We’ve had a lot of fun featuring the Sasquatch in our film. What many people might not realize is just how much research I put into every subject I photograph or film—whether it’s exploring the origins of legends, considering public accounts, or tracking down any hard facts I can find.
When it comes to Sasquatch, I can’t confirm or deny his existence. People tend to make up their minds one way or the other, fiercely defending their stance. Personally, I approach things like a classic detective: a troubleshooter looking for clues that either support or contradict what I think I know. I use this logical, step-by-step method not just for fixing electronics, but for unraveling mysteries like Sasquatch as well. This approach often leads to fascinating possibilities. While I haven’t found proof, I also haven’t found anything definitive to disprove Sasquatch’s existence.
A common argument in the debate is: “If Sasquatch is real, why hasn’t he been captured or clearly seen?” It’s a fair question, yet there are still numerous eyewitness accounts. Two of my own relatives claim to have seen one, and a tow truck driver in the San Bernardino Mountains once told me he saw a Sasquatch cross the road. Of course, eyewitness reports must be scrutinized; it’s always possible they’re mistaken or even joking. But in my experience, even inaccurate reports can contain a kernel of truth—you can’t dismiss them outright.
It also occurs to me, after spending countless hours in the mountains, that I’ve never seen a mountain lion in the wild. The only time I’ve caught one is on a security camera, never in person. This just goes to show that some creatures are incredibly elusive—sometimes, what we haven’t seen doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Many people have asked whether Mark Abrams or I portrayed the Sasquatch in our film. The answer is no—neither of us did. However, we do own a Sasquatch costume that has made several appearances over the years. One memorable occasion was when I wore it in Big Bear Village.
It was nighttime, and I was changing into the costume in a public parking lot. I expected to draw some attention, but to my surprise, no one seemed to notice. As I walked toward the sidewalk, a car passed by and people stood on the porch of a nearby restaurant waiting for their tables—still, there was no reaction.
However, as I continued down the sidewalk, I noticed that people approaching me would get within three or four feet before suddenly yelling in surprise and stepping back. Some shouted from across the street, but most didn’t react until they were very close. I was able to cross intersections without drivers paying any attention, and when I looked through restaurant windows, only those seated right at the window seemed to take notice.
This experience made me wonder: if I could blend in so easily on a busy city street, would people notice a truly agile creature moving through the forest?
Others have provided various types of evidence, such as vocalization patterns and footprint analysis. I am generally skeptical of those who resort to sensationalism or make unsupported claims; however, some accounts are genuinely intriguing. For example, Les Stroud conducted his own investigation after experiencing something unusual in the wilderness. He made a conscious effort to remain objective, even when his companions were quick to draw conclusions. Of course, there is also the well-known Patterson film. A couple people have claimed to have been in on the hoax, but interestingly some of the details in their stories conflict with each other.
It’s clear that a portion of reported sightings are fabricated—people have been known to create hoaxes. Some reports are simply cases of mistaken identity. Nevertheless, there are still some incidents that defy easy explanation and leave lingering questions.
Was all of this enough to convince me? Not quite. However, discovering that some of the reports actually originated from Southern California opened up the possibility for me to investigate firsthand. Who knows—maybe I’ll capture definitive evidence, or perhaps I’ll find nothing at all. It’s possible I’ll end up proving something only to myself. Some people think I’m a little crazy for attempting this, but I’ve always enjoyed spending time in the forest, so why not give it a try? As a troubleshooter, drone pilot, photographer, off-road driver, and longtime scoutmaster, I think I just might have the skills—and perhaps the ingenuity—to uncover something interesting.
I began by assembling a profile based on information from existing reports, operating under the assumption that certain sections accurately depict real events. Here is the profile
- Sasquatch would appear to be mostly nocturnal, though there have been sightings during the day. So I am preparing equipment to photograph at night. Some have claimed that they can see infrared, but others have pointed out that warm blooded creatures that we know don’t have that ability. Body temperature limits thermal vision.
- Reports tend to indicate an omnivore, so that will indicate both the environment to look in and the bait to use. One study noted that most sightings are in areas with more bear activity, thus claiming the sightings were bears, but since bears are also omnivores it would also make sense for Sasquatch to live in the same area.
- A water source seems to be important. Many primates are known to need three or four times more water than humans. The Yucca man reports would seem to be a contradiction but in looking at maps of that area, there are water sources in the area.
- Territorial. That could prompt them to investigate something in their area. That would be us.
- Some estimates have been that a creature like that would need about 5000 calories a day, so likely to be near food sources and constantly foraging.
- A good sense of smell, so we are planning on running scent trails.
- Shy, so most likely to be in areas with less people. So, 4×4 vehicles, and perhaps hiking past that.
We’ll be heading out on our hunt soon—and yes, we’ll be filming it. One thing you can count on: we won’t fake anything. Far too many people on YouTube stage things just for views, but that’s not what we’re about. I love a good mystery, but only if it’s genuine. So, if we do capture something unusual on camera, you can be sure it’s authentic—unlike our scripted film, *Sasquatch*. What you’ll see is either real evidence, or simply nothing at all.
