QUESTIONS:

1. ARE YOU STILL OF THE OPINION THE 14.5" TRACK OBSERVED IN ASSOCIATION
WITH THE P-G SUBJECT IS THE SAME AS THE 15" TRACK OBSERVED AND
PHOTOGRAPHED MONTHS EARLIER BY RENE DAHINDEN?

It has often been asked whether the Patteron-Gimlin film subject’s footprints had been
seen on any other occasions. As I have suggested, it seems logical that given the apparent
rarity of these individuals, when footprints are found repetitively in a given locale, they
would frequently be repeat appearances of the few individuals in that region. Hence the
question – Is there any similarity between the 14.5-15-inch footprints from the P-G film
site and footprints of comparable size discovered elsewhere and in that region? Examine
the attached photo as an example of just one case in point and, taking into account such
variables as differences in substrate firmness, depth of impression, and degree of toe
flexion, judge for yourself.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS UPCOMING IDAHO BIGFOOT

CONFERENCE?

Brandon Tennant has organized an informative and entertaining event that I anticipate
will promote an awareness and appreciation of the many and diverse facets of this
phenomenon.

3. IS THE CONFERENCE DESIGNED FOR THE BIGFOOT PUBLIC, THE MEDIA OR

FELLOW SCIENTISTS AND IS THERE A SLANT THERE FOR FAMILIES?

Brandon’s vision of the Rendezvous is to provide a varied experience for all with a
decided Rocky Mountain spin. Bigfoot/Sasquatch is often associated with the Pacific
Northwest and many are unaware of the regional traditions and contemporary accounts
from the Intermountain West. Brandon has lined up speakers for the conference element
that will in part reflect that regionalism. The presentations will focus primarily on the
evidence and implications for the reality of an unrecognized species. Other activities
celebrate the role of sasquatch in folklore and its place in the cultural landscape. Events
are aimed to involve community merchants and performers. There will be a variety of
activities for entire family.

4. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP WITH YOUR UPCOMING BOOK, SASQUATCH: LEGEND MEETS
SCIENCE, AND DO YOU THINK THE WORK WILL HAVE A FAVORABLE IMPACT ON THE
PUBLIC?

Production is squarely on track with a release date set for the end of August 2006. Based
on reactions by prepublication reviewers, I am hopeful that it will cast the question in an
objective, balanced, and informative light, and extend the inroads made by previous
serious authors.

5. YOU HAD A VERY CRITICAL REVIEW OR DR. DAVID DAEGLING'S BIGFOOT BOOK, DO
EXPECT HIM TO RETURN THE FAVOR WITH YOUR BOOK?
I expect my book will have very little impact on the mindset of card-carrying skeptics of
the sort Dr. Daegling appears to number himself among. I expect he will have little
grounds to criticize the representation of data in the book, although I am confident he will
espouse differing interpretations for much of it.

6. IF THERE IS A UNDETECTED SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA, ARE WE PREMATURE,

SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING, TO BE CALLING THEM AN "APE" AS OPPOSED TO
"HUMAN?" WOULD WE BE BETTER OFF WITH THE BROADER CATEGORY OF SIMPLY
PRIMATE?

Certainly it is premature to come to any conclusive position on the matter, which remains
open. But we can certainly evaluate the plausibility of a null hypothesis based on the
indications at hand. There are certain anatomical and behavioral traits that the
anthropological community recognizes as characteristic of modern humans (Homo
sapiens). These seem to be consistently absent from descriptions of sasquatch. On the
other hand, many aspects of observed sasquatch behavior and anatomy are comparable or
analogous to such anatomy and behavior present among the known great apes.

7. DO YOU THINK DR. DAVID DAEGLING'S BIGFOOT EXPOSED BOOK, RELEASED IN 2004
WAS ONE-SIDED AND CARELESSLY RESEARCHED?

Yes, to a large extent.

8. FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, IF THERE IS NO SASQUATCH, WOULD YOU AGREE

THE WILDMAN MOTIF PERPETUATED THROUGH THE AGES IS FAR MORE POWERFUL
THAN ANY OF US IMAGINED?

Even if it were not to exist, the persistence and pervasiveness of the icon is indeed a
fascinating facet of the human experience, whose roots likely extended far back into
prehistory. The bushiness of the hominid family tree has gained considerable recognition
in anthropology of late, and the reality that at any given time there were multiple hominid
species coexisting. The fact that Homo erectus is accepted to have survived until as
recently as 27,000 years ago; neandertals until 23,000 years ago; the Flores hominid until
12,000 years ago, suggests the very reasonable possibility that the present may be no
exception to this prevailing condition – we may continue to share the planet with a
diversity of relict populations of hominids and/or apes.

9. WHAT IS THE NORTH AMERICAN APE PROJECT 2006 AND TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT
FUNDED?

I continue to conduct collaborative field investigations, as well as laboratory-based

research, with an ongoing commitment of funding sufficient to our immediate objectives.

10. DID THE DEATHS OF RENE DAHINDEN, DR. GROVER KRANTZ AND DR. BERNARD
HEUVELMANS HAVE ANY AFFECT ON YOU, IN THAT ALL OF THEM WENT TO THEIR
GRAVES WITHOUT EVER RESOLVING THE MYSTERY OF BIGFOOT?

Indeed, the passing of prominent members of the “first watch” is sobering. It reminds one
of the finite nature of our tenure here and gives pause as one reflects on priorities. I didn’t
come to know each of these men personally, but I suspect they were individuals who lead
full lives, with diverse interests, surrounded by friends and family. Everything needs to be
kept in perspective.

11. YOU MENTIONED TO ME IN CONVERSATION THAT IF THE QUESTION OF

SASQUATCH IS NOT RESOLVED WITHIN YOUR LIFETIME THAN IT HAS BEEN AN
ENJOYABLE RIDE. IF YOU LIVE TO BE 100, DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT HAVE AN
ANSWER TO THE QUESTION?

This continues to be as much a process for me as the anticipation of a destination. I have

learned a great deal through wrestling with questions of casts and habitat – efforts that
have provided insights into other aspects of my research programs. I have experienced
the thrill and adventure of approaching an unknown, just short of reaching out and
touching it. I have spent time in some of the most spectacular wilderness the West has to
offer. I have made life-long friends and acquaintances.

If this is to be resolved in the next 50+ years it will be either a stroke of luck, or the result
of concerted incremental effort, or both. I have witnessed modest progress through
incremental effort.

12. FORGET ABOUT FOSSILS, DON'T YOU THINK BONES OR SOME PHYSICAL REMAINS
OF THE SASQUATCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY NOW?

Certainly this remains a vexing situation, but when considered from an informed position
of the nature of remains and the natural mechanisms for their dispersal and disposal, of
the chemistry of soils in various habitats, and of the inferred natural history of the
sasquatch, it is in no way a damning state of affairs. The lack of bones should not in itself
be taken as compelling negative evidence.

13. THE LATE PAUL FREEMAN COLLECTED A LOT OF "EVIDENCE" FOR BIGFOOT. DO
YOU THINK IT WAS ALL LEGITIMATE OR MIGHT HE HAVE FABRICATED SOME OF IT?

There are some items of his that are questionable, which I have little confidence in. In
some cases it is unclear where responsibility for these items ultimately lies. There were
some handprints that apparently went through successive iterations of embellishment, but
these were it seems derived from an original that appears quite credible. I have as much
confidence as is reasonably possible in the footprints Paul took me to in 1996. I have
already discussed these extensively elsewhere.

14. DO YOU STILL HOLD A FAVORABLE OPINION OF THE REDWOODS BIGFOOT

VIDEOTAPE SHOT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ON AUGUST 28, 1995?

I do. In fact, I just recently had the opportunity to speak again with one of the principals
involved in the incident, Dean Hamilton. That conversation simply reaffirmed my
opinion of the veracity of these witnesses. However, since the quality of the film renders
it largely unpersuasive, the issue remains largely moot.

15. THE MIDTARSAL BREAK OBSERVED IN BOTH PLASTER CASTINGS AND FOOT
IMPRESSIONS IN THE GROUND. WOULD I BE CORRECT TO SAY WE HAVE A FOOT THAT
LOOKS SUPERFICIALLY LIKE MAN'S BUT OPERATES LIKE THE GREAT APES?

The foot exhibits several trends evident in both great ape and hominid evolution: a
reduction in the length of the toes, alignment of the great toe (hallux) with the remaining
digits; and a lengthening and broadening of the calcaneus. The retention of flexibility in
the mditarsal joint and the lack of a fixed arch or well-differentiated ball of the foot are
similar to the condition of the early hominid foot. I argue that the condition of the
sasquatch foot is analogous to that seen in hominids from the advent of bipedalism to the
emergence of Homo sapiens, who ambulated bipedally for several million years on flat
flexible feet.

16. THE SKOOKUM BIGFOOT BODY CASTING, 2000, IS STILL A RATHER

CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC. DON'T YOU THINK THE IMPRESSION LENDS ITSELF TO
MULTIPLE INTERPRETATIONS?

Certainly multiple interpretations have been offered by various individuals, some without
the benefit of ever having examined the cast. The only alternate interpretation, excluding
hoaxing, initially worthy of serious consideration was that the imprint was made by an
elk. However, this hypothesis was readily falsified by comparing the impression to those
left by elk, to their anatomy, hair patterns, and behavior. At this point, no reasonable
argument can be made for elk as the responsible candidate. I found it curious how readily
many individuals adopted an opinion that the reconstructed posture was quite
unreasonable for a large primate. Rick Noll recently filmed a gorilla at the Seattle Zoo
feeding in precisely this posture, right down to the heel plants. It ate selectively and
sloppily as was also indicated at the site.

17. AGAIN, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, IF THE P-G FILM WAS FAKED, HOW DO YOU
THINK THEY DID IT, IN LIGHT OF THE BOLD FACT THAT UPON CLOSE-UP ANALYSIS
MUSCLE MASSES CAN BE SEEN TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT?

I don’t see how it could have been accomplished. The materials that would be used to do
it today were not readily available, if to be had at all, in 1967. Knee-jerk responses about
it obviously portraying a man in a fur suit pale when the film is examined with today’s
technologies. Every revelation substantiates rather than undermines its authenticity. From
my perspective, the evident anatomy and kinematics of the foot alone, and the correlated
aspects of the documented footprints, speak volumes to its authenticity.

18. DO YOU THINK YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE WORLD OF ANTHROPOLOGY/

ANATOMY REFER TO YOU AS "THAT BIGFOOT GUY," AND HAVE MADE DEROGATORY
REMARKS ABOUT YOUR WORK ON THIS TOPIC?

Certainly some have behaved that way, but I would like to think these are the vocal
minority. On the other hand, I have received solid expressions of support, encouragement,
and interest from numerous colleagues. The positive endorsements for my book,
Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science have come from highly esteemed colleagues and are
representative of these expressions.
19. IF YOU WERE TO DO IT OVER AGAIN WOULD YOU WADE INTO THE WATERS OF
BIGFOOTING?

There have been moments – rare and brief – when I have wondered that. But of course I
would have for all the reasons cited previously.

20. THE BOSSBURG TRACKS, 1969, DO YOU THINK THE LATE IVAN MARX OR ANYONE
ELSE WOULD HAVE THE SOPHISTICATION TO FABRICATE SOMETHING OF THAT
NATURE?

When you consider the quality of his efforts at costume fakery, I suspect not. From an
anatomical perspective, the Bossburg footpints remain one of the most impressive sets of
data at hand. Through the courtesy of Chris Murphy and the Dahindens, I have had the
opportunity to examine the original casts quite closely and remain very impressed by
them, as are numerous other professionals.

END.