>> male narrator: THERE'S A FRIGHTENING SNOW BEAST THAT'S
BEEN STALKING THE COLORADO ROCKIES.
>> I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE I SAW THAT DAY.
>> narrator: EYEWITNESSES CLAIM THAT THE MASSIVE CREATURE
HAS A BELLOWING SCREAM AND NO FEAR OF HUMANS.
>> THIS THING COMES AT YOU, YOU MAY ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT.
>> narrator: THE MONSTER IS SAID TO BE HUNTING ELK
AND OTHER ANIMALS IN THE AREA. >> ONE CLAW MARK ON ONE OF OURS
HAD DREW BLOOD. >> narrator: NOW<i> MONSTERQUEST</i>
LAUNCHES AN EXPEDITION USING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO
DETERMINE THE CREATURE'S IDENTITY.
>> IT'S UNKNOWN TO ME OF ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL THAT LIVES
IN THIS REGION THAT WOULD MAKE THOSE TYPES OF TRACKS.
>> THERE'S NO BEARS IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD GO 800 TO 1,000
POUNDS. >> narrator: ALL IN AN EFFORT
TO REVEAL THE PREDATOR WHO SEEMS TO BE STALKING
THESE MOUNTAINS. >> LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING'S BEEN
IN HERE IN THE RECENT PAST. >> OUT LEFT SIDE.
I THINK I SEE SOMETHING. ALL RIGHT, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO.
>> narrator: WITNESSES AROUND THE WORLD REPORT SEEING
MONSTERS. ARE THEY REAL OR IMAGINARY?
SCIENCE SEARCHES FOR ANSWERS ON<i> MONSTER QUEST.</i>
COLORADO. THIS WILDERNESS PARADISE
IS DOMINATED BY THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, THE WORLD'S LARGEST
ELK POPULATION, AND SOMETHING ELSE,
A LARGE, TERRIFYING, HAIRY CREATURE SAID TO PROWL THESE
MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS LOOKING FOR PREY.
>> I KNOW WHAT THE ANIMALS SOUND LIKE HERE,
AND THIS IS NOTHING LIKE I'VE EVER HEARD.
>> ONCE I SAW THE TRACKS, I STARTED TO GET THAT FEELING
LIKE SOMETHING MIGHT BE WATCHING ME.
>> I MEAN, THIS THING RAISED UP OUT OF THE BEAVER POND,
IT STOOD ON TWO LEGS, AND LOOKED RIGHT AT ME.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS WORLD YOU CAN'T HAVE--
PUT A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION TO. AND THIS ONE OF THEM.rator: EYEWITNESSES REPORT
SEEING A 7- TO 10-FOOT-TALL CREATURE THAT WALKS UPRIGHT
WITH LONG, MASSIVE ARMS AND HANDS.
THE ANIMAL IS THOUGHT TO WEIGH BETWEEN 600 AND 800 POUNDS,
LEAVES MASSIVE TRACKS, AND, MOST SHOCKING, IS SIMILAR
TO A HISTORICAL BEAST THAT WAS THOUGHT TO HUNT AT SIMILAR
ELEVATIONS. >> THERE ARE PERSISTENT STORIES
ABOUT MANLIKE, GORILLA-LIKE CREATURES IN THE WOODS.
>> narrator: KATHY LELL HAS BEEN A NEWSPAPER REPORTER AND
HISTORIAN IN COLORADO FOR OVER 36 YEARS.
SHE HAS RESEARCHED STORIES OF THE CREATURE THROUGHOUT
ITS HISTORY. >> THE EARLIEST DATE BACK TO
THE 1880s, REPORTED IN MINING CAMP NEWSPAPERS OUT OF
LEADVILLE. COUPLE OF MINERS OUT WORKING
IN THE MOUNTAINS. [distant roar]
THEY HEARD A STRANGE MOANING NOISE.
THEY WENT TO INVESTIGATE, CLIMBED A PILE OF ROCKS
TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. >> narrator: WHEN ONE OF THE MEN
CROSSED TO THE TOP OF THE PILE OF ROCKS, HE HAD A FRIGHTENING
ENCOUNTER. [beast roaring]
WHAT HE REPORTED WAS AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF COMING
FACE-TO-FACE WITH A LARGE, FURRY CREATURE, A HALF-MAN, HALF-BEAST
UNLIKE ANYTHING HE'D SEEN BEFORE.
>> THE NEWSPAPER DESCRIBED THE FRIGHTENED MINER AS PALE AS
DEATH AND FRIGHTENING SO BADLY, HE COULD BARELY SPEAK TO EXPLAIN
THE STORY OF WHAT HE HAD SEEN. EACH STORY DESCRIBES HIM
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY. IT'S ALWAYS A CROSS BETWEEN
A MAN AND A GORILLA-LIKE CREATURE, TALLER THAN A MAN,
MUCH LARGER, LIKE, IN THE 400- TO 800-POUND RANGE,
HAIRY, VERY LONG ARMS, VERY LONG LEGS.
>> narrator: THE HISTORY OF SIGHTINGS HASN'T STOPPED OTHERS
FROM BEING SKEPTICAL OF THE CREATURE'S EXISTENCE.
BILL HEICHER, A BIOLOGIST WITH THE COLORADO DIVISION OF
WILDLIFE, POINTS TO THE LACK OF SOLID PROOF.
>> IF THERE WAS SUCH A CREATURE AS PEOPLE--A BIGFOOT, SASQUATCH,
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT-- THERE'D BE SOME PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE. THERE WOULD BE--YOU KNOW, WHAT
DO THEY FEED ON? WE WOULD FIND KILLS.
WE WOULD FIND BONES. WE WOULD FIND--EVEN IF THEY'RE
VEGETARIANS, AS SOME PEOPLE CLAIM, YOU WOULD FIND
WHERE THEY'RE FEEDING. >> narrator: FOR HEICHER,
THE INFREQUENCY OF SIGHTINGS ONLY ADDS TO HIS DOUBT.
>> YOU WOULD RUN ACROSS THESE CREATURES ALL THE TIME,
OR SIGNS OF WHERE THEY HAD BEEN. >> narrator: BUT IT IS THE
ENCOUNTERS THEMSELVES THAT HAVE LED TO MANY BEING CONVINCED
THAT THE CREATURE EXISTS. RESEARCHER KEITH FOSTER HAS
FOLLOWED SIGHTINGS IN THE AREA FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
>> SURPRISINGLY, IN COLORADO, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SIGHTINGS
FROM THE INEXPERIENCED CAMPER. THE SIGHTINGS SEEM TO BE BY
PEOPLE THAT ARE SPENDING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME
IN WILDERNESS AREAS. AND SO THAT LENDS SOME
CREDIBILITY TO THE SIGHTINGS THEMSELVES.
>> narrator: FOSTER HAS CATALOGUED OVER 100 REPORTS
OF THE CREATURE, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF WHICH ARE
CENTERED NEAR PIKES PEAK, A PART OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
RANGE 50 MILES FROM THE POPULATION CENTER OF COLORADO
SPRINGS. THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN ON THE
MOUNTAIN AT ABOUT 10,400 AND 11,000 FEET.
THEY'RE PART OF A RASH OF RECENT SIGHTINGS IN THE AREA.
>> THE TRACKS THEMSELVES ARE VERY LARGE,
AND THE STEP LENGTHS ARE BETWEEN 4 AND 7 FEET LONG,
AND SO THEY'RE EASY TO IDENTIFY, BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE LEAVES
TRACKS LIKE THESE IN NATURE. >> narrator: FOSTER BELIEVES
THAT THESE COULD BE THE TRACKS OF THE ELUSIVE BEAST.
IT IS HERE THAT<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> WILL LAUNCH AN EXPEDITION
TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY OF THE PREDATOR.
THE TEAM WILL HEAD TO 11,000 FEET TO CONDUCT AN AERIAL SEARCH
FOR EVIDENCE THAT MAY LEAD TO THE CREATURE'S HIDING PLACE.
>> THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO FIND A CREATURE LIKE THIS IN THE
MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO IS BY HELICOPTER.
>> narrator: VETERAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL DREXLER
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CAPTURING PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF
OF THE CREATURE. FOR THIS EXPEDITION, HE'S
SELECTED TWO CAMERAS ATTACHED TO GYROSTABILIZER MOUNTS.
ONE IS A HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO CAMERA, AND THE OTHER,
THE LATEST IN THERMAL CAMERA TECHNOLOGY.
>> WE'RE LOOKING FOR HEAT SIGNATURES LEFT BEHIND BY ANY
TYPE OF CREATURE THAT'LL LEAVE A TRACK, AND WE'RE DOING THAT WITH
THE MICRON THERMAL CAMERA. >> narrator: THIS ADVANCED
THERMAL CAMERA SHOWS HEAT FROM NOT ONLY ANYTHING WITHIN ITS
VIEW BUT ALSO RESIDUAL HEAT LEFT FROM ANY RECENT ACTIVITY.
THIS MEANS THAT HEAT SIGNATURES FROM RECENT TRACKS COULD SHOW
WHICH DIRECTION THE CREATURE IS HEADED AND WILL PROVIDE THE
TEAM WITH NEW LEADS. >> UP ON THE MOUNTAIN,
WHEN IT STARTS SNOWING, SOMETIMES--SOMETIMES YOU JUST
GOT TO LAND AND NOT DIE. >> narrator: THE DANGERS OF
FLYING AT SUCH A HIGH ALTITUDE WILL MAKE THE EXPEDITION TRICKY,
EVEN WITH A VETERAN PILOT. >> HIGH-ALTITUDE FLYING GIVES US
A COUPLE PROBLEMS. ONE IS THAT THE WINDS CAN BE
REALLY SEVERE. TODAY WE HAVE A WIND SHEAR.
A REGIONAL JET ALREADY REPORTED LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE,
WHICH WILL EQUATE TO A LOT OF TURBULENCE FOR US.
THE OTHER ISSUE AT HIGH ALTITUDE IS THAT WE HAVE LESS AIR, LESS
AIR MOLECULES, AND SO IT MAKES FLYING MORE DIFFICULT.
WE HAVE TO PUSH MORE AIR, USE MORE POWER.
WE HAVE LESS RESERVES. >> narrator: THE TEAM WILL BE
FLYING ABOARD A WESTLAND GAZELLE HELICOPTER, WHICH IS CAPABLE OF
GREAT MANEUVERABILITY, EVEN AT THIS ALTITUDE.
>> WE'RE ABLE TO GET RIGHT DOWN INTO THE ACTUAL--WE'LL BE ABLE
TO FOLLOW ANYTHING THAT WE CAN FIND OUT THERE.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO STAY WITH IT. IT'S GOT THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO
HOVER AND LEAVE US THERE. >> GO AHEAD.
[helicopter blades whirring] >> narrator: AT 8,000 FEET,
THEY START TO FEEL TURBULENCE. >> narrator: AS DREXLER SCANS
THE WILDERNESS BELOW, HIS ONLY PROTECTION FROM
THE WIND AND A FATAL FALL IS A HARNESS.
THE TEMPERATURE IS DROPPING, ADDING ANOTHER ELEMENT OF
DANGER. >> narrator: THE TEAM HEADS
TO SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE TRACKS HAVE BEEN
SPOTTED IN THE PAST.
>> narrator:<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> IS SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF
MOUNTAINOUS COLORADO FOR WHAT SOME SAY IS A SNOW BEAST
THAT IS SLAUGHTERING THE AREA'S ELK POPULATION.
>> IT LOOKED AT ME, AND IT KNEW I WAS THERE.
>> narrator: JEFF DYSINGER HAS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL GUIDE
IN THE AREA FOR OVER 15 YEARS. WHILE SCOUTING FOR ELK, HE SAYS
HE CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE CREATURE.
>> I HIKED UP TO WHERE I THOUGHT THE ELK WOULD BE.
SO I ENDED UP SITTING ON THIS HIGH SPOT THAT OVERLOOKED
A DRAINAGE. I HEARD A BUGLE DOWN BY ONE OF
THE BEAVER PONDS. SO I REALLY--YOU KNOW, I WAS
REALLY FOCUSING ON THIS SPOT INTENTLY, AND...
AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW IT. I MEAN, THIS THING RAISED UP
OUT OF THE BEAVER POND, IT STOOD ON TWO LEGS,
AND LOOKED RIGHT AT ME. NOW, I WAS ABOUT 200 YARDS
FROM IT. I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU;
MY FIRST THOUGHT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, "WHAT IS THIS?" OR
WHATEVER. YOU KNOW, WITH MY MILITARY
EXPERIENCE, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, "IF THIS THING COMES AT
YOU, YOU MAY ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT."
MY FIRST GUT REACTION WAS PACK YOUR STUFF AND GET OUT,
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I DID. >> narrator: KEITH FOSTER
BELIEVES IT IS NOT COINCIDENCE THAT THE CREATURE WAS SEEN
NEAR THE ELK. >> WE HAVE QUITE A FEW
INDICATIONS THAT SASQUATCH ARE ACTUALLY A PREDATOR,
AND THAT'S A NICHE THAT IS OPEN IN COLORADO.
A PREDATOR OF ELK WOULD NATURALLY FOLLOW THE ELK
AND HAVE TO PREY ON THEM BUT STILL STAY AWAY FROM THEM
ENOUGH NOT TO RUN THEIR FOOD SOURCE COMPLETELY AWAY.
>> narrator: FOSTER CONTENDS THAT THE CREATURE MIGRATES WITH
THE ELK THROUGHOUT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE.
HE SAYS THAT THIS IS WHY THE TRACKS APPEAR TO MOVE
SEASONALLY. HOWEVER, TO DATE, NO SOLID
RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE. >> THEY'RE VERY INTERESTING,
TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF SIGHTINGS THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO
DOCUMENT. CHRIS MARKISON IS G.I.S. MANAGER
FOR PUEBLO COUNTY, COLORADO, AND WILL THE SCIENCE OF
COMPUTERIZED MAPPING CALLED THE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEM, OR G.I.S. IT WILL ALLOW THE TEAM TO
CLEARLY SEE SIGHTING PATTERNS. >> WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH
G.I.S. IS TO TAKE COMPLICATED AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION,
ESSENTIALLY IN DATABASE FORM, AND PROJECT THAT IN A
THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIEW OR IN A MAP-BASED VIEW
TO ALLOW US TO DO INFORMED DECISION MAKING
AND IDENTIFY GEOSPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
SEEMINGLY DISPARATE OBJECTS. >> THERE IS A HISTORY IN
COLORADO OF DIFFICULT-TO-DETECT SPECIES.
SPECIFICALLY, THE GRIZZLY BEAR AND THE WOLVERINE ARE TWO
ANIMALS THAT HAVE CONSISTENT SIGHTING REPORTS, BUT IT'S BEEN
VERY DIFFICULT TO DOCUMENT THEM. >> narrator: WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST
BILL GIVEN KNOWS IT IS DIFFICULT TO TRACK EVEN KNOWN SPECIES
IN COLORADO DUE TO THE SCOPE OF WILDERNESS AREAS.
HE HAS BROUGHT ANIMAL DATA FROM THE COLORADO DIVISION OF
WILDLIFE THAT WILL BE COMPARED AGAINST THE DATA OF THE
SIGHTINGS AND WILL LEND HIS EXPERTISE TO THE SEARCH.
>> OKAY, SO, BILL, WHAT WE DID IS, WE TOOK THE DATA FROM KEITH
AND JUST PLOTTED IT ON THE MAP HERE, AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS,
THE RED DOTS BASICALLY REPRESENT EACH OF THE ALLEGED SIGHTINGS.
>> YEAH, CLEARLY THE SPECIES IS CONCENTRATING IN THE MOUNTAIN
AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN THAT CENTRAL AREA, IS REALLY THE
HIGHEST WILDERNESS AREAS IN COLORADO.
AND THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF SPREAD TO THE WEST, ONTO SOME
OF THE MORE HIGH PLATEAU AREAS THAT ARE ALSO STILL VERY REMOTE.
>> narrator: BY RUNNING A DENSITY ANALYSIS, THEY ARE ABLE
TO DEFINE THE AREAS THAT ARE SIGHTING HOT SPOTS.
>> IT WOULD APPEAR THAT UP HERE IN ROUTT COUNTY AS WELL
AS DOWN TELLER COUNTY AND THEN A LITTLE BIT DOWN IN THE SAN JUAN
MOUNTAINS THERE, THOSE ARE ALL WILDERNESS AREAS, BUT WHAT'S
INTERESTING IS, IT'S TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS.
SO THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE MORE PEOPLE
IN THOSE AREAS THAT MIGHT HAVE SIGHTINGS, BUT YET THERE'S
ENOUGH REMOTE AREA THAT SIGHTINGS WOULD NOT BE FREQUENT.
>> narrator: THE INITIAL ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT HALF THE
SIGHTINGS FALL BETWEEN OCTOBER AND APRIL.
THIS WOULD SEEM TO RULE OUT ONE PLAUSIBLE SCENARIO OF WHAT
COULD BE PREYING ON THE ELK, MISIDENTIFIED BEARS.
>> IF PEOPLE WERE MISTAKING BIGFOOT SIGHTINGS FOR BEARS,
THERE'S A BIT OF AN ISSUE IF THEY'RE SEEING THEM DURING
THE WINTER, BECAUSE BEARS SHOULD BE HIBERNATING.
NOW, WELL, WE'RE FORTUNATE IN COLORADO TO HAVE MORE ELK THAN
ANY OTHER STATE. THIS IS THE MOST PLENTIFUL FOOD
SOURCE FOR LARGE MAMMALS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S PRETTY
MUCH THE WESTERN 2/3 OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, WHICH WOULD
ENCOMPASS ALL OF THE SIGHTING AREAS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
>> narrator: THE IDEA THAT THE SNOW BEAST IS FOLLOWING THE
ELK'S MIGRATION PATTERN WOULD MEAN SIGHTINGS WOULD OCCUR AT
LOWER ELEVATIONS IN WINTER. IN EXAMINING THE AVERAGE
ELEVATION, THEY DETERMINE THAT THE WINTER SIGHTINGS RANGE FROM
7,300 TO 9,000 FEET, WHILE IN SUMMER, THE MEDIAN
ELEVATION RANGE IS 1,000 FEET HIGHER.
>> THIS CLEARLY SHOWS A SPECIES THAT'S USING HIGH ELEVATION
SITES AND, INTERESTINGLY, MIGRATES DURING THE DIFFERENT
SEASONS, GOING FROM HIGH ELEVATION IN SUMMER TO LOWER
ELEVATIONS IN THE WINTER. >> narrator: THE DATA SEEMS TO
SUGGEST THAT THE SNOW BEAST IS INDEED HUNTING THE ELK
ON PIKES PEAK. >> THAT'S THE REALLY IMPORTANT
THING FOR CONSIDERATION HERE, BECAUSE AS WE SAW WITH THESE
BIGFOOT SIGHTINGS, THERE'S A ELEVATIONAL CHANGE FROM THE HIGH
TO THE LOW WITH THE SEASONS, AND THAT WOULD CORRESPOND
WITH HERE, 'CAUSE THE ELK'S IMPORTANT WINTER FOOD.
>> narrator: THE<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> EXPEDITION TEAM PLOTS LIKELY
AREAS TO SEARCH WHERE THE ELK ARE KNOWN TO SEEK WATER.
MANY WILL BE IN WOODED AREAS, SO A PART OF THE TEAM SETS OUT
BY FOOT TO LOOK AT LIKELY LOCATIONS.
>> THIS AREA BACK HERE, BECAUSE IT'S SO RUGGED AND PRIMITIVE
ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS VALLEY ACTUALLY, COULD EASILY SUPPORT
A NONNATIVE SPECIES BACK HERE. ANOTHER PREDATOR COULD BE BACK
HERE IN THE AREA. >> narrator: THE GROUND TEAM IS
LED BY KIM SAUERBREY, A MILITARY-TRAINED TRACKER
WHO HAS WORKED IN THE AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
>> TODAY, WE'RE GONNA TRAVEL UP THIS VALLEY, THIS PART OF
CATHEDRAL PARK IN THE PIKE NATIONAL FOREST.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO INTO AN AREA THAT WE CALL THE LOST CABIN.
>> narrator: HE WILL WORK WITH OTHER TRACKERS TO SEARCH THE
SOUTHWEST SLOPES OF PIKES PEAK. THAT IS A KNOWN AMBUSH AREA
FOR OTHER ELK PREDATORS, SUCH AS MOUNTAIN LIONS
AND WOLVES. >> AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE
ELK LIKE. THE STEEP AREA FOR THEM,
THEY GET BACK IN THERE. SAME WITH THE MOUNTAIN LIONS.
IT OFFERS THEM SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THEY GET IN THAT DARK TIMBER, STEEP TERRAIN, IT MAKES IT
HARDER FOR A PREDATOR TO GET TO THEM.
>> narrator: DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THE ELK TEND TO FEED
AT THE SNOW LINE LOCATED AT ABOUT 9,500 FEET.
IT IS HERE THAT THE SEARCH WILL BEGIN.
>> SO WE'RE GONNA TIE OFF OUR STOCK DOWN HERE, 'CAUSE THE
TERRAIN GETS REAL NARROW, DEEP, SOME STEEP AREAS.
AND WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY DO MOST OF OUR SEARCH AND LOOKING UP IN
THIS AREA ON FOOT. >> narrator: THE MOUNTAIN
RAVINES OF THE AREA ARE PERFECT TERRAIN FOR BOTH THE ELK
AND THEIR PREDATORS. >> THE PREDATORS LIKE IT HERE.
THEY CAN GET HIGH. IT'S DARK.
THEY CAN GET IN CLOSE BEFORE ANYTHING CAN REALLY REALIZE
THAT THEY'RE THERE. YEAH, A LOT OF PLACES FOR THEM
TO DEN UP AND HIDE. IT'S A EXCELLENT AREA FOR THEM
TO AMBUSH. >> narrator: THE HIGH ELEVATION
IS TAKING ITS TOLL ON THE TEAM, BUT THE EARLY RESULTS
ARE PROMISING. THEY FIND SIGNS OF ACTIVITY,
BUT THEY'RE NOT FRESH. >> THAT'S ALL OLD.
>> narrator: BUT THEY FIND OTHER EVIDENCE THAT A ELK HERD
HAS RECENTLY BEEN IN THE AREA. >> HE JUST TORE THIS GROUND UP
FOR SOME REASON. HE WAS HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
>> narrator: THE GIANT ANIMALS USE TREES TO SCRAPE THE VELVET
OFF THEIR HORNS OR TO HELP SHED THEIR ANTLERS.
>> THERE'S NO MISTAKING, A BULL DID THIS.
>> narrator: THE TEAM IS ENCOURAGED BY THE EVIDENCE
OF ELK. IT SEEMS THEY WILL STAND A GOOD
CHANCE OF GETTING A LOOK AT THE SNOW BEAST.
>> THE BIGFOOT, IF THEY WERE IN THIS AREA EATING AND FEEDING
AND HUNTING THE ELK, AS IT'S BEEN THEORIZED,
WE SHOULD SEE SOME TRACKS IN HERE.
>> narrator: THEN, AS THEY GET INTO THE THICK OF THE WOODS,
THEY MAKE AN EVEN MORE STARTLING DISCOVERY,
A CAVE THAT SEEMS TO BE OCCUPIED BY A PREDATOR.
>> OH, THERE'S SOMETHING IN HERE.
>> narrator:<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> IS SEARCHING THE MOUNTAINS
OF COLORADO FOR EVIDENCE OF THE SNOW BEAST THAT SEEMS
TO BE HUNTING THE AREA'S ELK POPULATION.
THE EXPEDITION TEAM HAS FOUND NEW EVIDENCE THAT SUGGESTS THEY
ARE LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACE. KIM SAUERBREY AND HIS TEAM
OF TRACKERS HAVE DISCOVERED AN OLD MINE AND ARE ABOUT
TO INVESTIGATE. IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO EXPLORE
WITHOUT SOME WAY TO SEE WHAT IS INSIDE THE DARK TUNNEL.
>> THE REASON YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN THERE, WELL, ONE IS,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE. AND THEN THE OTHER IS
THE FEAR OF CAVE-INS. YEAH, STAY OUT AND STAY ALIVE.
>> AND WE SEE IT LOOKED LIKE SOME BEDDING HAD BEEN PULLED
DOWN, SOME TREES, SOME TREE BRANCHES, LEAVES, PINE BRANCHES.
AND PAW MARKS WHERE SOMETHING HAD CLAWED THAT CLIMBED OUT
TOWARD THE DIRT UP AS IT CAME OUT OF THE HOLE.
>> narrator: SAUERBREY MAKES THE DECISION THAT IT IS TOO
DANGEROUS FOR THE TEAM TO PROCEED WITHOUT
SPECIALIZED GEAR. >> TOMORROW, WHAT WE'D
LIKE TO DO IS MAYBE PUT TOGETHER A CAMERA RIG AND EXPLORE IN
THERE, SEE IF MAYBE THERE WILL BE SOMETHING THERE.
>> narrator: THE TEAM HAS BROUGHT A THERMAL CAMERA
RECORDING SYSTEM THAT THEY WILL MOUNT FACING THE ENTRANCE,
IN CASE THERE IS ACTIVITY IN THE AREA OVERNIGHT.
>> WE SHOULD SCORE SOME GOOD ACTIVITY AND GET SOME GOOD FILM
OF THE ANIMALS COMING IN. IT'S A REAL NARROW
CHOKE POINT. ANIMALS HAVE TO COME THROUGH.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A GOOD PICTURE.
IT'S GETTING NEAR DUSK. THE ANIMALS ARE GETTING
READY TO MOVE. WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING
PRETTY QUICK. WE'RE GONNA BE GOING UP IN HERE,
LOCATE IT, THEN GET OUT OF HERE REALLY QUICK.
>> narrator: THE CAMERA RECORDS TO A TAPE DECK, ELIMINATING THE
NEED FOR A TEAM MEMBER TO STAY BEHIND AND MONITOR THE CAVE
OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE
CREATURE WILL NOT BE SCARED AWAY BY HUMAN PRESENCE.
>> ALL RIGHTY, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT SET.
THE CAMERA LOOKS LIKE IT'S FOCUSED GOOD ON THE TWO ACCESS
POINTS. IF WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE REAL
QUICK BEFORE WE GET CAUGHT, WE SHOULD HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO
CATCH SOMETHING ON THE CAMERA TONIGHT.
>> narrator: THE TEAM RETURNS TO CAMP TO BED DOWN FOR THE NIGHT.
WHILE THE SEARCH ON THE GROUND HAS LED TO SOME INTERESTING
FINDS AT LOWER ELEVATIONS, THE HELICOPTER RECONNAISSANCE
HAS ALSO UNCOVERED A LINE OF TRACKS IN THE SNOW.
>> narrator: PAUL DREXLER USES THE SPECIALIZED THERMAL CAMERA
TO CHECK FOR EVIDENCE THAT THE TRACKS ARE FRESHLY MADE.
HE SEES NO HEAT SIGNATURE. THE CLOSER LOOK REVEALS
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED. >> narrator: THE TEAM IS
ENCOURAGED BY THE SIGHTING AND KNOWS THEY'RE LOOKING
IN THE RIGHT AREA. >> CLEARED TO LAND
>> narrator: THESE TRACKS, KNOWN AS THE EAGLE RIVER TRACKS,
WERE PHOTOGRAPHED IN APRIL OF 2000 BY BILL BRICE,
WHO'S AN AREA FISHERMAN. >> I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE I SAW THAT DAY. >> narrator: BILL BRICE COMMONLY
USES FLY FISHING AS A WAY TO RELAX AFTER WORK.
>> I HAD WORKED MY WAY UP TO A FAIRLY REMOTE SPOT ON THE
EAGLE RIVER THAT I FISHED A LOT. THE DAY I SAW THE TRACKS,
I WADED UPSTREAM TO A REMOTE PART OF THE EAGLE RIVER
THAT I USED TO FISH VERY OFTEN. AND I HAD JUST MOVED OUT OF THE
RIVER ONTO THE SOUTH BANK TO TIE ON A NEW FLY WHEN THE
TRACKS CAUGHT MY EYE. THEY WERE LARGE HUMAN-LOOKING
FOOTPRINTS BIGGER THAN ANY TRACK THAT ANY ANIMAL IN THAT AREA
WOULD LEAVE, AND DEEP IN THE RIVER MATERIAL.
SO I KNEW WHATEVER IT WAS HAD TO BE BIG AND HEAVY.
YOU KNOW, I STARTED LOOKING AROUND IN THE BRUSH AND
WONDERING IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD STILL BE HANGING AROUND.
SO IT WAS PRETTY UNNERVING. SO I JUST--I JUST WRAPPED IT UP
AND WENT HOME. >> narrator: AFTER RETURNING THE
FOLLOWING DAY TO PHOTOGRAPH THE TRACKS, HE SHOWED THE
EVIDENCE TO LOCAL WILDLIFE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT CREATED THOSE IMPRESSIONS THAT BILL
BRICE HAS A PICTURE OF. IT'S NOT A BEAR.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A HUMAN. >> narrator: BILL HEICHER IS A
BIOLOGIST WITH THE COLORADO WILDLIFE DIVISION.
HE SAYS THAT AFTER 32 YEARS OF WORKING IN THE WILDERNESS,
HE HAS NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THESE EAGLE RIVER TRACKS.
>> I REALLY DON'T THINK HE WAS PERPETUATING A HOAX.
I THINK HE REALLY AND TRULY FOUND THESE TRACKS,
AND HE HASN'T--HE THINKS THEY'RE BIGFOOT, I BELIEVE.
>> narrator: EAGLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY BILL KAUFMAN
WAS ALSO ASKED TO HELP IDENTIFY THE MYSTERIOUS TRACKS.
>> IT'S UNKNOWN TO ME OF ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL THAT LIVES IN
THIS REGION THAT WOULD MAKE THOSE TYPES OF TRACKS.
THE DEPTHS OF THE IMPRESSION WERE REMARKABLE.
I KNEW IT HAD TO BE A RATHER HEAVY TYPE OF CREATURE TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE THOSE IMPRESSIONS. AND THROUGH MY RESOURCES,
WE ESTIMATE IT, AT THE TIME, TO BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 400 AND 700
POUNDS TO MAKE THAT TYPE OF DEPTH IN THAT TYPE OF SOIL.
>> THE PLACE WHERE @E FOUND THESE TRACKS ARE SOME--IS A
LOCATION WHERE YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT ANYBODY TO GO TO.
THERE'S NO ROADS. THERE'S NO TRAILS.
THE ONLY EASILY WAY TO ACCESS IT IS CROSSING THE RIVER.
YOU NEED WADERS. EAGLE RIVER IS ONE OF THE
SLIPPERIEST RIVERS I'VE EVER BEEN IN.
IT'S KIND OF TREACHEROUS TO WADE.
IT'S NOT REAL DEEP RIGHT HERE. BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD
NORMALLY DO. IF SOMEBODY WAS PERPETUATING A
HOAX, MAKING TRACKS, YOU WOULDN'T--YOU COULD WAIT DECADES
FOR SOMEBODY TO FIND THEM OVER THERE.
>> narrator: THERE IS ANOTHER TYPE OF ANALYSIS THAT MIGHT HELP
TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SNOW BEAST MADE THE EAGLE RIVER
TRACKS IN BRICE'S PHOTO. >> FIRST THING I DO, TRACKS,
IS RATE THE QUALITY. IS IT A GOOD TRACK?
>> narrator: ECOLOGIST DR. JIM HALFPENNY IS AN EXPERT
IN FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY AND HAS TAUGHT PROFESSIONAL SNOW
TRACKING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. >> WE CAN THEN TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS
OR CASTS THAT COME FROM THE FIELD AND COMPARE THEM TO A
ENHANCED PLASTER CAST, OR WE CAN COMPARE THEM UP ON A
PHOTOGRAPHIC SCREEN COMPUTER MONITOR.
>> narrator: HALFPENNY IS FREQUENTLY CALLED IN TO
ANALYZE UNIDENTIFIED TRACKS USING THE TECHNIQUES HE TEACHES.
HE HAS SEEN MANY CASES OF MISIDENTIFICATION,
BUT THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES THAT HE SIMPLY CANNOT EXPLAIN.
>> THEN THERE ARE A SET OF CATEGORY OF TRACKS THAT HAVE
ONLY TWO POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THEM.
THEY ARE EITHER MADE BY A CREATURE NOT DOCUMENTED
BY MODERN SCIENCE, OR THEY'RE FAKES.
>> narrator:<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> WILL PERFORM SEVERAL EXPERIMENTS
TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY OF THE PREDATOR HUNTING THE ELK
OF THE COLORADO ROCKY. BILL HEICHER WILL CONDUCT AN
EXPERIMENT ON THE SAME SOIL WHERE THE EAGLE RIVER TRACKS
WERE FOUND TO DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF THE CREATURE
THAT MADE THEM. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE
ANOTHER CLUE TO THE IDENTITY OF THE PREDATOR.
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
>> narrator: THE<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> TEAM HAS USED PHOTOS
OF THE EAGLE RIVER TRACKS TO REPLICATE THEM.
>> REALLY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS. THE--HAD MEASUREMENTS,
TAPE MEASURE RIGHT BESIDE IT, INDICATED LENGTH.
YOU COULD FIGURE OUT WIDTH. YOU COULD FIGURE OUT DEPTH
OF THE TRACK. >> narrator: THE FOOTPRINT
REPLICAS ARE ATTACHED TO A WOODEN FRAME, WHICH HAS BEEN
BUILT TO SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF WEIGHT.
SANDBAGS WILL BE ADDED UNTIL THE IMPRESSIONS MATCH THOSE
IN THE PHOTOS. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> narrator: THE TEAM WILL ALSO UTILIZE A TIME-LAPSE CAMERA TO
DETERMINE IF THE WEATHER COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING
TRACKS OVER TIME, RESULTING IN MISIDENTIFICATION.
>> TRYING TO SEE HOW MUCH TRACKS WILL DISTORT, CHANGE OVER TIME.
>> narrator: THE CAMERA CAPTURES ONE IMAGE EVERY TWO MINUTES,
ALLOWING THE TEAM TO SEE HOW THE CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS CAN
AFFECT TRACKS. THIS PROCESS COULD HELP TO
FURTHER DETERMINE THE PREDATOR. >> AND IS SUGGESTIVE THAT IT
COULD BE BIGFOOT FOOTPRINT.
>> narrator: COLORADO. IT IS HERE THAT<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> IS
ON THE HUNT FOR WHAT MAY BE SLAUGHTERING THE ELK OF THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE. TERRIFYING LEGENDS OF A SNOW
BEAST HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS IN THIS AREA.
>> IT'S BLACK. IT'S HANDS WAS BLACK.
IT'S FACE WAS BLACK LIKE A GORILLA.
JOHN TRUJILLO SAYS THAT HE HAD TWO RUN-INS WITH A MONSTER NEAR
HIS HOME, HIGH IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
>> WE WERE BUILDING A FIRE TO HAVE A LITTLE BARBEQUE,
AND IT WAS JUST BEFORE DARK. WE HEARD CLACKING,
LIKE ROCK CLACKING. WE HEARD THE HORSES OVER HERE
RUSTLING. THEY CAME UP FROM THE FIELD,
RUNNING FULL BLAST TOWARDS US. AND THEY WERE ALL WIDE-EYED AND
EVERYTHING. THEY WERE SPOOKED.
AND THAT'S WHEN THE FIRST YELL CAME.
AND IT WAS JUST A SHORT YELL. AND THEN THE SECOND YELL CAME
JUST A FEW SECONDS LATER. AND IT PROBABLY LASTED, I'M
GUESSING, FOUR TO FIVE SECONDS. >> narrator: THE TERRIFIED
COUPLE LEFT IMMEDIATELY, NOT NOTICING THAT THEIR HORSES
HAD CLAW MARKS FROM THEIR RIB CAGE BACK TO THEIR HIND LEGS.
THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY A PREDATOR THAT WOULD HAVE MADE
THE MARKS. THEN, ANOTHER HORRIFYING
ENCOUNTER. >> MY DAD CAME OUT--OUT TO HELP
ME WATER--WATER AND FEED THE HORSES EARLY IN THE MORNING.
OUR DOG THAT WE HAD IS USED TO--WHEN YOU OPENED THE DOOR,
HE USED TO RUN ON THROUGH THE FIELDS HERE.
AND HE'S NOT AFRAID OF NOTHING. AND AT THAT TIME, HE WENT OVER
TOWARDS THE CORRALS HERE. AND THE DOG SEEN SOMETHING,
AND MY DAD SEEN SOMETHING AT THE SAME TIME.
>> narrator: THE ELDER TRUJILLO SPOTTED A LARGE 8- TO 10-FOOT
DARK COLORED CREATURE WALKING ON TWO FEET
THROUGH THE TREES. WHEN THEY TRIED TO GET CLOSER,
THE BEAST RAN OUT OF SIGHT. >> THIS DOG MADE A BEELINE BACK
INTO THE HOUSE. THE DOG ACTUALLY GOT SCARED.
WE COULDN'T EVEN GET THE DOG OUTSIDE THE HOUSE FOR TWO HOURS.
>> narrator: IN THE SEARCH FOR NEW EVIDENCE, THE<i> MONSTERQUEST</i>
TEAM HAS HIKED DEEP INTO THE FOREST IN SEARCH
OF THE CREATURE. THEY HAVE UNCOVERED WHAT THEY
BELIEVE TO BE A PROMISING AREA FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION.
>> IF WE'RE GONNA FIND US A LARGE PREDATOR, THIS IS THE
IDEAL SPOT TO BE LOOKING FOR IT. EVERYTHING HE NEEDS IS HERE,
THE FOOD, THE WATER. THE ANIMALS ARE TRAVELING
THROUGH HERE, HIS PREY. >> narrator: THE AREA ALSO HAS
AN ABANDONED MINE WHICH REVEALS VISIBLE SIGNS OF PREDATOR
OCCUPATION. THEY BELIEVE IT COULD BE
THE HOME OF THE SNOW BEAST. >> PARTICULAR CAMERA WE'RE USING
TODAY, THAT WE'RE SHOVING IN THERE, WE PUT ON A WIDE-ANGLE
LENS, SO WE GET A NICE BIG VIEW INSIDE THE CAVE.
WE FEEL CONFIDENT WITH THE POLE BEING ABLE TO EXTEND ABOUT
NINE FEET, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE WAY IN THE CAVE
AND SEE IF ANYTHING'S INSIDE. >> narrator: THE INITIAL
INVESTIGATION OF THE MINE REVEALS THAT IT IS CURRENTLY
EMPTY. THAT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE
FACT THAT A LARGE PREDATOR OF SOME KIND HAS MADE ITS HOME
INSIDE. >> SOMETHING'S BEEN DOWN IN HERE
BEDDED FOR A WHILE. IT IS LARGE ENOUGH, THOUGH,
FOR A NICE LARGE PREDATOR TO MAKE A NICE HOME
OR HABITAT OUT OF. >> narrator: JIM HALFPENNY'S
EXAMINATION OF THE FOUR SETS OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CREATURE'S
TRACKS HAVE PROVIDED SOME USEFUL INSIGHT.
>> WE HAVE A LIST OF CRITERIA FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT MAMMAL
SPECIES, AND I'LL GO THROUGH AND EVALUATE THE CRITERIA TO SEE IF
A GIVEN PHOTO FITS IN A PARTICULAR SPECIES CATEGORY.
AND ONCE I'VE DONE THAT, THEN I'LL TRY TO DECIDE,
WAS THIS TRACK MADE BY A WILD ANIMAL THAT'S NORMALLY AROUND,
OR COULD IT HAVE BEEN MADE BY BIGFOOT?
>> narrator: THE FIRST SET OF TRACKS WERE PHOTOGRAPHED IN
NIWOT, COLORADO, WHICH IS 100 MILES FROM PIKES PEAK.
>> THIS LOOKS, INITIALLY, LIKE IT COULD BE A PRIMATE TRACK,
MAYBE A BIGFOOT TRACK, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THEY'RE TOES.
I'VE GOT SOME PONDEROSA PINE NEEDLES HERE THAT HELP ME
WITH SCALE. THE TOES DO NOT FORM
A SMOOTH ARCH. JUST THINK OF THE TOES OF YOUR
OWN FOOT. THEY HAVE A SMOOTH ARCH,
WHEREAS HERE, YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF TOES, MAYBE THREE, AND
THEN THESE ARE JUST PLACED UP ABOVE.
THIS IS A PAIR OF TOES FROM A DIFFERENT TRACK.
ALL THREE OF THESE CRITERIA-- TOE SHAPE, THE ARCH OF THE TOES,
AND THE INTERDIGITAL PADS-- SUGGESTS STRONGLY OF A LARGE
CAT, PROBABLY A COUGAR. >> narrator: THEY APPEAR TO BE
SIMILAR TO THE NEXT SET OF TRACKS, WHICH ARE FROM
PIKES PEAK. >> WELL, MY INITIAL REACTION TO
THIS SET OF PHOTOS, LOOKING AT IT, BECAUSE OF THE STRAIGHT LINE
AND GROUPS OF TRACKS, WOULD BE A GALLOPING PATTERN OR A HOPPING
PATTERN. >> narrator: IF THE CREATURE
WALKS ON TWO FEET, THE TRACKS SHOULD HAVE A LEFT-RIGHT
DISPLACEMENT. TRACK DISPLACEMENT, OR THE
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TRACKS WHEN MEASURED SIDE BY SIDE,
IS A KEY FACTOR IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT LEFT THE IMPRESSIONS.
>> THE PATTERN IS BASICALLY STRAIGHT WITH NO DISPLACEMENT.
THE FASTER AN ANIMAL MOVES, THE LESS THE RIGHT-LEFT
DISPLACEMENT. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN
ANIMAL PURPORTED TO BE A SASQUATCH, WHICH IS SEVERAL
HUNDRED POUNDS, HAS VERY BROAD HIPS, IS NOT ABLE TO REALLY GET
A SUPERFAST SPEED UP WHERE TRACKS MIGHT COME ONE RIGHT IN
FRONT OF THE OTHER. EVEN A RUNNING SASQUATCH, AND
FROM OTHER EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOUND, WOULD INTEND TO BE A
DEFINITE RIGHT-LEFT RIGHT-LEFT DISPLACEMENT.
I THINK IT'S A GALLOPING COYOTE. >> narrator: NEXT, HALFPENNY
TURNS TO THE EAGLE RIVER TRACKS THAT HAVE STUMPED THE COLORADO
WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL POLICE FOR YEARS.
>> narrator: THIS IS AN INTERESTING SET OF TRACKS.
THEY'RE IN THE DIRT, NOT THE SNOW.
I SEEM TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A STRADDLE THERE.
WE'VE GOT A CONTEXT PHOTO THAT SHOWS, OVER A DISTANCE,
THE TRACKS COMING TOWARDS US, AND THEN CLOSE-UPS OF EACH OF
THE PHOTOGRAPHS, WHICH IS A MUCH BETTER WAY TO REPRODUCE OR
DOCUMENT YOUR SCENE. >> narrator: THE TAPE MEASURE IN
THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THE PRINT WAS 18.5 INCHES LONG.
BUT THERE WAS ALSO WHAT LOOKS TO BE A POSSIBLE HEEL DEPRESSION
AT 13 INCHES. >> DOWN IN COLORADO, ALL WE'VE
GOT IS BLACK BEAR. AND WE--IF YOU JUST LOOK AT WHAT
WE CALL A MAXIMUM OUTLINE MEASUREMENT, THIS COULD BE A BIG
BLACK BEAR, CONCEIVABLY WITH A LITTLE MOVEMENT WITHIN THE TRACK
WITHIN THE DIRT. BUT THE TRACK ITSELF,
13x7 1/2 IS BIG FOR A BLACK BEAR, PERIOD.
IT COULD BE THE HIND FOOT OF A BLACK BEAR, BUT THAT WOULD
STILL BE VERY, VERY BIG. SO 13x7 1/2, BY SIZE,
REALLY RULES OUT A BEAR AND IS SUGGESTIVE THAT IT
COULD BE A BIGFOOT FOOTPRINT. >> narrator:<i> MONSTERQUEST</i> IS
CONDUCTING AN EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE JUST HOW HEAVY THE
SNOWBST THAT IS STALKING THE AREA MAY HAVE BEEN.
>> ONE MORE, I GOT IT. >> narrator: AFTER STACKING 300
POUNDS OF SANDBAGS, THE TEAM CHECKS THE IMPRESSION THAT THE
ADDED WEIGHT MAKES. >> YEAH, AVERAGE MALE
BLACK BEAR'S PROBABLY UNDER 300 POUNDS.
BUT 300-POUND BLACK BEAR'S A GOOD SIZED BEAR BUT NOT HUGE.
WELL, THERE IS, ACTUALLY. THE HEEL COMES BACK AROUND HERE,
COMES UP. BUT THAT'S PRETTY INDISTINCT.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT MORE WEIGHT.
>> narrator: THEY ADD 240 POUNDS, BRINGING THE TOTAL
TO 540 POUNDS. THE PRINTS MADE ARE STILL WELL
SHALLOW OF THE 3/4 INCH IMPRESSION SEEN IN THE EAGLE
RIVER PHOTOS. >> 540 POUNDS, THAT'D BE A HUGE
MALE BLACK BEAR. AND WE'VE GOT THE HEEL BACK HERE
GOING IN, BUT I DON'T--I REALLY DON'T SEE--THE FOOTPRINT
IS NOT UNIFORMLY GOING IN. LET'S PUT ON ANOTHER, OH--LET'S
PUT ANOTHER FOUR BAGS ON THERE. >> YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S 540. BE 780 POUNDS.
THAT'D BE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE BIGGEST BLACK BEAR EVER
FOUND IN COLORADO. >> narrator: THE AERIAL SEARCH
IS AGAIN BEING AFFECTED BY THE WEATHER.
HIGH WINDS AND SNOW ARE FORECAST FOR THE AREA, MEANING THE
ATTEMPT TO FLY WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
>> YOU'D BE EXTREMELY HARD-PRESSED TO FIND ANYBODY
ELSE TO GO AND FLY AND FILM IN SNOW OR, REALLY,
ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THESE TEMPERATURES AND CONDITIONS.
>> ONLY CRAZY PEOPLE DO THIS. [laughter]
