This is an update to the preliminary investigation we conducted yesterday. Today, February 12, 2011
Saturday, Feb 12, 2011
Follow up investigators:
Brian & Terrie Seech, Dr. Paul Johnson and Fred Saluga
As written by Terrie Seech and edited by Eric Altman to keep witness name confidential.
We met witness at 10 am. He told us about his sighting and we looked at Topo maps Paul brought to figure the best way to get to the sighting area. We went to the entrance of the PA Turnpike west (towards Ohio) and parked our vehicles on the side. Looking across the turnpike at a lightly wooded area on a hillside, there is a house and outbuilding where the witness saw the creature. We determined we could take a back road to find the spot.
We drove back to the area and the properties along that road are all posted on both sides of the road: No trespassing, no hunting, no fishing. We determined the exact property where this sighting took place. Some tracks were see down by the road and up the driveway, but unable to determine exactly what made these tracks as it was snowing this am and the wind was blowing snow around, covering the tracks.
We drove back up to the main road where the radio tower is s and Eric and others were on Friday. This is on the opposite side of the turnpike where the creature was seen. We did note survey flags along the fence on the hilltop with tracks in the snow (possible recent surveyors?)
We gave the witness a PBS reporting form with our card and he will be contacting Brian next week and meeting with him with the completed form.
This general area has had historical sightings reported.
Note from Eric Altman: This original area is the correct area where Chris and I began our initial investigation and the area where we discovered the tracks. We will continue to minitor the area and the investigation will remain open at this time.
On Tuesday Februay 8, 2011 at approximately 8:20 am, a male witness who I will call Sam contacted me by cell phone. He was quite excited about what he had just seen and eager to share his experience. His claim was that around 7:45 am while exiting route 60 and about to enter the Pennsylvania Turnpike, he looked to his left and up on a nearby hillside he sighted a large dark brown figure walking on the hillside. He continued driving and shocked by what he had just witnessed, he quickly stopped and backed up his car and stopped to watch this large dark brown figure the color of dark tree bark as it took three large quick strides and entered the woodline on his left. His description was that the figure was very tall and lanky, later calling the figure massive. He stated he saw the creature for about 15 to 30 seconds before it dissapeared from sight. He told me he was a believer in Bigfoot and had seen many documentaries on the subject and the figure walked just like the cgi figures did in those documents, taking large quick strides with its arms hanging down at its sides.
Being that the sighting had just occured, I contacted two of our investigators Brian and Terrie Seech. I gave them the witness name and phone number and had them contact him for additional information. I also contacted the PA Bigfoot Society Assistant Director Dave Dragosin and informed him of what occured in hopes he could get to the area. Being that all four of us were working, Brian agreed to go to the area after work at 430 pm. I gave him the location and witness information. Brian and Terrie Seech travelled to the location however could not locate the exact spot where the man was when he saw the creature. They drove the back roads and were not able to find the area.
On Friday 2-11-2011, after dropping my car at the garage and wife at work, my Brother in Law Chris Brinker and I drove to the location. Based on a map of the area and the witness description of where he stated he was, we found a back road above the hillside from where we thought the witness sighted the creature. We arrived at 10:30 am. We parked the vehicle on the side of a snowy road. Weather conditions were 12 degrees, aproximately 1 to 2 inches of snow on the ground and sunny. We loaded up a video camera, 35 mm camera and bincoulars. We entered the woods from above after walking a short distance on a private driveway. The majority of the area is private property and we were able to find a location that was not. We walked approximately a quarter mile down the wooded hillside to the open field where we believed the witness sighted the figure. Upon initial observation, we saw an abundance of animal tracks. We saw multiple deer tracks and large canine tracks which we assumed were coyotte or large dog. After walking around the area we also discovered small boot prints in the snow. We could clearly see they boot prints and within the past day or so. Looking around we discovered what appeared to be very large impressions in the snow that resembled the shape of human prints and they were bipedal. The tracks were olde had snow blown over them and there was a thin layer of ice/snow on top so we can not say for sure if they were human or something else. However they did definitely resemble the shape and size of large human like prints and were bipedal.
We followed the tracks around the bottom of the hillside. They went both up and down in almost a zig zag pattern around to the right around the front of the hillside. After a while, we lost the tracks. Continuing to walk, we discovered them again, and what may have been two sets of tracks. They were headed up the hillside through brush and small tree sapplings. Chris and I followed the tracks. I photographed them and Chris video taped them. The track size was consistant, 16 inches in length and 8 inches wide. The stride range was 27 inches going up the hill and on flat surfaces and 21 inches coming down. Our stride measured 17 to 19 inches as we walked. What was peculiar about these tracks were the fact that following them they did not go around the trees and brush, but through them as if the person or individual didnt avoid them. Stepping right through, while it could have easily stepped around to the left or right to avoid the briars, branches and brush. While following the tracks we found a pile of frozen feces. Although small in size, it resembled cow feces and it was right where the tracks were, lying on its side in some brush. If it were cow feces, it was about 100 feet outside of a fenced in area that held beef cattle. We collected the sample for testing as we could not positively identify it and were unsure if it was in fact cow or something else.
The cold killed the battery in my Sony Cyber shot 35 mm camera, however Chris was still able to continue to video. We continued to follow the tracks up to the barbed wire fence. The tracks followed along the perimiter of the fence for a great distance. Then the turned and went down the hill towards where we started our investigation. We followed the tracks to a small stream where they turned to the left and up into the wooded ravine we came down. This portion of the ravine was extremley steep and a very difficult angle for us to walk up without assistance or on two legs. Another peculiar thing we discovered was that these tracks continued to walk up the hill without slippage or any signs of the individual using trees, brush or its hands to pull itself up. Meanwhile as we followed up the steep ravine we found ourselves having to take our time and use these things to pull ourselves up.
Once on top, we followed the tracks again through brush and small sapplings not around them. The tracks led us back to the road, where they stopped about 75 feet from the road. They turned right and walked to the driveway we pulled into and backed out of when we first arrived. The tracks stopped and the individual turned and walked back the same way it came, some times stepping in vicinity where it had originally walked.
We followed them a short distance and noticed they travelled back in the same direction from where they came, which may explain the second set of tracks we originally discovered. Being that we were short on time as I had to pick up my wife from work that afternoon, we returned to the truck and decided to drive to the location where the witness stopped and claimed he saw the creature. We arrived at the location at approximately 1230 pm. Unsure of where exactly the witness had his sighting, we called him to get the location again. We learned after several phone conversations and pictures sent to his phone that we were in the wrong area. He guided us to the spot where he stopped his car as he watched the figure walk into the woods.
Upon investigating, I walked to the hillside where the man stated he saw the figure walking right to left into the tree line. At a four foot high fence, we discovered a similar set of tracks that walked from right to left to the edge of small patch of woods, turned and walked right to left and into the tree line. The tracks measured 15 inches long, 7 inches wide with a 20 inch stride. These remembled the tracks we had discovered at the previous location. They could have melted and refroze. They had a light dusting of snow and ice crust on top of them and we could not positively identify the tracks. We followed them into the tree line and up a hillside following the tracks as they went. However these tracks went around small brush, briars and tree sapplings. There were several occasions where they walked to the fence and we found florescent survey tape tied to the fence. The fenced in area housed a cellular tower and maitenance building. The tracks were were following up the hillside continued to walk along the perimiter of the fence and stopped near the tape as it walked. On the opposite side of the fence we clearly saw boot prints of someone who walked up and tied the tape to the fence in those locations. We followed the large tracks for a while and back down the hillside on the opposite side of the hill. The tracks turned to the right and followed along the fence line. they never crossed the roadway and into another section of woods as I had checked. Chris and I met back up at the car and discussed our second finding. We came to the theory that what the man saw was not in fact a creature, but a member of a survey crew who was on the hillside walking along the fence line and perhaps was bundled up in dark brown carhartt work overals and had a hood over his head. Although we can not say for sure what made the tracks on the outside of the fence, we feel that it was not a creature nor Bigfoot. Our logic is based on the fact that these tracks walked the perimiter of the fence stopping at the survey tape as it did, and we saw boot prints on the other side of the fence doing the same. We can not say 100% that it was a person but that is what we agreed the witness probably sighted was a man in dark brown overalls with a hood walking along the fence line assisting in the survey of the fence. the weather the day of the sighting was very cold, in the single digits and snowing, so that would account for the attire of the survey crew member. However we were not at the location the day the man claims what he saw, so we can not say 100% that our theory is correct.
As for the first set of tracks we discovered in the wrong location, we have no explanation for those tracks and who or what left them. The possibility of thaw and freeze accounting for the size of the tracks, plus weather affecting the tracks we can not rule out the possiblity of these prints being human. And although not out of the realm of possibilty, these tracks could have been left by a human out for a walk in the woods. However we are left with many questions about these first set of track discovered.
In conclusion, I believe we are able to rule out the initial sighting of the witness as he seeing a member of a survey crew dressed in dark brown overalls and winter attire. however the tracks discovered at the first location leave us with numerous questions.
This area does not have a lot of shelter to offer and the terrain was not an easily walkable terrain. Why would someone be out in such bitter cold and poor weather conditions walking in the snow as easily as it did when we had difficulty walking in numerous spots having to balance ourselves and being very careful going up and down these hills.
Why did this individual walk through brush, trees and thick briars? It could have easily walked around them as we did. (No we did not find any hair on the branches, briars, and twigs but we did find lots of broken branches). Why did this individual have such ease going up the steep embankement while it took us a while to get up and we had difficulty navigating the hill without assistance.
Why did this individual stop 75 feet from the road and then turn to walk to the driveway and then turn and walk back the same direction it came from walking in the same patter it originally did?
As stated, it is not out of the realm of possibility that both sets of tracks were made by humans. However our preliminary investigation leaves us not 100% certain. Pa Bigfoot Society researchers Brian and Terrie Seech, Fred Saluga and Dr. Paul Johnson will be meeting with the witness at the location today for further follow up and investigation.
I have included photos of our initial findings from yesterday. I have the collected sample of feces protected in two plastic baggies and am hoping to find some one who can identify it and do further testing on it.
A few photos:
 |
| Photo Credits: Eric Altman |
Send us an email
Phantoms and Monsters
Now Available on Kindle
Spirit Rescue International™
Providing no-cost professional spiritual help, personal support and guidance
Take the first step towards genuine peace of mind
The Spirit Rescue International™ Haunted Help Forum
*Join Our Group On Facebook*
New Items - Strickler's Celebrity Autographs
ANOMALIST BOOKS
Works on maverick science, unexplained mysteries, unorthodox theories, strange talents, and unexpected discoveries. Please check out their excellent and diverse catalog
The 'C' Influence
Actualizing Esoteric Discussion
"The latest news from beyond the mainstream"
Join Ben & Aaron for their weekly podcast!
Check out Mysterious Universe Plus+ all access format!
Phantoms & Monsters Wiki
A NETWORK OF INVESTIGATORS, ENTHUSIASTS AND THOSE SEEKING THE TRUTH
THROUGH PARANORMAL EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION
Astral Perceptions - Discussion of interterrestrial and multidimensional phenomena including
conversations on the proficiency of remote viewing
SUPPLY BASE
Buy alternative supplies and gifts
CLICK HERE!
