Humboldt County Sighting #3
YEAR: 2001
SEASON: Spring
MONTH: May
DATE: 27th
STATE: California
COUNTY: Humboldt County
LOCATION DETAILS: from 101 past Orick about one mile
turn right at Lady Bird Johnson Grove (AKA Bald Hills
Road). Go up about ten miles to a Fire station located
on left. Turn down that road and continue about eight
miles to a large clearcut.
NEAREST TOWN: Johnson
NEAREST ROAD: Bald Hills Road
OBSERVED: During the weekend of may 26th and 27th I
was conducting a sound survey project with three other
people near the town of Johnson and the Klamath River.
This area we were in had a sighting last year around
the month of July.
The place where we decided to set up was a recent clear-cut
that ran along the hillside. It was about 1000 feet wide
and 1200 feet long. On the edges were fir and oak trees
that developed a thick cover. Running the width and centered
in the clear-cut was a dirt road that the local people
and loggers used on a daily basis. It also provided us
with a place to park and set up our sound equipment.
it also became base for our team.
From our base, looking down into the valley about two
miles we could see the town of Johnson. From or point
we were about 1500 feet above the river and town.
Just prior to dusk, I had two members climb to the top
of the clear-cut (about 150 feet in elevation and about
300 feet away from base). I did this so if anything was
to come closer to our base camp, they would have the
best field of vision, and with their night vision device
would be able to determine what it was. We also had two
way potable radios for the upper lookout and base.
Manny and myself continued to set up the equipment and
waited until nightfall.
Because I was scheduled to participate at 10:00 PM in
a live broadcast with Jeff Rense “Sightings” program,
I was insuring that my bag cell phone was working properly.
All the equipment checked out other than the phone worked
but had some static in the line.
At 9:40 we started to broadcast. The sound traveled
very well, and seemed to echo forever. The location we
were at easily helped the sound to travel well over five
miles from valley to ridge top, and saddle, it covered
a large area. Very happy with the sound, we continued
to broadcast a few more times before the Sightings show
started.
It was almost 10:00 PM when the phone rang, it was the
Sightings show. The show went fine for the first few
minutes, but the static was getting horrendous, cutting
Jeff Rense off completely at times. About ten minutes
into this show, Jeff asked me to try and find another
location where the reception might be a little better.
A commercial was playing at the time so I quickly contacted
the upper team and Manny and told then that I had to
move. I started my vehicle and drove about 600 feet towards
the tree line. I reconnected to the show and was relived
that it was a better connection.
I was in this new location less than 15 feet to the
tree line, with visibility not over 5 feet into the trees.
I was parked for a few minutes and heard what I thought
was a bear charging me (I am in a convertible) with the
window down, not much protection in anyone’s mind.
I looked for my revolver and it was gone, I must have
forgot it with Manny when I was in a hurry to get into
a better location! I sat there for a second, and again
I heard this charging, that sounded like a few feet away
from me. This time I started my car got on the radio
and told the upper team that I was moving out because
of something charging me in the bush. (Manny didn’t
have a radio, as we were together at base camp and had
to share two, one for base and one for the upper team).
I asked the upper team “do you see anything” and
they replayed no. I decided to wait it out, as this thing
could expose itself to me (although I just realized that
my camera was also with Manny).
The show continued on and I would hear footfalls, breaking
branches and at least one grunt growl. I kept asking
the upper team if they could see anything and they kept
saying no. I at least had a flashlight, but didn’t
want to use it in fear that I would scare off whatever
it was.
Obviously I was becoming very concerned for my safety,
not knowing what it was. But I remained there on a chance
I might be able to see a Bigfoot or at least see something.
I heard the charging again and again and finally a crackle
in the radio “John it’s looking right at
you, can’t you see it, it’s about 25 feet
away, that ****** is huge”. My heart started pounding
FAST, and trying to carry on with this live program without
sounding distracted was even harder.
The other upper team member confirmed what they were
looking at, it was something that was at least 8 feet
tall with shoulders that were 4 feet across. As I sat
in my car, cell phone to one ear, and the other to the
forest, I could hear it charge again, and that’s
when they would say, “it went back into the trees”,
this happened several times. This sighting went on for
several minutes, with the Squatch looking at me by moving
its body from side to side trying to get a better look
through the trees and brush. It was also observed moving
its arms in a quick motion as if signaling to others.
This whole incident from the first charge heard to the
last tree branch breaking, lasted about 30 minutes. It
was by far the one of the most intense moments in my
life.
That next day we did search the area and found the soil
disturbed where this Squatch was spotted. Due to the
soil condition, it did not allow any prints to be left.
Judging from a tree and stump in the area, it was determined
that it was at least eight feet tall but closer to nine
feet. From the Squatches point of view, it had several
windows to look at me, and by moving its body from side
to side it would have a clear view of my entire vehicle
and me.
ALSO NOTICED: A high pitched scream was heard by base
and the upper team about ten minutes after the last noise
was heard in th treeline. this scream seemed to be a
ways away and is unknown if it is related
OTHER WITNESSES: three other people involved. One was
at base blasting sounds (he didnt see it) and the other
two was located up above the base with night vision
TIME AND CONDITIONS: dusk to dark, moon was out for
a short time only
ENVIRONMENT: Clearcut area with fir and oak around it.
treeline was thick with small trees and underbrush. This
area overlooked the town of Johnson and the Klamath River.
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