The expedition certainly surpassed my expectations. Wed night, and Thu night really provided me with guidance on how to 'lure' these animals in closer for a better look. (gulp). Then came Friday night. Myself, Barry and Rick decided to drive up [a particular road], about 3/4 mile up from the base of [a particular mountain]. We positioned our vehicles on the right side of the dirt road - and setup a thermal scan looking down the crossroads of a power line cut through that backed up to the wilderness area.

We started our observations around 10pm with [a set of mimicking sounds], and after about 30 minutes we did a broadcast of [a recorded vocalization].

Rick wasn't feeling well - a bad sinus headache, so he decided to part company with us for a few minutes and drove away. This left only Barry and myself covering the area.

(Queue scary music)

I took over doing thermal scans from Barry. Once I was setup and scanning down the powerlines into the forest, Barry [made more mimicking sounds] - then two very loud sharp whistles.

Approximately 15 minutes after that - just about 50 feet in the wood line to our immediate right came a loud, deliberate wood knock, somewhat louder than what we were distributing. After suppressing the fight or flight emotions, I regained my composure and attempted to locate what made the noise via thermal. But to no avail. Shortly thereafter, small sticks or rocks - not sure which - nonetheless it was a projectile of some sort was being thrown out of the woods falling right at the edge of the wood line in our direction. There were about 3 to 4 throws total.

Afterwards the activity ramped up to very slow heel to toe stalking noises in the woods. You could clearly make out that something was sneaking about in the woods. After some more time had passed - maybe ten minutes, similar activity was repeating itself directly across the road behind Barry and myself.

Rick drove up a few minutes later and the activity stopped. We scanned the treeline with the thermals for about 30 more minutes, then called it a night.

Prior to this expedition I really did not think I would have any sort of encounter. I've seen the reports of sightings, but I never felt that in a few days we could lure them out. I was wrong. As I told some of you, I really look at all suspected evidence with a skeptical eye - not that I doubt they exist, I really do believe there is an animal such as the Sasquatch, but I'm critical of calling ever limb pile or funny vibe or hair strand or scat pile evidence of them. So for me to say I'm certain I had an experience....well...that is awesome.

I enjoyed meeting everyone - I enjoyed the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale - Thank you Matt for trusting our group with your expensive equipment. I only wish I would have gotten it to smile for us. Perhaps next time.

Regards - Tommy Poland