North American Bigfoot – Cliff Barackman’s Site
Cliff Barackman’s website is fairly new, but packed with fascinating information. For example, he’s installed a unique index of Bigfoot footprint casts giving the specs on each including the place it was found, the size, the date, and the name of the person who discovered it. There’s so much to see on this site I wasn’t able to read it all in one day… but I’ll be back. There’s an ongoing Bigfoot research blog associated with this site that I’ve only read a few entries of. I may feature that separately in the future, because I really want to read it all.
Cliff Barackman has been involved with Bigfoot research for at least fifteen years and currently has three ongoing Bigfoot study areas in Oregon. His comments about the kinds of things that go on there are fascinating. He’s also got articles on the site — I couldn’t read them all today but went down the list until I saw A Place for Amateurs and figured that was the article for me. It was very encouraging, giving practical suggestions for a scientific approach to Bigfoot research.
Speaking of encouragement, I met Cliff during the summer of 2008 when he came through Happy Camp (you can see the photograph on my blog post about Tom Yamarone) and he said something that was very encouraging to me. I was wondering how I should develop my approach to Bigfoot research and he said something to the effect that my blog was fine as it was – as being someone in the Klamath River area commenting on local sightings. A little bit of encouragement is very helpful, and Cliff, if you ever read this, I want to thank you for that!
Other articles on this site will appeal to more experienced Bigfoot researchers: Thermal Imagers in Bigfoot Research and A Case for Infrasound are a little too high-tech for me but may be exactly what you need to read about. More my speed, The Ten Essentials of Bigfoot Data Gathering lists practical items like a tape measure and latex gloves — things I can afford and know how to use.
Cliff included a section on the cultural impact of Bigfoot, recommending books, movies, artists, and musicians. Take a walk on the wild side… and if you have questions look at the Bigfoot FAQ. There are some Bigfoot videos on the site you may not have seen before. There are also Bigfoot sound recordings he’s collected during his Bigfoot research activities. For a new site, this is very comprehensive, but that is a reflection of his years of experience. If you want to be involved in Bigfoot research, this is definitely a site worth taking the time to read.
August 23, 2009
Bigfoot Songs – Tom Yamarone
Tom Yamarone’s blog, Bigfoot Songs, chronicles his many squatching expeditions, participation in conventions, fortuitous meetings with Bigfooting friends, . . . and music. Tom is Bigfoot’s bard so there’s music throughout this blog. We’re talking lyrics, photographs of his performances, music videos, and sound files. He even plugs other Sasquatch singers and songwriters.
After reading the entire blog this afternoon I’m left with the impression of a busy family man who likes to get away on back-country adventures with his Bigfooting buddies, and who stays busy in the Bigfoot community by helping to organize conferences, large and small.
Some of my favorite articles in his blog:
A Visit With John Green in 2005 – and a photo of a reverse copy of the Skookum cast.
A Virtual Tour of the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton, CA – Tom has done a lot to promote this museum!
Operation Odyssey II July 20-22, 2007 – a weekend of practicing field techniques.
Jerry Crew Knew What To Do – in which Tom tells us how he got to talk to Jerry Crew’s son, and what he said.
One more cool link – Tom’s YouTube archive: Bigfoot Songs
Months ago I visited Bigfoot Songs, then saved my pennies and bought Tom’s CD, which is a trip into Bigfooting history. You can listen to a few clips at his site: Songs For A Bigfoot World – CD. Through the songs you’ll learn about Albert O., the Skookum Cast, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, and Bigfoot himself!
In mid-June 2008 I got off work and went to Parry’s Market here in Happy Camp for something cool to snack on (Sweet Nothings – they’re organic and I’m addicted to them during the summers.) When I got to the checkout counter there was a young man in front of me – someone I didn’t know. Roberta, the cashier, said, “Linda, someone was just asking about you!” She started calling for this unknown person and he emerged from the produce aisle. It turned out to be Tom Yamarone, who I’d never met until that day. The man in front of me at the checkout counter was Bart Cutino.
Tom knew of me from this blog, and I am so happy that he thought to ask Roberta about me. Obviously there was some synchronicity going on or I wouldn’t have crossed paths with Tom and his friends, but fate directed me to go to the store at just the right time for this happy event to take place. The others who were in the store with Tom and Bart were Wally Hersom and Cliff Barackman. What a wonderful thing for me, to get to meet all these outstanding Bigfoot researchers all at one time. And it was totally unexpected!
We walked out in front of the store and asked Virginia, another of the Parry’s Market cashiers, to take the photograph (below) of the five of us using Tom’s camera. At the time I asked his permission to use it on my blog, and he assented, then sent me a copy in email. Then my computer crashed. I was thrilled to find it again in a slide show on his blog’s June 2008 page.
From left to right: Cliff Barackman, Bart Cutino, Linda Martin, Wally Hersom, and Tom Yamarone. They were on their way home from a BFRO expedition in Oregon. I should call this photo “My Lucky Day.” I hope I’ll get a chance to see them again soon. In the meantime, a visit from Bigfoot would be welcome…October 29, 2008
Dazed Bigfoot Crossed California Highway 101 During Fires
Today The Willets News reported there was a Bigfoot sighting on Highway 101 north of Willets near Shimmins Ridge Road during the Mendocino Lightning Complex fires last summer. Willets is a small town in Northern California between the San Francisco Bay Area and Eureka.
According to reporter Linda Williams, Chris LoPinto of Laytonville and at least one other driver saw the creature step into the southbound lane near a guardrail. It ran into the path of a small truck and caused LoPinto to brake hard. The truck, which was trying to pass LoPinto’s car, managed to avoid hitting the Bigfoot and continued on without stopping.
LoPinto said the Bigfoot ran upright on its legs until it got to the middle of the highway which was four lanes at that point. Then it leaned over and ran with its arms down the rest of the way, to safety. Bigfoot investigator Tom Yamarone told the reporter that the fact the Bigfoot used its arms to cross the second half of the freeway was highly unusual.
At that point some might think the creature was a bear, but LoPinto got a good look at the face – the Bigfoot was only 25 feet away.
The description:
Estimated at seven feet tall.
It was covered with hair.
The face was completely flat, without a protruding nose.
When it turned to look at LoPinto its neck was stiff so it turned its entire body.
Its face was yellow or gold like a ripe banana.
It had a smooth, shiny forehead with ridges and no eyebrows.
The eyes glowed red, possibly as a reflection from the car’s headlights.
It had thin lips.
It had a simian face.
It appeared to be suffering from heat and heavy smoke from the fire.
LoPinto filed reports with the Department of Fish and Game and with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department. At first he didn’t realize it was a Bigfoot. Eventually he got hold of Tom Yamarone to investigate.
Tom Yamarone’s website: Bigfoot Songs.
Source: Bigfoot Sighting on Highway 101 by Linda Williams, published on October 29, 2008 in The Willets News.
