Do you believe?

Picture: Wood-carved statue of Sasquatch, a.k.a. Bigfoot in front of the Willow Creek Visitor Center, Humboldt County, California

I took this image a couple years ago while doing the photography for my book, Backroads of the California Coast.

Now I find myself coming back to it, as I’m now doing the very last bit of research and writing for my upcoming book, Greetings from California: Legends, Landmarks & Lore of the Golden State. Readers might recall that this book was originally to be called California; Yesterday & Today. But with the newly repackaged format now including legends and folklore, how could you possibly not include something about Bigfoot?

In doing a bit of brief research on the subject, I’ve come across numerous web sites that promote cryptozoology and Bigfoot as an actual ape-like animal, and others that refute those claims, often citing the lack of any scientific evidence. Personally I’ve enjoyed watching the shows on the National Geographic Channel, The Discovery & History Channels that discuss the mysterious Bigfoot. Having spent countless hours wandering around the redwood forests, I often ponder whether the legend could be true, that an undiscovered hominid can survive in this day and age, reclusive and undiscovered, with not even any remains having been found.

What do you think? Do you believe Bigfoot exists? Is there any chance that in the modern world, such a large creature could remain so elusive without being a totally fictional character of myth, legend, and lore?