Oregonbigfoot.com Photo Research Journal
June 1, 2002
Linn County, OR
Snow Peak follow-up investigation

Bob surveys the valley SE of Snow Peak. Green Peter Reservoir visible in the background

We received two independent reports of sightings in the Snow Peak area during March. The first report, (received March 13, 2002) described a March 3rd encounter off the Snow Peak Mainline:

Snow Peak Main Line

Logging road 500, Take left on to 520 about 2 miles up the road I got stuck in the now in my 4x4. I had a winchester 1200 defender with 4 1oz slugs and 4 bird shot. Also a 9mm. Not planning on shooting anything, just cant be too safe. I Hiked about 1 mile up the road loking for animal tracks in the snow. I came to a road clear of snow in thick old growth woods. About 20 yards on that road, (No Wind) a few birds crossed in directly in my path> Not meaning to shoot, Just getting reaction time. As I looked down the sights about 30 yards down the path (about 15 yards wide I see this Big!!! Black with slight grey long hair. It Did not see Me. I was in all black and brown boots, and dead quiet. When i had seen it I took a deep breath and it turned and looked directly at me. I did not see it's face clearly. It was about 7 foot tall. It took a few steps and stood behind two big trees. I yelled out in case it was a human. Told them they had better answer because I did not want to blow thenm in half. Their was know place for it to go becacuse their was short shubs on bolth sides. I shot two round in to the stump with my 9mm to see if it was a bear or elk (trying to get it to move) Nothing!!! It just stood their behind those trees. So I was going to walk up the trail to get a look, When to my left about 20 yards something just as big started to run down the side of the mountain only breaking two branches and running dam fast!! I don't know if it was trying to get me to draw my atention and lead me away from the other. But it worked, Two to one in there back yard. No thanks! I backed out slow and watching. The place I went is newly open. Not logged (yet) I plan to go back with a vidio and 8 slugs, I do not want to shoot one. But better safe then sory.

The second report (received May 22) described a March 15th sighting in a clear cut below Billy Lake, also just off the Snow Peak mainline:

Date: 03/15/02
Time: 4:00 p.m.
County: Linn

Clearcut near Billy Lake, Snow Peak

I was walking along a clear cut above this ridge when I saw, I suppose the legend has it BigFoot. It was a creature or whatever you like to call it standing at about 8-9 feet tall with long dark brown hair covering it's body from head to toe. It was very thin and had one of the most horrific odors that I can't even begin to explain. It was perched standing beside a fallen tree eating some type of foilage around the base of the tree. Shocked and amazed by what I was seeing, I tried to get a little closer as, and as I approached it within about 120 yards it noticed me and scampered down into the tall timber, with a stride about 3-times mine and I'm 6 foot 3 inches. It was slightly overcast but was fairly dry where I was at so know footprints where found after I returned the next day. I was to much in fear and in awe of what I had seen to look that day. I have only told this sight and another of my story and a few of my family members. I don't mind if my story is shared but my confidentiality is very important to me so I will not include my phone#. But I will give you any other further information threw email if you need it. Thankyou for your time and I hope my story will help reveal Bigfoots far to long hidden secret so I to may share with others my story.

Due to family health circumstances, we were unable to investigate the first sighting report promptly. However, when the second report came in, we discovered that each report corroborated the other and we took a day trip.

Access to the Snow Peak area is extremely limited. The entire mountain is apparently owned by Williamette Industries; as such, most of the seconary roads are gated off and the main road is subject to closure as well. In addition, signs clearly state that there is no camping or fires permitted, which makes it impossible to maintain a steady presence in the area for reearch purposes.

Attempts to contact the first witness failed. However, the second witness replied with directions to the sighting location.

We drove up the Snow Peak mainline to Billy Lake. A hike around the lake afforded us some exercise and a good look at a bunch of elk prints in a mud puddle. We followed the road around the lake as instructed, and climbing into the hills. The directions got a little sketchy here, simply saying, "eventually you'll come to a clearcut". However, long before we reached any clearcut, we came to a stretch of road so overgrown with vine maple that it was nearly impassable. Bob looked at me and mentioned that he thought we might have to back out. It was here that we found the broken trees.

There were dozens of them. Fir trees, 5-6" in diameter, snapped like toothpicks. There were vine maples broken as well. I know that snow encrusted on the tops of fir trees can cause the tops to lean over and break, but this was different. It looked as if something had come through this valley and gone BERSERK. There were no other trees breaks anywhere else on the road. I know this because we drove the road three times and I made it a point to watch for other broken trees. They were all concentrated in a half-mile strip of road in this deep canyon.

Shortly after the tree breaks, the road opened back up, and we found the one and only "clearcut" visible from the road. Assuming that this was the spot, Bob parked the van and I got out to hike the road.

Then I saw the cave.

Hindsight leads me to believe that this was NOT the location the witness was referring to, simply because I cannot believe he would have failed to mention the cave. It was right beside the road; very large and very obvious. I believe that the witness would have mentioned the it, had this been the spot.

The area appears to have many such exposed rocky areas, and our binoculars confirmed that it is riddled with caves and overhangs, both on this and the backside of the mountain. Although we did not manage to find much conclusive evidence in the area, the tree breaks were interesting and there does seen to be ample food and shelter for a Bigfoot population.

A swamp on the Snow Peak Mainline

More tree breaks

Possible sighting location

Text and photos by Autumn Williams

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