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Bigfoot Field Research
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Staff Writers
Bigfoot. Yeti. Sasquatch. This mysterious ape-like man of the forest has been the stuff of legend for centuries, and he continues to captivate today. The allure is the enduring mystery behind the beast, most definitely — not to mention ongoing documented sightings, many of them on the west coast.
Harrison Hot Springs has always been a center of Sasquatch activity and little wonder as the very word Sasquatch derives from the Sts’ailes word “Sa:sq’ets” meaning ‘wild man’. The Sasquatch is sacred to the Sts’ailes and as the symbol of their people it is only fitting that this celebration stick with the name given to this very popular event, that prior to 2012, last took place in 1938.
There’s a number of ways to incorporate the mystery into you vacation. Set-up your campsite in Sasquatch Provincial Park, further southwest near Harrison Hot Springs (it is alleged that the park’s lake and forest expanse is a popular stomping ground for Bigfoot). Time your vacation to coincide with Harrison Hot Springs’s Sasquatch Days, June 8 – 9. According to Robert Reyerse, Executive Director at Tourism Harrison, “Each day will feature Cultural Boat tours, artisan activity tables, medicine walks, opportunities for intercultural sharing and the main event war canoes races. Canoe racers will come from across the province to take part in this new event.” You can also enjoy the Salmon Barbeque, Craft Fair, First Nations Performances and of course Sasquatch Tales.
In addition, Sasquatch Country Adventures (SCA) is offering RV’ers and other adventure seekers from across the globe a chance to explore one of the world’s most talked-about mysteries. SCA embarked on its first season in 2012, providing
personalized, educational and entertaining mini-adventures in an area that is a global hot spot for Sasquatch (Bigfoot) sightings.
“The Harrison Hot Springs area is frequently referred to as the Sasquatch capital of the world, and for good reason,” says Bill Miller, SCA founder and president, and a full-time Sasquatch investigator. “Sightings in the area go back for countless generations, and the Sasquatch has become a defining element in our local culture and traditions.”
“Our goal at Sasquatch Country Adventures is to give our clients a first-hand experience of what it is like to track the Sasquatch,” says Miller. In addition to providing access to the area’s scenery and wildlife, the SCA outings includes a chance to learn more about the Sasquatch, including information on local sightings, its history and the scientific research around the legendary creature. Guests examine evidence from previous sightings, including track casts and photographs, in an experience that’s an entertaining mix of information and exploration.
Expert guides include well-known researchers, authors and photographers (Thomas Steenburg and Barry Blount among them) who have decades of experience in unraveling the mysteries of Sasquatch. Miller and his team have had their worked profiled in documentaries including Bigfoot’s Reflection and Bigfoot: The Definitive Guide and Monster Quest.
“Despite the work of countless investigators, the number of questions that remain about Sasquatch is daunting,” Miller says. “Like the other researchers I work with, I have my own theories about what the creature is, but my main interest is in finding conclusive evidence that will ultimately prove its existence to the world at large. I appreciate the chance to share this quest with visitors to the area.”
For more information visit www.tourismharrison.com and www.sasquatchcountryadventures.com.