The day started off normally enough. Well, now that I think about it, it really didn't. Since I was late for the last event, I left super early. I stopped in at the KSF gift shop for some insect spray and a cold soda, and made my way to where I THOUGHT the shelter was. The signage for shelters in KSF is...lacking...so I started driving around, frantically, trying to find someone I recognized. Finally, I went back to the place I started and realized that I HAD been in the right place, but that the shelter was actually hidden down a path to the side, so that's why I didn't see it. I wasn't the only one who had trouble finding it, so I was still there in plenty of time. In fact, Joe (one of the main guys in charge!) had mysteriously disappeared and not yet returned. But, one of the park rangers was there to let us know that there was no power currently at our section.
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| Joe Perdue |
Eventually, everyone found there way to the right place, and thanks to a small, portable generator, we were able to successfully get through a small video presentation of some awesome evidence that the Wild and Weird High Strangeness Collective had collected over the years. Joe and Ron both spoke on a variety of topics related to the Bigfoot field, teaching about proper evidence collection, best equipment to use and how to use it, and even delving into the stranger aspects of Bigfoot data. A special treat was Glenn Adkins from the Ohio Squatch Project giving a short presentation, sharing his expertise, and bringing plenty of his world-famous Squatch Sticks to sell!
A thunderstorm popped up, which caused a few presentations to have to stay under the shelter, including making our own plaster casts, but in the long run, it may have actually been a good thing. After a good rain, it cleared up and the group went out on a short hike to just learn some things to look for. My back was hurting super bad, but I was determined to make it out there. I made it about halfway before I started having a panic attack, afraid I'd get out there, but not make it back. So, I turned around and walked back to the shelter that was closer to the trail. I sat awhile to wait for the group to come back. I hadn't been sitting there too long, when I looked up and Joe was booking it towards the shelter at a full run. I thought for sure someone was injured, but he just yelled, "found tracks," and kept going, headed to our shelter for the casting supplies.
I decided I didn't come this far NOT to see actual Bigfoot prints in KSF, so I forced myself to make it down the path to where everyone was. Sure enough, they had found several prints in the creek area. Since there really wasn't much I could do, except stand, I went BACK to the other shelter to sit for awhile. At one point, I heard what I swear were footprints right beside me, and thought the group was coming back. I started to turn my head, and thought I saw something white run across the path. But, no person was there and it was quite awhile until the rest of the team came out in two groups.
(Oddly, it was right about the time heard and saw something, that my grandma passed away in hospice. I didn't find out until I left the park and returned to a location where I could get cell service and noticed I had a ton of missed texts telling me.)
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| Ron Lanham |
After the second group had settled back in at the base shelter, we realized that they had quite a unique experience. While coming back down the trail, a large rock had been 'thrown' at them. By that time, it was getting on in the day, and time to start getting ready for dinner, which consisted of hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, Joe's famous slaw and chili and a special treat of Dutch babies for dessert. But, while waiting for dinner to cook, we all had a good scare---a large tree nearby bit the dust. As it fell, it sounded exactly like gunshots going off---gunshots too close to have been coming from the firing range. That was pretty unnerving, but kind of exciting at the same time. Was it just simply a tree, damaged by the earlier storm, falling down, or was it just part of the larger, weirder picture?
Unfortunately, I realized that I had JR's wallet, and he'd need dinner soon, so I didn't stay for the night hike (I probably couldn't physically handle it anyway, lol). I headed back to the apartment and didn't hear much about how the rest of the evening went until that Thursday, when the Wild and Weird WV Radio live stream was devoted to the subject. That's when we all found out that even more strangeness was going on that night.
During the night hike, one of the participants who stayed by herself at the shelter heard what sounded like a larger animal prowling around, so she went and sat in her vehicle. There were some strange anomalies caught, some strange sounds heard, and as we found out, a number of people (including myself) had technical difficulties with their phones/cameras saying that their storage was full. And as a final goodbye to the park that night, one member noticed a strange, albino deer by the side of the road.
So yeah. It was a weird one, and what I've discussed is just brushing the surface. You're definitely gonna want to watch the Wild and Weird live-stream, as well as the Wild and Weird video, What Was in the Woods During the Bigfoot Workshop for a better understanding of what all went on that day.
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| Glenn Adkins |
Overall, it was a hell of an experience! Even without all the crazy stuff we experienced, it was a great event. Participants were given flashlights, notebooks, pens, and an awesome art print by the late, great Wayne Barnes. We were treated to top-notch information from some of the best researchers/investigators in the field and given the opportunity for hands-on learning. We had a delicious dinner. And, best of all, we got to all hang out and talk about our experiences. It's always a really special time when you get to meet and learn from people with similar interests. Everyone was so kind and so accepting of the different theories and the different stories people had to share. It felt more like a family reunion than a workshop of strangers, and that's one of the things I love about the Wild and Weird events. I laughed a lot and I learned a lot, and am now eagerly awaiting the next one!
If you'd like to get in on the strangeness, please follow Wild and Weird WV!
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