I just returned from the Vancouver Expedition with no real earth shattering encounters. The wood knocks, vocalization, whistles and call blasts we conducted did produce some response, but nothing that would indicate any sizable group activity. Being that this was my first BFRO hosted expedition, I was able to come away with a greater understanding of sustainable habitat and habits of BF. I also realized what my personal weaknesses are as far as being prepared and ready, no matter what my situation is.
Each of the three nights in which I had participated had been preceded by a fair amount of examination into the factors supporting any BF activity. We were free to team up with who ever we choose, and I choose Rob Kennedy. Rob made it easy for group members to voice an opinion or share knowledge of what could be useful in increasing the odds of an encounter. We evaluated the data and a collective decision was reached on where to focus our efforts. After a substantial effort to reach our primary target failed, our second choice was in an old growth forest 150 yards from a river. We were later met by three other BFRO groups and quickly developed a network of satellite camps covering about one square mile and multiple elevations. This enabled the whole group to share information in any BF response that would otherwise go undetected. It worked! Our group heard a response that was too faint for the other groups to hear.
After a few hours of sleep I was partially awake at about 3:30. During this time I heard something approaching the camp site through the undergrowth. Struggling to become more alert, I found myself unable to move or do anything. I attribute this to being very exhausted. All I could do is listen, and I could do that. Our camp site was very quiet and the fire was completely out! Being separate from the rest of my group by about 25 feet, I felt a bit vulnerable and began dealing with fear as the sound kept getting closer. I didn稚 want to radio Rob since all groups were monitoring the same channel, and I didn稚 want to bother anyone who could be sleeping, so I tried to just get his attention by calling his name. I couldn稚 even do that! Since I was in a one man tent without windows, I couldn稚 see him to determine if he was recording whatever was approaching our camp. Now I was worried that by getting up and out of my tent, I would scare it (whatever it was) off and I could ruin a 適odak moment・that might be in progress. Therefore, I didn稚 continue to try to wake up. I figured it was probably a deer or something. I then began to fall back asleep, but not before, I felt something pressing softly on my right side. I was sleeping on my left side facing the others camped around the fire ring. This really elevated my fear level and I was able to work up enough strength to jerk my body away as if to say, 敵et off me!・I guess I was too tiered to do anything because I then just laid there listening to it (whatever it was) move away the same way it approached.
Later when everyone started getting up, I went to Rob and asked if he herd anything last night, and he said frankly, 土es I did・ 的 heard something walking all around our site・ He described the exact same sounds that I heard. So that痴 when I told him what I experienced, saying I must have been exhausted and only imagined what took place. He replied, 典hat痴 exactly what so many people have reported, while out camping・ Apparently, this is one of the things Saquatch will do in an inquisitive sort of way, just gently touch people while they池e sleeping・
If that is what happened, it freaked me out! However, I can稚 say for sure because I was apparently too tired, which is strange since I normally wake up between 2:30 and 3:30 am every day.
There you have it・
