Sasquatch Sightings

Account

Incident a series in the sense that some of the tracks found appeared newer than others. General area covered by dense alder following 1939 fire, but Smiths camped in a pocket of old timber. Sighting report not substantial, but heavily supported by footprint finds. Gary Smith told Bob Blenz at Blanchard (Idaho) Bar and Grill that he and his wife were camping on the main branch of Blanchard Creek between Mount Spokane and Mount Kit Carson, 7 or 8 miles Southwest of Blanchard, and heard a moaning in the brush when they took a walk down a logging road. They went back to their trailer, then Gary returned alone, armed with a shotgun. As he started back down the road he was a creature pull itself up the steep bank below the road. He took a shot at it as it crossed the road, upright, and bounded into the timber above the road. Estimated 10 to 12 feet tall, described as both "husky as a bear" and "very slim". Crest on head, reminded him of a gorilla. Kept hearing noises around their trailer so they fled, leaving the trailer there. Stopped at Blenz' bar and told story. Blenz went back the next day and found a distinct footprint on the edge of the road plus some indistinct part prints. Good print .75 in. deep, 220-pound man could only stomp .25 in. Later Tawnda Bromley measured a print 18.5" by 8.5" by 5.5". Line showed in some prints. Minnie Horseman and son Paul found tracks near the creek, .5" deep where she made no indentation. Measured 16.5" by 11" across toes, 8.5" across ball. Wayne Rasmussen did extensive tracking, found some fresh tracks, made casts. Impressed by pressure ridges and dermal ridges. Estimated stride at 9 feet. (presume double pace). Having set out to prove a hoax, both Rasumssen and Horseman became convinced creature was real.