iNTO THE FRAY RADIO - Encounters with the Paranormal

iNTO THE FRAY 553 | Bigfoot of Stanislaus

·1 hr 21 min·5 clips

A grizzly bear hunter's eyes widen in terror as a deep, 15-second scream echoes from the mountains during a Bigfoot expedition.

In this episode of iNTO THE FRAY, host Shannon LeGro speaks with author Chris Riley, who shares his firsthand account of a 2013 Bigfoot expedition in Stanislaus National Forest, northwest of Yosemite. Riley explains he joined the expedition through a connection with Bobo, a Bigfoot researcher. The base camp was at 6,500 feet elevation with about 20-30 participants initially. On the first night, expedition leader Bill Brewer made a Bigfoot call, which was followed by a pack of coyotes barking and then a massive, 15-second scream from the mountains behind them, heard over a mile away at base camp. A grizzly bear hunter next to Riley was visibly terrified. The second night, the same scream occurred, but this time it originated from right beside the base camp, causing some campers to leave immediately. Riley describes the forest going silent after each scream. He also details the discovery of a 15.5-inch long, 5.5-inch wide human-like footprint on a remote grassy flat on a granite hill, found by an experienced researcher who cast it. The print had fresh grass growing in it, indicating it was old. Riley shares ancillary stories from three hunters who camped separately, who reported a feeling of dread and found a package of sausages in their ice chest ripped open with one sausage missing. The conversation covers Riley's background as a fiction author who writes thrillers incorporating real research, including his novel 'Went Missing' which features Bigfoot lore inspired by his expedition and missing persons cases like that of Bart Schleyer. He discusses interviewing experts like Derek Randles for tracking details and Jeff Meldrum for scientific accuracy. Riley reflects on the believability of Bigfoot, citing numerous eyewitness accounts and Native American legends, and states the Patterson-Gimlin film initially sparked his interest. He admits to having an overactive imagination about wilderness dangers but notes researchers like Randles frequently go out solo. The episode concludes with Riley sharing his website and book details.

As heard by us

A long mountainside scream and a carefully described footprint give this Bigfoot account its uneasy pull.

This Bigfoot account rests on two plain but durable details: a scream that carries across the area, and a footprint treated with care after the fact.

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Why you'd press play

For a 15-second mountain scream and a 15-and-a-half-inch footprint, you know where to press play.

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