Eye Witness Michael Smith speaks of his SASQUATCH ENCOUNTER

On October 20, 1967, the elusive man ape was caught on tape by filmmakers Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin, as they stumbled upon a Sasquatch. It quickly fled away from the duo, but the footage was obtained and still remains the single most convincing piece of evidence that the Bigfoot exists.

Michael Smith of Camden, Maine, contacted RSR after we ran an article concerning Bigfoot and has come forward to give his account of his encounter with Bigfoot and his quest to prove its existence.

GM: You stated that you had an encounter with Bigfoot. Can you please tell our readers what happened?

I was in York County, camping with some old buddies from high school when I heard a rustling outside the tent. It was just before dawn and I thought it was a bear. We were warned of black bear activity in the area and we had kept our coolers locked tight and our tents zipped up. You know, black bears aren’t really a concern. They typically run away when they encounter people. So, I had no hesitation in investigating the noise. I get out of the tent and fifteen feet away is this large hairy thing standing on his back legs, and it was amazing. I stood frozen looking at him, examining him, and it was Bigfoot. I have no doubt. I began making whispering noises, hoping to prompt my friends awake to see what I was seeing, but they remained asleep. I stared for what seemed like forever and then it just walked away into the woods.

GM: What date did this happen?

It was the late summer of 1999

GM: Why didn’t you try to take a picture of it?

Imagine waking up and the moment you stand up, Bigfoot is right there. You would be frozen. This is the problem with people and I mean no offense by this. Nobody takes anyone at their word anymore. Would it be nice to get an image of it that night? Yes. Was it practical? No.

GM: The bear population you were warned of. Could it have been a black bear standing on its back legs? Most people contend that those that see Sasquatch mistake bear for it.

No. Trust me, if it was a quick thing. If I only saw it for a moment, then I would perhaps chalk it up to that, but it stood there for at least 30 seconds, and I got a good look at it. I actually didn’t believe in it prior to this. So I wasn’t out there trying to prove it was real. I thought it was just nonsense that idiots believed in, but I saw it with my own two eyes and I don’t really care who believes me. I would like the scientific community to take it more seriously and do more research.

GM: How did this encounter change your life?

I have always been a nature lover, so becoming a Sasquatch researcher wasn’t a far stretch. I have travelled many hot spots for the being over the last 10 years and I have seen evidence, but I haven’t seen Bigfoot since my first and only encounter. That shows you just how elusive he is. You’re lucky to see him once in your lifetime.

GM: You are now a Sasquatch researcher, OK. What do you feel is the biggest piece of evidence supporting the existence?

The Patterson film. It is 100% legitimate.

GM: Wasn’t there a death bed confession from one of the filmmakers where they stated it was faked and some people link the make up guy from PLANET OF THE APES to it. How do you answer that?

They could have made a suit, sure, but they haven’t been able to duplicate what was done in the 1960s. No suit then or now, can present muscle texture under the fur. It’s not happening, and especially not happening in the 1960s. The PLANET OF THE APES had some great looking apes, but match the fur to the fur in the Patterson film. The leg has a protruding muscle, like it sprained an ankle. The muscles in the buttocks and the chest’s movement as it walked could not have been created by the best special effects people now, let alone then.

GM: What about the contention that after all this time, a body would have shown up. Skeletal remains…something would prove it exists, not just blurry footage and eye witness accounts?

They only found one chimp skull in the history of our time. Skeletal remains do not last long in the woods. What about the countless hair samples found? They have tested and proven that these hair samples have come from primates and not humans. They are close to gorilla hairs and gorillas do not live in the woods here in the US. If it’s not gorillas, where do these hairs come from? They have to come from an undiscovered creature. I take part in expeditions to find it, but if there was money behind it and scientists took it seriously, I am confident that we would be able to capture one.

GM: Do you have anything to say in closing?

I encourage everyone from scientists to the average Joe to go out there and research and decide for yourself. Sasquatch is real. I’ve seen it, but don’t take my word for it. Look at the evidence and throw your skepticism aside. Look at the facts and then make your decision.