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I missed this earlier. And I will give credit where credit is due. Dmaker is speaking the truth. As for the rest of it? I dont play Dungeons and Dragons. I dont hang out on Dungeons and Dragons forums and tell them how dumb they are wasting their lives playing it. And I dont belong to a anti Dungeons and Dragons forum where we talk about Dungeons and Dragons players and how dumb they are to waste their time playing the game..... Why? Because its an even dumber waste of time....... And I will say this. Anytime your in the back country for any reason? Its not role play.... No matter if I’m scouting for Elk tracks or Bigfoot tracks? The trails are just as narrow, the cliffs are just as tall, and the rivers are just as wide. I dont care if your scouting for pink unicorns and leprachauns? One slip may be the end. No joke. Its no game. I’ve had horses roll over me and crack ribs, Mules upside down in creeks, bucked off, hypothermia at 10,000 feet in the Bighorns of Idaho in late October. This isnt a “game” for pot smoking, cheetos munching, kids rolling fantasy dice in their parents basement. Bgfoot may be a myth. I dont know for myself. But the rest of it? Is stark reality. I dont even know if you dont live in western north America? If you really even comprehend it. And no that one summer trip to Yellowstone doesnt count. And I guess thats why I bristle at the notion that this is just a role playing game. It may be for some? Sitting around the campfire at some state park campsite in Ohio and tell spooky Bigfoot stories while eating smores, do some wood knocks and whoops, listen to forest sounds and get freaked out together and convince each other that Coyote howl isnt really a Coyote at all...... yah I get the comparison. Thats not me. Try rolling out of your bed roll at 2am in the morning 50 miles from the trail head because the Stock are going ape shit on the highline. You know Griz are in the area as well as Blacks, Wolves, Cougars......because you have seen their tracks, or them. Your out there in your long johns with a rifle and a flashlight...... by yourself. I dont care how skeptical you are..... in the back of your mind? Bigfoot may just be a myth to you sleeping in your warm bed. But out there in the vast wilderness, in the pitch black, when you know something is out there? He haunts the recesses of your mind. He does mine. And I dont have any problem admitting it. When I crawl out of that tent I am ready to face anything with a metallic taste in my dry mouth. I can control my fear but I will not lie and tell you its not there. Its always there. Maybe its because of some ancient artifact in my DNA. Maybe its the experience I had as a child. Maybe its because I too ate smores and listened to stories around the campfire as a kid. Illogical or not? Its there. I would be lying otherwise. And I bet you my bottom dollar? That these scofftic JREFers? Deep down, way down inside, in the pitch black on that camping trip when a heavy branch snaps close to camp? Its there as well. Its visceral. And its probably why they hang around here..... Its like a morbid fascination that they just cannot tear themselves away from. Or maybe its just because they like to make fun of us weak minded folks that cannot 86 it like they can!

I totally get that. My mind races at night in the woods if I hear a footfall or a snapped twig, etc. No doubt about that. But how many people in that moment even speculate it could be a sasquatch? I think that number would be pretty small. I only started thinking about bigfoot as an adult in the last 5 or 6 years. Prior to that, a noise in the woods at night was always worst case scenario a bear (if I was in, or north of, Algonquin). Now in the same scenarios bigfoot does enter mind, but only in the sense of an opportunity to try to perceive that moment as a believer would. I cannot convince my mind to truly fear something that I know does not exist. I fear sharks when I swim in salt water, not man eating mermen. I fear bears when I'm in the woods, not bigfoots. I can almost get the fear of the boogeyman in the dark moment you describe, Norse, but what I don't understand is how that brief moment of fear driven irrationality can persist way beyond that moment and remain in someone's thoughts in the bright light of the day. I guess that is where we differ greatly.

No doubt, and well stated. In fact your entire post hit home. There are just times when something happens that freezes that hotdog over the fire for a few seconds and me with it. Even small twig breaks at night can bring one up short. But that's the initial reaction working as it should for those whose experience with what animals are in an area have minds that are alert. The comfort level, along with common sense, depends on how well one is equipped to handle any potentially dangerous stuff. I enjoy Nature as much as anyone else- but that enjoyment doesn't mean blind trust. Being safe means being ready. And ya know? Admitting fear is good and says there is nothing wrong with any of us when fear creeps in. It's good for the new members to hear it as well. Know what's out there where one researches. Read up on different animals including how to avoid them. Read up on dealing with surprise visits from things like Moose, Elk, Bear, and even the smaller animals like fox, raccoon, porcupine, etc. Be Safe. By being informed and aware. And now..........back to our regularly scheduled program........

Dmaker I think this fear happens to every one cause it is programmed into us. Every time we watch a spooky movie or hear a scary story our minds are thinking of those moments . In the woods we get that fear because we are not sure what it is that is out there in the darkness so we fear what we do not know. If it was day time we might make sure of what it is that is making the noise and stay clear of what it is. It takes times to handle this and understand and make the proper assessments so that you can make proper judgement. At night it just makes it even harder but one does need to understand the environment that they are in. If you are in an area of where you know that bears and mountain lions roam then you have to assume it could be either. If you find tracks of these creatures then you know that this is what it can be. Hearing a branch break does not always mean that it will be a Bigfoot unless you have sign of it's presence with in that given area. hearing a branch break could be the wind or a deer or any other type of animal. That like going out with a loaded gun and shooting at every noise you hear. That is not the type of fear that one should have. One should asses to what made the noise rather then go into this fight or flight mode.Like I have said it has happen to me on my stand ,but I never drew back on my bow as I walked back to my truck. The same went when I had my first sighting I never drew on the creature even though it was at least twenty yards from me. Believe me I had plenty of a chance to lock and load and stand my ground but I walked away and went back into town to get the other researcher. Fear can either harm you or can be your best friend it is how you use it at the time. Fear for myself has always been my best friend. I am still alive because of it.

Nice picture!

I totally agree with norseman. The deep woods have not changed. It's not Disneyland out there and things that injured or killed pioneers in their trek west still exist. You don't call for resets or do-overs out there. Great stuff too from OS. I think of the famous phrase from "A few good men"..."You can't handle the truth!!!"...

Here are 8 possible causes for that metallic taste in your mouth. Sasquatch isn't listed as one of them. You ain't pregnant are ya Norse? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/8-possible-causes-for-that-metallic-taste-in-your-mouth/

Yep, that's what we call the Northern Pike. They're everywhere in the waters around here. Super fun fish to catch. Too bad they're wreaking havoc in your neck of the woods. They are actually quite tasty and provide 3 filets (sort of, you get a left, right, and top filet when you work around the y bones). A favorite to pickle around here too! @Shadowborn. Weird question, but what is your fluoride intake? You on city water or anything? Also, weird question I know, but do you meditate?

My wife and I use a 95 Mitsubishi Montero SR for camping and getting back in the mountains. It has locking center and rear differentials and fits 33 inch tires with no modifications, which has gotten us out of some gnarly situations a few times. We also removed all the back seats and built a sleeping platform. It's the perfect vehicle for us, but probably too small inside if you're over 5'9". It can also be a little tricky to find parts. Honestly, the easiest trucks to find parts for will probably be the American makes and Toyota. We use our 4 wheel drive often and rarely NEED the locking differentials, but when things get really rough they're a god-send. Our vehicle's basic 4wd mode is essentially all wheel drive, and it gets used pretty much any time we're off pavement. Most of the time this basic 4wd is plenty; having the ground clearance is actually probably more important for us. Grippy tires help significantly. We also always carry an axe, water filter, a pretty thorough tool kit, water jugs, means for starting a fire easily, a first aid kit, some basic supplies like hoses, hose clamps, antifreeze, oil, gorilla tape, etc. One final piece of gear that we never leave home without if we're going into the mountains: our daypacks. If you break down and have to walk, it's really convenient to have a good backpack for carrying water and food.

I’m still trying to figure out what the Squatch Advantage is.