Messing with Sasquatch

One night, dad and I were on our way back from putting boats in at Dagger Falls. Our route took us past Stanley into some of the most beautiful country in Central Idaho. Dagger falls is a cascading waterfall over giant boulders. It is located near the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The most magnificent feature of the falls is when you hit it right, you get to see Salmon jumping. Anyone who has witnessed that will stipulate that the overall experience is mesmerizing.

Every time I went with dad to put boats in the river, whether it was on the Main Salmon or Middle Fork, I felt sad I couldn't go on the trip. Inflating the boats, loading up the food and supply boxes, and all the other details of preparation were all part of the great adventure into the unknown that each trip presented. Everyone looked like they were having fun–because they were!

After helping the boatmen, dad and I loaded up the truck with odds and ends and headed out. Our experience in the truck was also a great adventure into the unknown. Every trip on the road offered something exciting or intriguing or both. Riding along mountain highways and lonely dirt roads was exciting just by itself. The truck used in those days was a flat-nosed Ryder box truck. It was not huge, but to a young boy, it was plenty big. I enjoyed riding along and being up high where I could tower over everyone else on the road. Dad also bought treats for the road that made the trips fun.

In retrospect, I chuckle about those treats that dad bought. At home, dad was continually on a strict diet of salad and other “healthy” food that mom seemed determined to make him eat. On the road, health food seemed not to be allowed. He bought licorice, old-fashioned stick candy, potato chips, and pop. Dad’s favorite pop was Pepsi. He said that it calmed his upset stomach. It seemed his stomach was always upset! My favorite was Mello-Yellow. Drinking that caffeinated beverage made me feel like I was living on the edge.

On our way back, it became late and there was no moon. The night was pitch-black–so black you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Riding in the truck was cool because I could follow the contour of the road quite a distance because of the headlights beaming out, especially when they were on high beam. Seeing the dark shapes of the trees and terrain in the periphery of the headlights was haunting. I imagined what could possibly be out there in the forest, lurking in the shadows. I shivered at the thought. No doubt, bears and mountain lions were out there just waiting for a chance to chew my leg off!

Just as we passed Clayton, a small bump-in-the-road town along the upper Salmon River, we rounded a bend in the road just as a creature stood up from a crouching position on the right side of the road. The river was on our left. When we first spotted the creature, it was at the furthest reaches of the headlights out in front of us, but dad hit the brakes and slowed down quickly.

Damn! What is that?! dad yelled. I was speechless.

The creature looked our direction and then walked across the highway. His face was level with mine. The creature’s body was dark and appeared to be covered in long hair. He had long arms and as he strode across the road, his arms swung at his side in long, methodical movements. The creature seemed to be bored with our presence even though he looked at us for a moment and then looked in front of him and seemed intent on getting across the road.

At the other side of the highway, the creature disappeared into the trees. Dad was silent for a moment and then he said, “Jeff, did you see that thing we just passed?” “He strode across this two-lane highway in only about six steps!”

All I could muster were a few words and grunts of affirmation. Not only did I have shivers going up my spine, the hair was standing straight up on the back of my neck. “That had to be Bigfoot,” I said.

“No doubt about it,” dad said in a stern voice. I could tell he was nervous and a bit mystified. “We just saw Bigfoot!”