Skookum Body Cast*
"A Realistic Assessment by Steve Kulls"
*note commentary is in (gray)
One of the more controversial pieces of evidence is the Skookum cast. Hotly debated amongst academics and field researchers alike.
To understand the background of the investigation conducted one must look at some of the circumstantial or subjective evidence surrounding the previous days of the expedition previous to the casting of the alleged Sasquatch impression. This represents a factual eyewitness accounting.
Excerpts from the BFRO Expedition report:
"During September 16-23, 2000, the BFRO tried several new approaches for obtaining evidence of Sasquatch existence in the Pacific Northwest.
We selected an
area for base camp that was directly west of an area known as Skookum Meadow,
which is approximately 20 miles east-southeast of Mt. St. Helens. The Skookum
Meadow area was chosen due to its remoteness and many square miles of road less
areas. Directly to the north of Skookum Meadow is the Lewis River, which forms
the southern boundary of the area known as the Dark
Divide, a road less area spanning over 100 square miles. Directly south of
Skookum Meadow is the Indian Heaven Wilderness, another road less area
covering in excess of 30 square miles.
The entire area supports robust populations of elk, deer, coyote and black bear. The region has a variety of natural food sources, including native blue huckleberries. By placing base camp directly west of the meadow we capitalized on the prevailing winds to carry the scents of olfactory attractants into the meadow from our baited areas.
The term "Skookum" was commonly used by both Native Americans and early settlers to describe a large, hairy, and often putrid smelling "Man of the Woods" that allegedly dwelled in the remote forested regions of the Pacific Northwest."
The survey of the
immediate area did turn up sign from a variety of animals, including black bear,
coyote, elk, deer, and cougar.
Fish also identified several species of birds in the area, by both sight and
calls. Among them were Gray Jay, Great Horned Owl,
Northern Pigmy Owl, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Audubon Warbler, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Raven,
Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,
and Hairy Woodpecker.
Day 2:
Although only 3
researchers were present at the camp, and they were keeping their activities to
a minimum, they were achieving a
very important objective. This was the process of slowly acclimating the local
animals to a benign human presence in the
area. This 72-hour period was vital in helping these animals get used to us, and
feel more at ease about remaining in close to our
position.
Day 3:
While traveling
back towards camp along FR 23, the group noticed an impression in the embankment
next to
the road. It appeared as though something had jumped off of the road, landing a
good distance up the
embankment, before scrambling the rest of the way up and into the trees. It
appeared as though whatever had jumped onto the
embankment had left both footprints and a possible handprint, although neither
were definitive enough to be
conclusive.
Roadside Impression. Photo by Rick Noll
DAY 4
Several calls were played throughout the night. The call that
was used for most of the expedition was one that had been recently recorded near
Lake Tahoe, CA. It is a high pitched call that lasts about 2 seconds. Some
speculate that it could be the call of a
younger animal, trying to communicate with an adult.
The first set of calls were responded to by some coyotes. They sounded to be
perhaps a mile or more north of base camp. At around
1 AM, a couple of members faintly heard a call that came from just to the
northeast of base camp. The vocalization sounded similar to the one being
broadcast, but it was too faint to be certain. Shortly after this, movement was
noted on the northwest side of basecamp, in the clearcut. Several individuals at
camp heard this movement, which appeared to be about 75-100 yards out into the
new growth. Nothing could be detected with the infra-red night vision optics at
base camp, and the thermal imaging unit at Hilltop could not detect any heat
signatures outside of the base camp perimeter.
John Mort was able to hear distinct footfalls coming from the direction of the
other disturbance through the film crew's shotgun microphone. The footfalls
ceased after a few moments. Several minutes later, Randles heard brief movement,
followed by a gentle
"thud." His interpretation was that whatever was moving around had most likely
settled down on the ground. Best estimates still placed the subject at close to
75 yards from camp. No more movement was noted from this subject for the rest of
the evening.
Day 5
17-inch Impression in Log foundby Rick Noll. NOTE: Noll's boot print is visible to the left of the impression. Photo by Rick Noll.
Their activity had managed to attract the attention of a local
mountain lion, which had snuck up to within 15 feet of the group. It was nearly
pitch dark out, as the moon had not yet risen above the horizon, and the
foursome were concentrating on the ravine and clearcut to the east of their
position. The visiting cougar was only noticed when film crew member John Mort
turned to look behind them. He
immediately notified the other three that there was "something right behind us."
Several tense moments passed before the
animal silently slipped away into the trees. Searle and Pugsley tried to get the
cameras turned around to view the cat, but it was
too late to get it on film. A few minutes later the mountain lion let out a low
growl, as it proceeded off to the crew's north.
It was now approaching 11:30 PM. The temperature had dropped
below freezing, and there was a very slight breeze
that made it very hard to stay warm. Moneymaker played another series of
screams. Just a few moments after
broadcast, a series of three very loud screams came from about 400 yards east of
camp. They sounded very similiar to
the calls we were broadcasting, but were longer, louder, much clearer, and had a
very ragged quality at the end of
each scream, similar to a person clearing their throat. Just as the third call
faded out, several coyotes started wailing to the south of camp, and they were
soon joined by another group of coyotes to the northwest of camp. Team members
Alan Terry and Dr. Greg
Bambenek were the closest to the source of the calls. They estimated their
distance from the screams at about 100-150 yards,
and to their southeast. This would place the source on the east side of the
ridge leading to Hilltop camp. Terry and Dr.
Bambenek stated that they were standing there with their mouths gaping in wonder
for a moment, before becoming suddenly concerned that whatever large animal had
just let out that scream may be coming down the road right towards them, and
that it may not be in a friendly mood.
Everyone involved in the expedition heard the screams loud and
clear, with the exception of Powell and Henick, who were too far east in Skookum
Meadow. Our wildlife experts Fish, Bambenek, Noll, and Randles, all agreed that
the
vocalization was not from any commonly accepted wildlife species. Moneymaker
played some more calls, but the group did not
hear anymore vocalizations.
Shortly thereafter, the film crew ran into a problem with both
the thermal camera and the
infra-red camera shutting down due to excessive moisture getting into the
components. They immediately packed up
their gear and returned with Lemley to base camp. Bambenek and Terry returned to
camp as well. A few more
calls were played, but without results.
Day Six
The group gathered around the fire at camp, and discussed the evening's events.
Several possibilities were considered
for what kind of animal could have made the kind of vocalizations that had been
heard. After weighing all of the options, the general consensus was that it
could only have been a sasquatch. Both Bambenek and Terry were still on edge,
absolutely amazed at the raw lung power exhibited by the animal, and still
pumping adrenaline from their relatively close encounter. Powell and Henick
finally returned to base camp after hiking out of Skookum Meadow, and were
filled in on the night's action. The group stayed up for awhile
longer, recounting each person's perception of the event, before finally
retiring to their tents at 3 AM.
Talk around the
campfire breakfast centered on the previous evenings vocalization. Terry and
Bambenek recounted their story
again, still visibly awed by the raw power and volume of the screams. It was
decided that the group would split up and scour
the forest near the scream's origin to look for prints or other signs of
activity. Fish, Noll, Terry, and Bambenek searched the
area that the vocalization came from, on the eastern slope of Hilltop. Henick
and Lemley drove along the surrounding logging
roads, looking for tracks in the soft dirt of the embankments before hiking into
Skookum Meadow to look for sign.
Tree with top twisted off near Skookum Meadow. Photo by Jeff Lemley.
Noll located an old logging road halfway down the eastern
slope of Hilltop. There were several rocks on the road that
had been freshly dislodged, many with the moss scraped off of them. As best as
the group could tell, this is where the
vocalizations had emanated from the previous night."
Possible print found on logging road near screams. Photo by Rick Noll.
Day 7
On their way out, Randles, Noll, and Fish decided to stop and check the roadside mud pool that Randles and Dr. Fish had placed fruit at the night before. Some of the fruit, but not all, had been taken. Three of the original six apples were missing. Some of the melons showed evidence of having been pecked at by birds. They noted elk, deer, coyote and bear tracks in the mud pool. The three noticed a large impression at the eastern edge of the mud pool. It took several minutes of studying the impression before they finally deduced that it was possibly made by a sasquatch sitting down at the edge of the pool, and leaning over to grasp the fruit in the center.
The three immediately returned to camp to inform the others.
Upon returning to camp, the trio related the details of their find to the
group. Everyone gathered up all photographic equipment and casting materials and
drove out to the impression site. Noll, Randles and Fish described the scene for
the others. Noll went so far as to lay down on the ground and assume the
position they believed the animal had to have been in to leave such an
impression. Rick Noll describes the scene to the team.
Rick Noll describes the scene to the team. Photo by Jeff Lemley
Unfortunately, the
heat from the sun, combined with a steady west wind, was quickly drying the mud
pool. This quick drying began to cause cracks in the surface, including the
impression. A makeshift shelter consisting of four large rocks and a sheet of
plywood was hastily erected to protect the impression from the damaging effects
of the sun's rays. It was the groups consensus that the
impression needed to be preserved beyond the means provided by video and
photography. Noll, who is an expert in casting materials, decided that the
attempt would have to be made to cast the entire impression.
As luck would have
it, Noll happened to have 50 pounds of Hydrocal B-11 casting material with him,
and Fish also had a 100-pound bag of Hydrocal. This, combined with a total of
about 50 pounds in various other forms of plaster casting material, was just
enough to successfully cast the entire impression. Randles was overheard
commenting that the next material to go into the casting mix was going to have
to be a can of chunky stew. The group cut up some extra 2X4's that Fish had
brought along to construct a camp table, and used them to create a 42 inch by 54
inch frame around the impression. This would serve to hold the Hydrocal in place
while it was
hardening."
The rest is history and hence came forth the Skookum Cast.
The Skookum Body Impression Cast
Rendition of suspected Sasquatch Activity: Graphic Created by Steve Kulls, using artist's conception of Bill Asmussen and Photo by Jeff Lemley of Skoocum Impression
In summary
One cannot discount the observations noted by the likes of Dr. LeRoy Fish, Rick Noll, and Dr. Greg Bambenek. They are veterans in the research field.
Other than vocalizations, tree breaks and possible prints, found on previous days of the expedition, there were no Sasquatch tracks found in the direct vicinity of the Skoocum cast, only elk and bear prints. No useable DNA was extracted from the fruit that was bitten into or partially eaten, nor hairs recovered that defied known species, nor fecal matter collected that is of an unknown primate.
The Skoocum cast alone, without any circumstantial evidence surrounding it, proves little. As in previous days evidence, in this matter counts as possible Sasquatch activity, but because there is no direct correlation between that activity and the Skookum cast itself, puts the whole piece of evidence into the bin of inconclusive evidence. Open for subjective assessment without any direct evidence linking it to a Sasquatch. Admittedly there is not enough detail to the cast to proof positive say it was a Squatch or an Elk either way.
Yes, there are Academics who have stated they believe in the veracity that this is a Sasquatch impression, but unfortunately for the cause there are Academics that disagree. The same amongst field researchers as well. For example, a graphic provided to us, by Daniel Perez in the "Bigfoot Times" and also can be found on Bobbie Short's, Bigfoot Encounters website, shows the strong possibility it could be an Elk wallow.
Definitive Proof is generally a piece of physical evidence, associated with subjective (otherwise known as circumstantial) evidence. In some cases a mountain of subjective evidence equals proof.
Does the previous nights experiences constitute a mountain of circumstantial evidence.
Well that's for you the reader to decide.
In memoriam of Dr. Leroy Fish
1943 - 2002
PhD: Zoology and Ecology
"A man who had the courage to explore possibilities amongst Academic naysayers."
Click on Logo to return to Homepage
™
Title 17
Not withstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.