Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (1976) - full transcript

Scientists mount an expedition to find a Bigfoot-type creature.

(dramatic operatic music)

(dramatic music)
(siren blaring)

(bird screeching)
(tense music)

(leaves rustling)

(hawk screeching)

(Sasquatch roaring)

- [Narrator] For over 200 years,

there have been reports of
giant man-like creatures

roaming the vast
mountain regions

of the Pacific
Northwest in Canada.

Hundreds of people have
encountered these creatures



the Indians call Sasquatch.

In 1958, newspapers began
to publish these stories

in which the press called
these creatures Bigfoot.

And by the early 1960s,

the first full-scale
expeditions were underway.

Bigfoot was attracting
national attention,

and was now rapidly becoming
the most intriguing mystery

on the North American continent.

The most significant
find to date

is the famous Roger
Patterson film taken in 1967.

Patterson searched for
Sasquatch for years.

We examined the individual
frames of this film,

and have come to the
conclusion that the film

and the creature are authentic;



The first pictures ever
taken of a Sasquatch.

This film gained international
attention, and with it,

came the most comprehensive
research effort

ever undertaken.

Under the supervision of

North American Wildlife
Research Center,

investigators began feeding
data into computers.

After months of
computerized research

on behavioral patterns,
migratory movement,

and eyewitness descriptions,

the computer began
answering the many questions

surrounding these
mysterious creatures.

By programming information
from hundreds of sightings,

the computer drew us
a picture of Bigfoot.

It corresponded with
the Patterson film.

Researchers have believed
that in some remote wilderness

where man has never been,

these creatures are living
in complete solitude.

The computers have now
pinpointed this area,

and here at North American
Wildlife Research,

we have organized and
financed an expedition

to search this unexplored area

in hopes of capturing
a Sasquatch.

The final destination
of this expedition

is north of the river the
Indians called the Peckatoe,

in a primitive part of
northern British Columbia.

We are taking the latest and
most sophisticated equipment;

Tranquilizer guns, electronic
gear, and sniper scopes.

If we capture a Sasquatch,

we will implant a
small transmitter,

and release the creature so
that it can be traced by radio

and studied scientifically.

(gentle music)

- [Chuck] Deep in the hearts
of the vast wilderness

of the Pacific
Northwest and Canada,

a legend extends back
into the spoken history

of the earliest Indian tribes.

This legend is about the
mysterious giant creatures

that inhabit these forests.

The description
of these creatures

by those who have seen them

gives one the uneasy
feeling that somewhere,

roaming free and wild in
these deep, dark valleys,

is a living, breathing reminder

of mankind's prehistoric past.

This is the legend
of the Sasquatch.

Today, this legend continues
to be told in the northwest

by many responsible people
who have reported sightings

and encounters with Bigfoot.

Because man has never been
able to capture a Sasquatch,

this creature has become

the world's most
intriguing mystery.

(helicopter blades whirring)

To these men, and to me,

the Sasquatch is
serious business.

This is the beginning

of one of the most extensive
expeditions ever organized

to search the rugged
uncharted country

of British Columbia
for Sasquatch.

(horses neighing)

It is the hope of all of us
on this expedition to prove

once and for all that the
Sasquatch legend is true.

I'm Chuck Evans, the
leader of this expedition.

I'm the chief investigator

for the North American
Wildlife Research Center.

The man I'm talking
to is one of the most

distinguished
anthropologists in the world,

and my good friend,
Dr. Paul Markham.

He's done extensive research
into the Bigfoot phenomena,

and he's now one of the leading
authorities on Sasquatch.

He has helped plan and
outfit this expedition,

and he's organized
this base camp.

We are now in the last
phases of our preparations,

and hope to shove off
sometime this morning.

Hank!

When did you get in?

- Oh, we got in yesterday.

Had quite a trip a little in.

- [Chuck] Hank Parshall
is an Idaho rancher,

and one of the country's leading
experts on tracking dogs.

Because of his keen
interest in Sasquatch,

he has volunteered
his horses, dogs,

and time for this expedition.

Hank first heard of Sasquatch
when he was a small boy,

and throughout his life,

he's talked to many
people who have claimed

to have seen one.

One of the most colorful
characters of this expedition

is Joshua Aloysius Bigsby.

Josh has been a fixture
around the Northwest

since the turn of the century.

He claims to be at
least 80 years old,

but no one knows for sure.

Not even Josh himself.

He's probably the last
of the mountain men.

He knows every trail
in these mountains,

and so does his
faithful mule, Zeb.

Josh is important
to this expedition,

because he is the only
one who knows the way

to the Peckatoe River.

From there, Techka
Blackhawk will guide us.

- Mr. Evans, thank you.

- Your knowledge
of the land beyond

the Peckatoe River is crucial.

It's a relief to have you here.

- Well, it's a pleasure
to be on this trip.

- Have you had a chance
to work the dogs?

Techka is a graduate from the
University of British Columbia

and comes from one of
the largest Indian tribes

in northern Canada.

His Indian background
and knowledge of the
Sasquatch legends

make him one of the
most critical members
of our expedition.

And there's Barney Snipe.

He's our camp cook.

He's a crack shot with a rifle
and an excellent woodsman.

(horse neighing)
(pots clattering)

He's a little clumsy,
but his coffee isn't bad.

- [Barney] Can I get
a hand over here?

- [Chuck] About to check in?

- Bob Vernon,
national news service.

- Has Dr. Markham
gotten you squared away?

- Yes, and that horse Hank
Parshall introduced me to

kicked me in the knee two
seconds after I met him.

- I'm glad it
wasn't more serious.

They tell me that you um,

don't see the point
of this expedition.

- That's right.

I don't believe in Bigfoot.

I'm here because
I'm good at my job,

and the pay is good enough to
make it all seem practical,

if not desirable.

I'd much rather be back on
the streets in New York City

where the enemy is visible,

and real, instead of chasing
some mythological boogeyman

in the woods.

- [Paul] Can we see you
over at central, Chuck?

- [Chuck] Be right there, Paul.

Bob Vernon is a reporter
for a major news service

assigned to do a story
on our expedition.

Although he's a thorough
skeptic, he is an honest writer.

But his negative
attitude disturbs me.

(horses neighing)

Hank, are you about ready?

- Soon as Dr. Markham
finishes packing

his last piece of
equipment, I'll be ready.

- Good, I'll go see if
I can give him a hand.

In the meantime, go
ahead line 'em up.

Paul, can I give you a hand?

- No thanks, Chuck,
I've just about got it.

- Now, Hank is
ready when you are.

- Okay, I'll be
ready in a moment.

- [Chuck] Vernon,
you about ready?

- Yeah, I'm ready.

Wilderness we're going to
can't possibly be as primitive

as all these elaborate
preparations make it to be.

- [Chuck] Well,
just hang in there.

You may be in for
a few surprises.

Hey, Josh, move 'em out!

Take it easy.

Remember, we don't know this
place as well as you do.

By late morning, the pack
train and animals were loaded,

and we pulled out, with
old Josh leading the way.

We are taking the best in
equipment and supplies.

And I feel especially
pleased that Hank is bringing

his finest tracking dogs.

The dogs are German Shepherds,

trained and selected
specifically for
this expedition.

Unlike hounds,
they track silent,

and will not bark nor
betray their presence

until their quarry is cornered.

(water splashing)

We were happy to be on our way,

but as the chopper
buzzed us a last goodbye,

we realized that we were
leaving our families

and civilization behind.

It will be weeks before we
are resupplied by parachute.

(upbeat music)

After the feverish
activity of the last week,

the first two or three days
out into the wilderness

seemed a welcome relief.

The temperature was
a mild 70 degrees

in the soft air of early June.

The skies were a
deep Prussian blue.

Everyone had the feeling
of oneness with nature.

It comes to all
who lose themselves

in the Pacific Northwest.

(water splashing)

It was early summer
in the high country,

the best time of the year.

A wolf nurses her pups,

until a nosy badger comes
too close for comfort.

(badger hissing)

(wolf barking)

♪ Oh, far, far away

♪ There's where my
heart is yearning ever ♪

♪ There where the
old folks stay ♪

♪ All up and down creation

- [Chuck] Ease up, ease
up, ease up, ease up.

Paul, back it up,
fall back over here.

Our expedition was
scheduled to last

until late fall,

until we found the habitat
of the elusive Sasquatch.

We would search for
months in this wilderness

of British Columbia, checking
the valleys, the mountains,

and high country,

criss-crossing the
hundreds of square miles

of trackless forests,
seeking a trace

of these legendary
creatures of North America.

We rode through this beautiful
land of mountains and valleys

for the first weeks,

camping each night by
some mountain stream.

(water rushing)

We were to pass many
beautiful lakes and mountains

and cross hundreds of streams.

And later...

And later there would
be a river to cross that

none of us would ever forget.

(gentle music)

By unspoken consent,
the journey was quiet

as we traveled
through the forest.

We did not want to
advertise our presence.

And it was quite an experience
to watch the wildlife

on every side, as we
plunged deeper and deeper

into this primitive country.

We have been climbing
steadily since our departure,

and everyone now enjoyed
the magnificent scenery

that lay in front of us.

Well Vernon, have you ever
seen anything so beautiful?

- [Bob] No, never.

I've hiked a lot of trails

and climbed some
spectacular peaks,

but I've never seen--

- Quiet, bring your binoculars.

Hey, it's Smokey the Bear.

It's the most ornery
animal there is.

We have to put off
somebody up ahead

because it might
double back on us.

- [Bob] Cougars are more
dangerous than bears.

- Oh, a grizzly is
the most dangerous,

unpredictable animal there is.

A cougar will never attack
a man, let's be certain.

Oh, they can catch
anything else.

- [Bob] That bear doesn't
look all that mean.

- Don't count on the way
it looks way up here.

You know, a couple of
old miner friends of mine

were killed right near
here by a grizzly.

- [Chuck] Well, Bob,
are you getting pictures

that you like?

- Yes.
- Okay, you guys.

Cheese, salami, and the last
of the store-bought bread.

- Oh, I don't know, that
fricasseed mountain rat

we had last night wasn't bad.

(men laughing)

Whoa!

- You get a mountain rat.

(men laughing)
- Well, I've had worse.

I remember back in aught five,

what we caught in
the back country,

nothing to eat except gopher.

(spits)

You ever had gopher, fellers?

Well, t'aint the
best in the world,

then again, t'aint
the worst either.

- [Hank] Josh oughta know.

- Josh, how far do you
figure it is to the Peckatoe?

- Well, at the rate we're goin',

I'd figure it'd take about
three weeks, maybe four.

Unless we run across
one of them critters.

- [Chuck] How many sightings
have there been in the area

to the east of us, Paul?

- I've got one in
1969 and nine in 1972.

To the north of us, there
have been more than 20.

- How can you be sure
there are Sasquatch

in the area where we're going?

- Our computer readout
shows there have been

numerous sightings in the
area north of the Peckatoe.

- That particular area
of BC has been taboo

for my tribe and others,

for as long as Indian
history goes back.

The early white explorers
couldn't get anyone

to guide them in.

- [Paul] Take a
look at this map.

This area.

All dense forest.

Running east and west
is the Pecaktoe River.

All around the perimeter,

we show various
sightings of Sasquatch.

- How large would you estimate
that population to be?

- [Paul] Oh, there's
really no way to tell.

We don't have enough information

on how the Sasquatch lives.

- Josh, show us
where we're headed.

- [Josh] You see that third
range of mountains over there?

- [Chuck] Yeah.

- [Josh] Well just behind
that is the Peckatoe.

And just beyond that is the
land Indians call Hia Country,

or forbidden land.

You can't see those mountains
from here, but they're there.

And so is the critter.

(bird cawing)

- [Chuck] As we move closer to
the crest of the first range

of mountains, we started to
hit small patches of snow.

I worried that our progress
might be slowed by glaciers

or large snow fields,

that we couldn't
cross with horses.

Josh assured me that we would
skirt the dangerous areas.

(tense music)

(horse neighing)

- Get, get!

- Hey, what's the matter
with these horses?

- I don't know.

They've just been
spooked and suddenly...

Whoa, get down.

(horse snorting)

(cougar growling)

(horses neighing)
(men shouting)

(hoofbeats pounding)

(dramatic music)

(cougar panting)

(dogs barking)
(cougar growling)

- [Hank] Get down!

He's gonna jump!

(gun firing)

- Good shot, Barney!

- I promise, Barney,
I'll never badmouth

you cooking again.

- Hey Barney, where'd you ever
learn how to shoot like that?

- That's an inheritance
of my ol' grandpappy.

- [Josh] He's a darn
good shot, Barney.

- It's too bad we
had to kill him.

He was a fine-looking animal.

But with the taste of
packhorse in his mouth,

he'd have followed us,

and he'd have got one
of 'em eventually.

What's the damage, Hank?

- Well, the horse is all right.

Cat didn't cut him too bad.

It's a good thing.

We needed that packhorse.

- Well, we'll rest
here for an hour,

but we've got to be leaving.

We got to be to the
next valley by tonight.

(geese honking)

(frogs croaking)

(wolves howling)

- Hey, Josh.

You ever see a Sasquatch?

- [Josh] No, not exactly.

- What do you mean not exactly?

- Well, I've seen
a heap of tracks.

Some big ones, some little ones.

I remember back in 1912,

when we just travel
up to a river way

with a bunch of fellers,
did a bit of huntin'.

We stopped to camp
for the night.

Well, during the night,

somethin' snuck into our camp
and tore it all to shreds.

- Maybe it was a bear.

- T'weren't no bear.
- How do you know?

You didn't actually see it.

- Well, I seen the
tracks the next mornin'.

They was about 18 inches long.

No bear has feet that big.

- But how many people
have you talked to

have actually seen a Bigfoot?

- A couple dozen maybe.

- Do you believe in that
Mount St. Helens story?

- I sure do.

I know old Fred Beck
who told me about it.

The way old Beck told it to me,

he and three other fellers was
working a mine back in 1924

called the Vanderwhite Mine.

They'd been prospectin',
pannin' a little gold

up in the Lewis River country.

This is near Mount St. Helens
for goin' on six years.

They was doin' pretty well too.

They'd seen a lot of tracks
around during the years,

and they always just
figured them to be tracks

of a big Injun, that was
still roamin' the hills.

On this 'ticular day,
one of them come back

from town with a new assay.

It was a dandy.

They discovered a pretty
good strike of gold,

all things considered.

They're all kind of excited,

and decide to knock
off for the day

and celebrate
their good fortune.

They headed back for
the cabin as usual,

along an old well-used trail.

(tense music)

About midway up the trail,

they began to hear the sounds
of footsteps behind them,

and off the sides too.

(leaves rustling)

They never did see
what was in the trees,

but somethin' was
sure followin' 'em.

(leaves rustling)

By the time they got
back to the cabin,

they were pretty scared.

Charlie was more
scared the others.

By the sounds of
those footsteps,

it seemed to him like there was

more than one of them things
out there, whatever it was.

Well, they decide they'd eat
a quick supper and go to bed.

They had heard nothing
more in the trees

and they figured that
whatever there was out there

had gone away.

(tense music)

(footsteps pounding)

(glass shattering)
(men yelling)

(rocks pounding)
(men yelling and shouting)

(guns firing)

The attack went on
for most of the night.

Sometimes it was still.

And other times, it increased.

(Sasquatch roaring)

(guns firing)
(men shouting)

The rocks kept crashin'
down, the cabin kept shakin',

and they kept shootin',

but they never knew if
they hit one of 'em.

Well, just before dawn,
the attack stopped.

All around the cabin were large
footprints of the critters.

They was over 18 inches long.

And there's a ton
or two of rocks

had been thrown
down from the ledge.

Fred said the apes had
did everything they could

to get into the cabin.

It was built too solid.

To this day, that canyon
is called Ape Canyon.

Fred always did say it was apes.

But the way he described them,

it was a lot bigger than apes.

- [Bob] That's some story, Josh.

- I've heard that same story
from a whole lot of people

up my way.

It's always the same.

I'm inclined to believe
it's the gospel truth.

- Um...

We gonna have a guard tonight?

- [Hank] Do you
think we need one?

Hey, don't worry, Bob.

I'll set the dogs on
both sides of the camp.

If anything moves,
they'll let us know.

- Just thought I'd ask.

(water rushing)

- [Chuck] Each day on the
trail brought a new experience.

Hank noticed that
Ochoco seemed nervous.

A little later,
he found out why.

(playful music)

(bear growling)

(raccoon snorting)

♪ After I die

♪ Please bury me

♪ Oh bury me out

♪ On the lone prairie

(upbeat music)

- [Chuck] When we crested
the second mountain range,

I realized why Josh had been
reluctant to bring outsiders

into this spectacular country.

It was obvious that this was
a wilderness seen by few men,

and untouched by any of them.

It gave us the feeling
that we were visitors

in a special land that
belonged only to the animals.

And I hoped it would
be theirs forever.

In the past weeks, we had
crossed many ridges and valleys,

and spent much of our
time on small detours,

along creek beds, where the
soft earth would reveal tracks.

But we hadn't found a single
track of the evasive Sasquatch.

Now we were over 200
miles into the interior.

Looking back over the
country we came through,

it seemed impossible that
we had made such good time.

It was the fourth of July,
and we made camp early.

The long, hard
hours in the saddle

made us appreciate any
brief moment of relaxation

we could find.

But we didn't expect
the celebration

that was beginning to shape
up on a nearby glacier.

(playful music)

(Barney yelling)

(men laughing)

(frogs croaking)

We had now crossed the
last of the big mountains.

From here on, it would
be a long downhill ride

into the canyons
of the Peckatoe.

(wolves howling)

Josh estimated about a
week to reach the river,

but it had been many years

since he had traveled
this country,

and I had the feeling that...

Well, that he was not
certain about what might lie

between us and the river.

(birds chirping)

(peaceful music)

(bears growling)

Watching the grizzly fight

reminded us how wild
this country really was.

(peaceful music)

We follow the game
trails whenever we could.

Some days, we made good speed.

Other days, we were
slowed by heavy timber.

Finally, by the middle of
July, we reached the Peckatoe.

And across from the raging
stream was Sasquatch country.

(water rushing)

- Out here, why
there's more water

than I'd ever seen it before.

Purty, ain't it?

Ever seen it before, Techka?

- Before I was a young man.

It was a lot further downstream.

This is Hia Country.

Many of the spirits dwell here.

- Can you guide us
through that wilderness?

- I know the way.

All my life, I've known the way.

It's been told around the
campfires of my people

for more generations
than I remember.

We all know the
way, but none go.

Once we cross the river,
we move with caution.

- We better make camp
back up in that meadow.

Hank, will you look for a
better crossing downstream?

Techka, take a look around.

- Extra toilet paper,
everybody, on this stump.

- [Bob] Sounds good.

Save some for me.

(Barney humming)

(playful music)

(men laughing)

Hey, you lousy field varmint!

Give me back that food!

- [Josh] Go!

Go get him, Barney!

(Barney laughing)

- It's mine tonight!

(men laughing and cheering)
- Hey, bravo!

- Lo, the mighty
hunter returneth!

(men laughing)

(water rushing)

- [Chuck] We searched the river
for a better crossing site.

The best place was
just above camp.

Techka, I know that you've
never been across the Peckatoe,

but is there anything at
all in those Indian legends

that might help us out?

I'm afraid that these
maps just don't cut it.

- Only that the land is
more dense and rugged.

My grandfather once told
me the trees are taller

and the meadow grass higher.

Could be no trails
at all to follow.

- I'll take it the
goin' will be slow

and we'll have a hard
time getting the horses

through the brush.

- Let me see that
map, Chuck, my boy.

Look at this.

Here we are.

Now, if you was a Sasquatch
livin' in these here parts,

wouldn't you rather
live down here

where these valleys
come together,

where there's plenty of water
and a lot of food, yeah?

- Techka?

- Most of the legends speak
of a valley with three arms.

That may well be it.

- [Chuck] Well then,
that's the way we'll go.

We'll cross the
river in the morning.

- We'll have to cross here.

It's a doggone treacherous
waterfall just downstream.

- We'd better get
an early start.

I'll ask Barney to rustle
us up a cold breakfast.

(frogs croaking)

- I had Techka bring
up the dogs tonight.

They're a little restless.

Think they got
wind of something.

- You didn't see
the herd of deer

that come through
the forest, did ya?

Well, I was awake at dawn.

About eight or 10 deer comes
through about 20 feet away.

- Come on Josh, the dogs
would have picked up the smell

on them deer.

- Nope.

Them deer were too smart.

They come downwind of the dogs

and made nary a
sound passin' by.

You fellers remind me of the
story Hank was tellin' me about

ol' Bauman back in 1850.

It was told by none other
than Teddy Roosevelt.

And he even wrote
it down in his book.

(men laughing)

- I'm not sure I can
tell it like Josh could,

but he's right.

It was it told by
Teddy Roosevelt.

Teddy spent a lot of
time in that wilderness.

He was a hard man to
fool with a tall tale.

And he said the
story was told to him

by an old weather-beaten
hunter by the name of Bauman,

I think it was.

Well, Bauman had to
believe that story,

'cause he, Teddy knows
that every time he told it,

he couldn't keep
from shudderin'.

Now, the whole thing
happened back in 1850

when Bauman was a young man.

Him and his partner was trappin'

up in the mountains in Idaho.

And not having
much luck trappin',

Bauman and Jessup, not
being superstitious men,

decided to go up to a
particular small stream

that was said to
have a lot of beaver.

And to get to that stream,

they had to travel by
way of a pass that,

well, it had an evil reputation
ever since a year before

when a hunter had
wandered into it

and was killed by
some wild beast.

Well, Bauman and Jessup,

calculatin' that they couldn't
get the horses up the pass

traveled on foot 'til they
reached the beaver swamp,

but they decided to
camp for the night.

Now, there's still a
few hours of daylight,

so they build a small lean-to

and went on up the
creek with the traps.

Well, settin' the traps
took a little longer

than they thought, so they
didn't get back to the camp

'til late in the evenin'.

(frogs croaking)

But when they came
into the camp,

the whole place
was just torn up.

The lean-to was smashed.

Blankets and supplies were
just thrown all over the place.

(tense music)

And all around the camp,
there was footprints,

just as plain as if
they've been made in snow.

And they examined
the tracks real close

and concluded that
whatever it was

certainly walked on two legs.

It was gettin' too
dark to tell much,

so the two men went on
to bed with intentions

of studying the
tracks in the mornin'.

About midnight, Bauman was
awakened by some kind of noise.

(footsteps pounding)

He saw a black shape run across
the front of the lean-to.

He grabbed his rifle
and fired a shot at it.

(gun firing)
Could not see what it was.

All he knew was that
it was runnin' fast.

Well, after that, both
of 'em sat by the fire

the rest of the night,
keepin' a close watch

on that doggone thing.

Whatever it was,
that thing came back

and stood for an hour so in
the trees across the swamp.

It made some godawful sounds,

but it didn't come
near the camp.

In the morning, they both
decided to leave the valley

just as soon as they could,

so they spent the rest of the
morning gathering the traps

from the creek, and
you know somethin'?

Every trap was just plumb empty.

And by noon, their
fears of the past night

just kind of dimmed, even
seemed a little bit foolish.

So since there was
only three traps left,

Bauman volunteered to get 'em

while Jessup went on into
camp to pack up the gear

for the departure.

(tense music)

When Bauman returned to the
camp, everything was quiet.

He hollered for Jessup.

There was no answer.

Then, Bauman caught
sight of his friend.

He was dead.

His neck broke, just like
it'd been nothin' but a twig.

Well, Jessup was dead.

There wasn't nothin' Bauman
could do but bury him,

and there wasn't time
to do that before dark,

so he just grabbed his pack
and headed down to the horses

where they was hobbled,

and he lit out of there
just about as fast

as a couple of scared
horses could handle.

Bauman said as far as he knew,

them traps was still up there
on the old Salmon River,

along with Jessup's bones.

- [Bob] Hank, you think
that story is true?

- I guaran-doggone-tee you,
a man like Teddy Roosevelt

wouldn't have said nothin'
if he didn't believe it.

- There are lots of stories
on record like that.

- Well, I hate to break this up,

but I'm gonna have to radio
home base for some supplies.

- Oh great, I got a list for ya.

And don't let 'em forget
the Tabasco sauce.

- Anyone have anything else
they need before I call?

- No.
- I guess that's all.

(playful music)

- Come out of
there, you varmint!

That's Techka's outfit.

Come on!

Outta there!

You guys don't know
your own place.

Who do you think you are?

Come on!

Come on!

Get outta there!

You varmint, you!

- [Chuck] We suggest you
approach from the east,

out of the side, the
wind is at five knots.

- [Pilot] Roger.

- [Chuck] It was good
to see the airplane.

The arrival of fresh supplies
and letters from home

lent a nice feeling to the day.

It was comforting to know

that we had a direct
link with civilization.

There it is, mail from home.

- Yes.
- Hey!

- [Chuck] We were now almost
300 miles into the interior.

Just an hour and a half
flight for the plane,

but a good month's
trek by horseback.

(men laughing)
- Oh, my Tabasco sauce!

(fake crying)

Later that morning, we
attempted the river crossing.

It was just as tough
as we had thought,

but the rapid flow of the water
and the depth of the stream

made it extremely hazardous.

Hank started across
with the packhorses.

(water rushing)

- [Hank] Whoa!

- [Chuck] Everything
was going well,

until we hit
midstream and then--

(water splashing)

The river was sweeping
horses and riders downstream.

(men shouting and whistling)

- Ho!

(water splashing)
- What happened?

Oh my God, what?

(Barney yelling)

- [Chuck] Techka managed
to throw Barney a rope,

and we pulled him
out of the river.

(Barney sputtering)

- Get him in here!
(Barney yelling)

(Barney coughing)
- Get him up here.

You okay?

- Everything all right?
- Yeah.

Oh!

- [Chuck] How much water
did you swallow there?

- Did you get my hat?

(men laughing)
(Barney coughing)

- [Chuck] By late morning, we
had all crossed the Peckatoe,

dried out, and were
back on the trail.

(peaceful music)

This country north of the
river, it seemed different.

Even Techka remarked
at the change.

We noticed that the
mornings were cooler,

and the sunsets came earlier.

The season was changing.

This country held a unique
fascination for all of us.

It was obviously
virgin wilderness.

(upbeat music)

We knew that we might
catch sight of a Sasquatch

at any time.

This knowledge would keep
us on the alert from now on.

(water trickling)

There was an abundance
of game everywhere,

more than I had
ever seen before.

And none of the animals
seemed afraid of us.

Perhaps we were the first men
and horses they had ever seen.

We continued to travel
this way for weeks,

looking, searching and watching.

We examined every stream bed

and checked the soft
earth in the meadows.

Whenever we'd see a
likely-looking meadow,

we'd all spread out
and look for tracks.

When we crossed small streams,

Hank would take the dogs and
search until he was satisfied

that there were no
trails or tracks.

Because research on
Sasquatch had shown

that part of their diet
consists of plants,

Paul Markham spent
a lot of his time

cataloging the different
kinds of forest vegetation.

And during the whole trip,
I never saw him for long

without his
ever-present notebook.

The going was slow and
tough, through heavy timber.

Many times, with
no trail at all.

We began to wonder what
had happened to the valleys

we had spotted on the
maps weeks earlier

at the Peckatoe River.

Some days, we were
hindered by brush so thick

that Techka had to cut a trail

before the horses
could move through.

The fear of missing
our destination

was weighing heavily on us.

Even some of the meadows
were treacherous.

(horse neighing)

My horse, Lava, became
mired in a meadow bog.

For three hours, we
worked in the mud,

while the mosquitoes
worked on us.

Lava had given up, so I did
the last thing I could think of

to save his life.

The whipping worked, and
Lava made a final lunge

and freed himself from the mud.

If we had lost him,

we would have had to
redistribute the equipment.

And I wasn't looking forward
to riding a packhorse.

Strange things began to happen.

- [Techka] Watch it!

- [Chuck] It was as if
someone, or something,

was trying to stop our progress.

I began to worry.

Were these attacks?

Or simply a quirk of nature?

There was no way to explain it.

We were all feeling the
strain of the long trip,

and Bob Vernon was
becoming more cantankerous

as each day passed.

The wilderness had not
changed him as I had hoped.

- The horses are a little jumpy.

I hobbled them instead of
tying 'em up to a picket line.

I think we need a guard.

- There's nothing to
guard against around here,

except 300-pound mosquitoes.

- Well, then you ought
to be able to hit one.

- Does that mean it's my turn?

- Vernon...

That attitude of yours is
gonna get somebody killed.

- Aye aye, captain.

(frogs croaking)

(tense music)
(wolves howling)

(owl hooting)

(horses neighing)

(frogs croaking)

(bear growling)
(Bob screaming)

Oh, God!

(gun firing)

- Here he is!

Bob!

Easy.

- Oh my God...

- Bob, are you all right?

He's bleeding.

Barney, get the first-aid kit.

- Right.
- Hank, Techka,

make sure that
grizzly's out of here.

I'm going to move your arm.

Tell me if it hurts, all right?

Easy, I'll sit you up here, Bob.

- Careful.
- Easy does it.

Let's get him up off his side.

- Watch this arm here.
(Bob groaning)

- [Chuck] Easy does it.

Easy with that.

Josh, you got the gauze?

- [Josh] Yeah, right here.

Well, that ain't too bad.

That old grizzly bear
didn't hurt you too much.

You ought take it
easy for a spell now.

(Bob groaning)
Ooh, careful.

It's gonna be a little sore.

I think you'll live.

Good.

- [Chuck] The experience with
the grizzly was pretty scary

to all of us.

And as Josh had warned
us weeks earlier,

the grizzly is the most
dangerous of all big game.

Vernon didn't talk
much about it.

His carelessness had just
about cost him his life.

And now he would have
respect for the wilderness.

On the morning of the
10th of September,

we broke camp and rode as usual.

(tense music)

By late morning, a new
sensation seemed to

engulf the expedition.

An unknown presence of danger.

It was a feeling of foreboding.

The forest around us
was vacant of life.

The horses were also feeling
it and were harder to handle.

This uneasiness
continued all day.

That afternoon, we
reached the first valley.

After almost three
months on the trail,

we were now entering the
area where the computers

had told us a population
of Sasquatch might exist.

Would this be the place
where we would find them?

No modern expedition had
ever encountered a Sasquatch,

except for Roger Patterson's.

Perhaps our efforts
would be for nothing.

(dramatic music)

We decided to camp at
the edge of the meadow,

near the head of the valley.

- You want some more beans?

- No.
- No, thanks.

- Hey Barney, we
were talking about

how to capture a
Sasquatch this morning.

- Mmhmm?

- Well, I thought of a new way.

Throw your biscuits at him!

(men laughing)

- Yeah?

Well, you just wait.

That old Sasquatch, he's gonna
come wandering into this camp

askin' for some of
my good cookin',

and you ain't even gonna have
your tranquilizer guns ready.

(owl screeching)

(Barney yelling)

- Barney, watch
what you're doin'!

- Looks like we got an
old owl up in a tree.

- Well, that could
have been a Sasquatch!

It's time you guys got
to your lookout stations.

Your poor old cook
needs protection

if he's gonna be cooking these
good meals and washin' dishes

and doing all the
necessities around this camp!

- [Chuck] Barney's right.

We'd better get ready.

- [Barney] What if there
are two or three or more?

- [Chuck] So much
the better, Barney.

That'll help our chances
with the tranquilizer gun.

- [Barney] Yeah, our
chances of gettin' killed.

- [Bob] Aw, come on Barney,
don't be such a coward.

(frogs croaking)

- [Chuck] Being as big as he is,

Sasquatch could break the
back of a man with one blow.

We've got to consider him
smarter and more dangerous

than a grizzly bear.

And I don't need to tell
you about grizzlies.

So don't take any chances.

- If he comes, he'll come
from the thickest part

of the forest.

Studies show he has a
tendency to stay under cover.

- That'd be over by post
four, where Hank is.

- That's right.

- Do you think he'll come alone?

- Perhaps.

- All right, we better move out.

(frogs croaking)

(dogs whining)

I can't seem to shake that

eerie feeling that
I've had all day.

It's like something's
been watchin' me.

- You won't.

That feeling that you
and I and all of us have

is what the Indian
legends speak of

when Sasquatch is
present in an area.

This morning, we entered
the domain of Sasquatch.

(frogs croaking)

(tense music)

(wolf howling)

(receiver beeping)

- [Techka] Chuck?

- Yeah, what is it?

- [Techka] Something's
approaching.

Listen, can you hear anything?

- No.

It's dead quiet.

- That's what I mean.

Something is approaching,
or it's already here.

(horses snorting)

(Sasquatch roaring)

(dogs barking)

- [Chuck] Paul, get the horses!

(Barney screaming)
(horses neighing)

(dogs whining)

- [Paul] Chuck,
they're in the woods!

- Paul, over there,
get a tranquilizer!

Techka, Techka, check in.

- [Techka] I checked the
forest with a sniper scope.

Couldn't see a thing.

The Sasquatch was
here, all right.

I caught his smell on the wind.

It's sort of rotting-smelling.

- Okay.

Keep the channel open.

Hank?

- [Hank] Yeah, I'm okay.

What the heck was that scream?

- It had to be a Sasquatch.

Nothing else sounds like that.

If he gets close enough,
put a tranquilizer in him.

- [Hank] Don't you worry.

- Josh?

Josh?

Josh, answer me!

(Sasquatch roaring)
(horses neighing)

He must be back in the trees...

Where's Josh?

(tense music)

(Bob laughing)
Josh, why didn't you answer?

- Couldn't, didn't have
this gizmo turned on.

Though, I thought I
smelt the critter.

I thought I'd sneak up on it.

Couldn't get near him, though.

That Sasquatch could have
walked right through this camp

with all you fellers asleep.

- [Chuck] You didn't see it?

- Nah, it was in the trees.

He's gone now, though.

- Gone?

- Just listen.
(cricket chirping)

The forest sounds
are comin' back.

- Well, the next time
you go traipsing off,

let someone know.

We thought it
might have got you.

- Nah, not a chance.

Well, I think I'll hit the sack.

He won't be back tonight.

(cricket chirping)

- [Chuck] Most of us were
rather tired and sleepy

the next morning, although
Josh had slept like a baby.

The rest of us sure hadn't.

It had been a
disturbing experience.

At the first light of day,

we began to cover the
meadow to check for tracks.

Those screams had been so close,

we knew we should find some
evidence of what had made them.

(bird screeching)

- [Techka] The tracks!

(tense music)

They're about four hours
old, made this morning.

Look, the edge of the
print is still sharp.

- After all this time...

- [Techka] Here's
the other impression.

And they're about
six feet apart.

- [Paul] 16 and a half.

Eight and a half at the ball.

An inch and a half deep.

I estimate the creature
to weigh somewhere between

eight and 900 pounds.

He must have been
standing right here,

looking down on us last night.

- Here's another one!

Let's get a cast
made of this one.

Barney, the resin kit.

- [Barney] You bet.

- [Hank] I'll see if I can pick
up the trail with the dogs.

(peaceful music)

- [Chuck] We made one
cast of each foot.

We were using the
new resin materials,

which took longer to dry
than Plaster of Paris,

but this substance is
practically indestructible.

We had finally found our
first Bigfoot tracks.

Paul was more excited
than I had ever seen him.

There was no doubt
in his mind now,

that Sasquatch was a
living, breathing creature.

Hank and the dogs
followed the trail,

which led out of the
meadow, through some trees,

and ended at the base
of a steep rock cliff.

It looked as if the Sasquatch
had climbed right up

over the top.

It would be impossible
for us to follow.

Only experienced
mountain climbers could
get to the top end.

And of course, the creature
had crossed over by now.

Techka had pointed out
that the cliff curved

in the same direction
we were headed.

If the Sasquatch continued
in a straight line,

we might pick up his
trail on the other side.

We decided that Hank and
Techka would walk around

with the dogs.

We would break camp and
meet them with the horses.

(wind howling)
(horses snorting)

Late that afternoon, wind had
covered the tracks with dust,

and the first of the fall
storms was approaching.

(wind howling)

(horses snorting)

For two days, we
traveled in heavy rain.

And could only hope the
rain would not turn to snow.

(wind howling)
(rain pattering)

We stopped for
lunch in the trees,

but Techka was never still.

He roamed the edge of the
meadow, looking and searching.

- Chuck, more tracks!

It's the same pattern.

See the resemblance
in the print?

The ball of the foot has
this big lump on the side.

It's the same creature.

- [Chuck] How old is the track?

- [Techka] Two, maybe
three hours old.

Made this morning for sure.

They're heading the
same way we are.

The dogs can take it from
here once we're ready to go.

- [Chuck] We were back
on the trail, and now,

there wasn't any question
about the direction

the creature was headed.

If the Indian
legends were correct,

we were nearing the heart
of Sasquatch country.

The storm broke, and we were
to enjoy a few warm days

of Indian summer.

We continued our journey

with the ever-present
feeling of uneasiness.

- [Techka] Whoa.

- In the next valley that
was the most awesome sight

I had ever seen.

Recognize those signs, Paul?

- [Pau] Yes.

That's the way the Sasquatch
marks the outer perimeter

of his domain.

It's incredible.

Incredible.

- It is as the ancient
ones that have said.

The Sasquatch are in the
place of the three valleys.

Form here, we go with danger.

- [Chuck] Broken
trees at that height

indicated a creature that
could stand over 10 feet tall

and weighed better
than 1,000 pounds.

It was a frightening
realization.

The tremendous strength
it would have taken

to break those trees
off so cleanly.

And I think we all
began to understand

the danger we were in.

There were no sounds
in the forest.

It was obvious to all
of us that we were now

in the heart of the
Sasquatch domain.

There were tracks everywhere

in the soft earth of the meadow,

of different sizes and moving
in different directions.

We reached the third valley.

Here, you could feel the
presence of Sasquatch.

We could catch a faint
odor on the wind.

The valley opened
into a large meadow,

surrounded by dense forests,

and a lake protected
the north entrance.

Techka suggested we camp on
a knoll above the meadow,

near the tree line.

It was out of the swampy area,

and we would have the lake
on one side for protection.

(upbeat music)

Now our chances for making a
capture were better than ever.

We had to be ready to take
advantage of any opportunity.

We set up camp and began rigging

the electronic sensing device.

It was developed by
the Research Center

as an alarm system to
monitor creature movement

in mountain country.

Properly set, the
console here at camp

will tell us the location,
speed and direction

of an approaching Sasquatch.

While josh and I strung the
main wire from the console,

Markham, Techka and Vernon began
setting the perimeter wires

on the other side of the lake.

The inner perimeter was placed

around the edge of the meadow.

These wires are so fine,

a Sasquatch will not
know when he breaks one.

The outer perimeter wire
was placed 350 yards

back in the trees,
circling the meadow.

These wires were
attached to insulators

five feet above the ground,

high enough for normal
animals to pass under,

but low enough that a
Sasquatch cannot avoid it.

Using metal rods,
we established gates

throughout the perimeter so that

when a section of
wire is broken,

we can pinpoint the creature's
location on the console.

There were eight gates
in each perimeter.

Paul, will you check
me up in this again?

- This is our outer perimeter.

We've set it about 300
yards back into the trees.

It corresponds with this
amber row of lights.

This is our inner perimeter.

It's about 50 yards away
from the end of the meadow.

It corresponds to this
white row of lights.

Any time he moves through
any one of these gates,

a corresponding
light will go on.

If he moves into
the inner perimeter,

he should be close
enough for one of our men

to get a shot at it.

- [Chuck] And if they miss
and he keeps on moving,

we'll be ready for
him right here.

- [Paul] Exactly.

- [Chuck] We are using the
most potent tranquilizer known.

Markham recommended we load
the darts with twice the amount

normally used for grizzly bears.

These guns have a
range of 70 yards,

and will be equipped
with sniper scopes.

The late afternoon was
spent testing the trip gates

and checking the guns.

By dusk, we were ready.

We ate a quiet dinner.

The thought of what
could happen this night

was on everyone's mind.

We knew the Sasquatch
might come, and with it,

our opportunity to capture the
greatest anthropological find

of all time.

(frogs croaking)

We wanted to make a capture,

but if things got out of hand,

we would have to
protect ourselves.

Hank, Techka and Vernon
volunteered to take positions

in the inner perimeter.

The rest of us stayed
to protect the camp.

(tense music)

(alarm beeping)

There it is!

Gate four, to the west!

Listen, everyone.

He's just broken gate four.

Hank, that's in your sector.

He should be just beyond
the edge of the tree line.

- [Hank] Gotcha.

(alarm beeping)

- Hank.

Hank, he's moving.

He's just broken gate
three in sector two.

He should be just beyond
you, just to the left of you,

in the trees.

(leaves rustling)

(Sasquatch roaring)

(tense music)

Hank?

Are you okay, Hank?

- Yeah, yeah.

It's just mighty close.

Hey, there's one
over here by me.

- Can you see it?

- No.

I can't see a thing.

- Chuck, he's still
circling the meadow.

(alarms clicking)

- He...

He's close.

I...

I can hear breathing.

(alarm beeping)

- Heads up, creature's
changed directions.

he's moving in a semicircle

towards the other
end of the meadow.

(alarm beeping)

Techka, there's another
creature on your side.

He's just broken gate eight.

- I can hear him moving,

just inside the line of trees.

I can't see him...

But I can hear him.

The sound is coming
from near gate seven.

(alarms clicking)

(Sasquatch roaring)

(horses neighing)

(leaves rustling)

- They're around us...

- Vernon?

Vernon!

There's one in the camp!

(men yelling)
(objects clattering)

(horses neighing)

Watch it!

(men yelling)
(dogs barking)

Hank, Techka, get in here fast!

(Sasquatch roaring)

(objects clattering)

(men screaming)

(gun firing)

(Sasquatch howling)

(Sasquatch roaring)
(men yelling)

(guns firing)

Oh, look out!

(Sasquatch roaring)

(gun firing)

(gun clicking)

(leaves rustling)

Josh!

Get the light!

(gun clicking)

(frogs croaking)

- I think he's gone.

We can go home.

- [Chuck] And it was over.

The Sasquatch didn't return.

(birds chirping)

Our camp and equipment
was smashed and ruined.

We had several injuries.

Barney had a vicious
cut on his head,

and Markham's knee
was shattered.

And poor Bob Vernon
was in shock.

Could you pick up their trail?

- Yeah.

It wasn't hard.

Techka was right, they done
took on out of this area.

There's a whole lot of tracks
leading off to the west.

I assume they're
movin' real fast.

(sighs)

We'll never catch 'em now.

- It looks...

Like we're finished here.

(bird screeching)

- Chuck, coffee?

- Yeah.

As soon as we get
this mess packed up,

we'll move out.

Barney...

A good cup of coffee.

Our equipment was
completely destroyed.

With the injuries and the fact
that winter was approaching,

it was imperative
that we head back.

As we leave the valleys
of the Sasquatch,

the questions still remain;

Are they a unique type of
being, neither human nor animal?

And how have they managed
to exist until now,

hidden from the view of man,

deep in this wilderness
of North America?

We had found the habitat
of the Sasquatch.

Our efforts will provide
volumes of information

to stimulate preparations for
more extensive expeditions.

And next spring, when
the snows begin to melt

in the high country and
the Sasquatch return,

we might be here too,

in the forbidden
valleys of the Bigfoot,

tracking and studying
mankind's greatest mystery.

♪ High in the mountains

♪ There lives a legend
few people have seen ♪

♪ High in the mountains

♪ Strong as a river

♪ Proud as the eagle
that flies in the sky ♪

♪ High in the mountains

♪ Goes through the valleys

♪ That makes the high
mountain his home ♪

♪ There in God's country, he
just wants to be left alone ♪

♪ Wild as the wind

♪ He travels in places
where men dare not go ♪

♪ High in the mountains