.

And there is the university system. And people don't want to be the odd man out, which makes me wonder how Dr. Meldrum has survived all these years. He's got his niche. But, yeah, again, you know, I know what I saw. and I know it defies categorization. But, you know, as you were talking, I was thinking, like, a mountline or a bear or even a human being, you know, I kind of know what I'm dealing with. And it's not that it wouldn't be an encounter that would make your adrenaline go up and you'd feel like, yeah, I need to defend myself. And usually, you know, on fight or flight, I run toward danger.

It's just I've had my family threatened by people before and I run toward it. But maybe it is the weirdness factor. Maybe it is the fact that this thing is somewhat like us, but different enough. And you don't know what you're dealing with. So it's this, it makes it even weirder that it's somewhat like us, but different. Yeah, because it's so unknown, you don't know what's going to happen. You know, you don't know how it's going to react. You don't know how to play the game.

With the bear, you know how to play the game. With the cougar, you know how to play the game. Your chances of them attacking are pretty slim to none. And a lot of times if you do the right thing, they'll leave. But when it comes to these things, I mean, I've heard many, many encounters where they just snap and they just go nuts. And I mean, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop something that's, you know, just like what you saw, eight feet tall,

probably several hundred pounds, had no qualms about tearing through the brush like it was King Kong. You're not going to stop it. If it decides to snap on you, there's nothing you can do it. You can shoot it. hope for the best if you have a gun. Other than that, I don't know that they'll come out and every one of them will attack you, but I get what you're saying. It's the unknown.

You don't really know what to expect. You don't know the type of reaction you're going to get. And you kind of do with a cougar. You kind of know what to expect. Yeah. And it's been interesting when I've heard this is something new to me, too, the infrasound hypothesis, you might say. The sound is something that I really remember.

and it's, you know, if infrasound is a thing, it could be that it really put something in my gut, you know, that embedded some fear there. Because to this day, I don't want to be out in the woods thinking about Bigfoot. If, you know, I can think about bears and lions and tigers and bears, oh my people, if people come into my camp, I'm going to confront them, you know. But that's just, there's something about that. that I can't just exercise the mental control over. Like, you can learn over the years to master fear and even function if you're afraid. But when my son says, you know, would you like to see one of these again? It's the one situation where I just, there's something I can't overcome where, yeah, I'd like to see one bit if I was a long ways away.

Yeah. So. Like 500 yards and you're on a hill with binoculars. I get it. Yeah, and in a tank. I get it completely. What do you think that they are, Kelly? I mean, you're an educated man. You saw what you saw.

If someone were to ask you, I realize it's all theories and we're guessing at this point. It's all opinions. What do you? Can you hazard me a digression here for a minute? Sure, of course. You talked about, you know, sensing that or something filling off. And, you know, I hesitate about this a little bit as a scientist. although I think it has, you know, has a rational explanation.

But when I was a kid and I was out in nature a lot, I could really sense when animals were there, when they were looking at me. And, you know, it could have been just small cues that, you know, when you're younger, you have a better sense of smell and hearing and all that. But I remember one time I was in a city and I was sitting on some grass in a park and I just had this feeling and I turned around and a coyote was stock. up on me. Just things like that. I could I could feel that they were there before I even saw them. And, you know, animals do this. We know that animals can do this because they'd have to do it to survive. And I'd say as I grew older, that that ability has, you know, diminished. But I think as a kid, I was very in tune and very aware. So, you know, there could be something to, to that idea that when I was back out there on that farm, maybe I was sensing something. Or maybe it was just, like

you say a little PTSD. Thanks for allowing me the digression. Of course, of course. But what do I think it is? That's a tough one. I mean, it's funny because I'm what you might call a theistic evolutionist. I believe in a creator, but I believe that at least some of the mechanisms of evolution or how he did it or that sort of the mechanisms of creation.

and, you know, I see obviously hominids and manlike creatures. I think it's possible that, you know, there is something that maybe at some time was competing with Homo sapiens, but had to go into hiding to survive because although we're a lot smaller, we're intelligent and have the ability to get together and martial forces and make weapons and all those types of things. So I don't really know. I mean, I think it's beyond just an ape because I think, you know, like the mountain gorillas, for example, they didn't find those for a long time. And I don't know that it was because they were particularly stealthy. And it is not like the mountain gorillas were coming into places with human habitation.

We had to go up and find them. I think it could be some sort of hominid, some sort of human-like creature that has become very, very good at hiding itself. And it's interesting because I have some friends who've had different types of wilderness training, and they've told me stories of some of the Native Americans who were extremely good at evading detection. And like the U.S. cavalry would come out to find them, and they would just seemingly disappear, but they just had an ability to blend into the landscape. And he told me, he lives in New Mexico,

he told me that Geronimo and his band could have evaded the U.S. military for indefinitely, but they had women and children that they couldn't hide so well. But I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that could be something out there that has its skills so fine-tuned. that it makes us look like children in the woods when we're out there and that it can hide itself and you think well you know why why haven't we found a body they seem to function in societies and they may they may bury their dead I don't know but I do find it you know there are so many eyewitness accounts and even if you discounted a lot of them as

either hoaxes or misidentification there's just there's just so many and I can tell you with a certainty that I know what I saw. So that's that's kind of what I think it is. Yeah, it's an interesting take. And I don't blame him for hiding. You know, if Bigfoot had a podcast, she'd probably say where you see one human, be careful because there's probably more around. You know what I mean?

And that's kind of, you're right. We are, we're a pack animal. You know, one coyote is no big deal. You can kill one coyote. You got 20 of them coming at you. It might be a different story. And so we're a pack animal So I don't blame them for hiding

I think you are probably onto something That they do hide Because otherwise You know what's the thing we always do We kill them When we find something new We kill it And I'm on

I'm on the side of the fence To one should be shot and drug in I don't think it'll ever see the light of day But I think if there was no other obstacles One should be shot and brought in But I don't think you're Going to get it that far But it is fascinating to think that

And I think that's why they do Humans are dangerous. I mean, what happens when a human disappears? All of a sudden, 50 humans show up looking for that one. And so there is a lot of danger with them interacting with us. I don't blame them one bit for trying to stay in hiding. I think their emotions are their downfall, though. I think their curiosity is their downfall.

Because if he would have never came up from that creek and just waited for you guys get back in the car and go, you would have never seen him. Or he could have turned around and went back to opposite direction. you would have never even known he was down there. So I think their emotions and curiosity is going to be their downfall. But it's a fascinating count. I really appreciate coming on and sharing it, Kelly. Yeah, absolutely.

I appreciate you having me. And I hope anybody who's listening to this who thinks this is all a joke or a hoax or something, as I probably would have. If I hadn't had this experience, I hope you'll have an open mind because this thing really does exist. And I'm on the fence with you there too. I kind of want proof to be found in a way, but in another way,

I don't want to see groups of people going out and hunting it, and suddenly it's, you know, we lose what could be a species that's out there surviving on its wits. So, yeah, I'm torn on it. Even though the thing terrifies me, I still kind of like the fact that there's something out there that is living its life and avoiding human beings as much as it can. Yeah, I hear you.

Well, thank you again. Yeah, thank you, Wes. Good talking to you. Yeah, it was great talking to you too as well. Jackson, my brother, out there on the East Coast, I hope you're happy. I hope it took your mind off the storm for almost an hour. If you've had an encounter, shoot me an email. My email address is Wes at Sasquatch Chronicles.com.

That's it. Be safe. Take care of each other. And I will see you guys next time. Have a good night, everyone. The country faster than the coronavirus and wagering week is your antidote. I'm Tom Barton, and I'm a veteran sports analyst and respected sports handicapper who will help build ESPN's brand. I've been recognized and awarded by Pro Football Weekly and Gaming Today magazine as the honest handicapper. Let the other guys give you the same old boring sports talk with the same tired storylines. We'll give it to you straight.

here every Friday on wagering week. Don't gamble with other podcasts. Let SportsGarten Network's wagering week help your bottom line.