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I managed to get out for a half day adventure today. I wasn't sure the trails would be passable after yesterday's strong winds, but I didn't encounter any downed trees, just tons of leaves and bits of evergreen boughs littered everywhere. I chose one of my favorite trails off the Harrison East FSR, a branch road that I managed to bag a nice fork horn buck on a few years ago. That luck didn't hold today, as all I saw was squirrels and small birds, plus one small member of the weasel family that played peekaboo with me in a pile of broken rock for a few minutes, from about 4 yards away. There have been at least 5 sightings in this area in the last decade, that I'm aware of, but I couldn't find any sign today. I spent the last hour of daylight glassing a fairly large clearcut that was logged about 5 years ago, then had a forest fire burn through 3 years ago. It was a pleasant way to spend the last bit of a nice day, but nothing at all came into sight before it got too dim to see well. During the 4 hours I was off the main FSR, I didn't see or hear another person or vehicle, which was a surprise, as the parking area at the end of pavement had more empty ATV trailers than I've ever seen there before.

You're right; a 20" barrel Garand would be 2.5" longer than a Guide Gun, and a tad heavier. Cutting the barrel to 18" or 16" would simply rob the 35 Whelen cartridge of too much velocity. I need 2600 fps out of a 225 grain bullet.......2500 fps at a minimum. Also, probably more importantly, ammo selection simply isn't there. It would be a reloaders gun. What attracts me to the idea is a dependable semi automatic rifle with open sights (tritium front sights are already available), carried on an empty chamber with 7 hard hitting rounds in the magazine and quick reloads, and accurate to 150 yards. Most Alaskans who already have a Guide Gun would still be in love with their rifles, as am I, but there are plenty of idiots like me who'd just have to have one! One never has too many cool guns!

And here's an article on "Tanker" Garands, shortened-barrel versions. The blinding muzzle-flash generally put the kibosh on their effectiveness. https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/10/26/tanker-garands-the-real-story

Before they were lost in a boating accident, I owned an M1 Garand and Carbine. Fun guns with tons of history. My grandfather carried a carbine as a 57mm AT gunner at the tail end of the Bulge and into Germany.

Bauman story-Idaho. Trapper dies from bite to neck. Ostman story-BC. Kidnapped. Shot his way out. Dennis Miller case-NC. Kidnapped. Never found. Logically I think it could be similar to a Grizzly Bear and it’s vast range. Coastal bears seem to be bigger but more docile than their smaller cousins in the interior. Large salmon runs and high rain fall equals vast quantities of food. Much more so than interior mountain ranges. Which forces interior bears to be more aggressive and opportunistic. There could be similar factors at work for something like a Bigfoot. Just like it is with humans.