Bigfoot Bulletin - No 06 - 1969

Magazine Overview

Title: BIGFOOT BULLETIN
Issue Date: June 25, 1969
Issue Number: No. 6
Publisher: George F. Haas
Location: Oakland, California

This issue of the Bigfoot Bulletin focuses on recent expeditions and observations related to Bigfoot activity, primarily in North America. It includes detailed reports from researchers, analysis of footprints, and news about related exhibits and publications.

Report on the Pauley Expedition to Bluff Creek

Stephen M. Pauley, M.D., reports on his expedition to Bluff Creek, stating that no trace of Bigfoot was found. Prior to the expedition, an advertisement was placed in local newspapers offering a $25 reward for fresh tracks, but there were no responses. Pauley spent four days exploring the creek bed and its tributaries, finding numerous bear tracks but no Bigfoot signs. He notes that the terrain in the area behind Nickowitz Peak is extremely thick and overgrown, making it difficult for hunters and suggesting that Bigfoot hunters might be limited to logging roads or creek beds. Pauley believes that loggers opening up the back country may force Bigfoot out of hiding. He also theorizes that sightings are more common in late summer and early fall when streams dry up, forcing Bigfoot to descend for water. He suggests that future expeditions should focus on areas where tracks are sighted and attempt to make contact.

Report from Jim McClarin

Jim McClarin details two recent excursions to the Bluff Creek area. On June 3, accompanied by Ron Konicke, Hoite Herron, and Danny Herron, he searched areas including Onion Mountain, Blue Creek Mountain, Barren Butte, and Laird Meadow, finding no conclusive Bigfoot spoor. However, they did find several distinct 9 to 10-inch bare human footprints in the mud near Onion Lake, which he suggests were made by someone who normally wears shoes, possibly a Bigfoot searcher. On June 6-8, with Dick Frey, McClarin covered about 32 miles on foot in areas such as Cedar Camp, Van's Peak, Maple Spring, and Bluff Creek. While they saw bear and deer and collected bear droppings and hair, no sign of Bigfoot was found. The region was still heavily covered in snow in some areas, with ponds teeming with frogs and newts. He also mentions meeting Bill Eddington and another Bigfoot searcher on the Laird Meadow road.

Latest News of the Ice Man

This section reports on the "Ice Man" exhibit, which had not disappeared but was moved by exhibitor Frank Hansen. The exhibit was displayed in Detroit in May, was scheduled for exhibition in Canada, and then at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield in August. It is expected to be turned over to a scientific body for examination, though scientists from institutions like the Smithsonian can view it by paying a fee.

Heights of Man and Bigfoot

Dr. Bernard Northrup proposes a formula for determining approximate heights from tracks. For humans, it involves doubling the average stride length and adding 10 inches. For Bigfoot, it involves doubling the average stride length, omitting the additional 10 inches due to its presumed longer torso. An example is given: a 33-inch stride for a human results in a 6'4" height, while a 48-inch Bigfoot stride doubled equals 96 inches, or 8 feet.

Footprints in Alaska

Foster W. Wilkins writes from Juneau, Alaska, about tracks found at Whitewater Bay on Admiralty Island. During a bear hunting party, he observed tracks that were further apart and longer than a man's stride, measuring 14 to 16 inches long and about 8 inches wide. He speculates they may have been made by a much heavier animal than is common in the area, possibly during the previous winter when the ground was frozen. He plans to return to photograph them.

Richard L. Tierney, now at Moose Pass, Alaska, describes Admiralty Island as a densely covered, practically uninhabited, and wild island, suggesting that "anything could be there."

Bigfoot and Human Prints

John Green shares observations from April 29, 1969, after visiting the University of Washington. He was impressed by a book illustrating human footprints and notes a significant difference from Bigfoot prints. He provides illustrations by Jim McClarin to highlight these differences: in a Bigfoot print, a line through the toe gap passes across the foot in a curve or straight line, while in a human print, the big toe is longer, and a line from the other toes hits about the middle of the big toe.

Ken Coon, from Lancaster, California, is seeking Bigfoot photographs for publication in his book and requests anyone with pictures or knowledge of them to contact him.

The Eddington Expedition

This section introduces Bill Eddington's approach to studying Bigfoot, which is described as laudable and interesting. Eddington and a companion have entered the upper Bluff Creek wilderness for an extended stay, employing a method similar to George B. Schaller's study of gorillas in Africa. Their strategy involves going in quietly and unarmed, establishing a simple, unobtrusive base camp away from human activity, and waiting for Bigfoot to initiate contact. They believe that large, obvious hunting expeditions are doomed to failure. Eddington and his companion will avoid loud talking, smoking, or carrying radios, and will dress to blend in. They will even restrict the use of field glasses to avoid appearing aggressive. The bulletin expresses full approval and moral support for this approach.

New Magazine Articles

• Brief mentions of articles in other publications:
• FATE magazine, July 1969: Comments on the "Ice Man" in the "I See By The Papers" section.
• SAGA magazine, July 1969: "America's Terrifying Monster-Men" by Warren Smith.

Editor's Note and Future Expeditions

The editor thanks those who sent in reports and regrets that not all could be included. Ben E. Foster Jr. and associates planned an expedition into the Marble Mountains Wilderness Area, but no report was available by the time of publication.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the ongoing search for Bigfoot, the analysis of physical evidence such as footprints, and the exploration of different methodologies for studying the creature. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness and support for serious researchers, particularly those employing careful, observational, and non-aggressive methods, as exemplified by the endorsement of Bill Eddington's expedition. There is a consistent effort to gather and disseminate information from various sources, including field reports, personal accounts, and other publications, contributing to the collective knowledge base on the Bigfoot phenomenon.