YEAR: 2016

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: September

DATE: 6

STATE: West Virginia

COUNTY: Pocahontas County

LOCATION DETAILS: 38°11'21.6"N 80°15'07.9"W

NEAREST TOWN: Marlinton, WV

NEAREST ROAD: Highland Scenic Hwy 150

OBSERVED: My wife and I were taking an evening drive on Highland Scenic Highway 150, from US 219 near Slatyfork, WV, to the Cranberry Glades area on Tuesday evening 9/6/16. We had been stopping at the scenic overlooks taking pictures, and had just left the Williams River overlook, and headed south on 150. There was a stretch of highway that was very straight and a downslope of about 4-6% about 1-2 miles south of the Williams River overlook. As we were driving down, we both noticed something in the weeds between the road edge and the bank leading up to the woods on the west side. At first I thought it was a deer, with its head and neck stretched up above the weeds. It was about 300-400 feet ahead, and while we continued towards it, it spun around, similar to an about face, but with the head dropping and a semi-crouch as it was turning. It jumped up onto the bank, reaching for a branch to aid in pulling itself up. By the time it jumped, we were within 80-100 feet of it. By the time we got to where it had been standing, it was nowhere in sight, and we could hear no sounds of running or branches breaking in the piney woods along the road. We both noticed that the weeds at this point and all along the area, were even with the hood on the 3/4 ton Chevy pickup we were in, making the estimate on the height of the creature at about 7-7 1/2 ft tall. The creature was a mix of brown, and brown gold fur, longer than deer hair, but not as long as collie fur. I have never discounted that Sasquatch could be real, but this firsthand experience has removed my doubt. As we left the area, my arms and neck were covered in goose-flesh, and we were both speechless for about 10 minutes.

OTHER WITNESSES: Myself, and my wife. We were driving on the scenic highway taking pictures of the long range views and the sunset.

OTHER STORIES: I have heard stories all over the state, but up till now, none in the Cranberry area.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 1930 hrs (7:30 pm)
Scattered cumulus clouds at 6000-10000ft. apprx.
Visibility on the ridge 20 miles. Sun had dropped behind a cloud right at the horizon, so it was coming fast onto dusk

ENVIRONMENT: Piney woods and mixed hardwoods, mountain ridge.
Highland Scenic Highway 150 between Williams River and Cranberry Glades.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Matthew Moneymaker:

About BFRO Investigator Matthew Moneymaker:

Matthew Moneymaker is originally from the Los Feliz District of Los Angeles, California.

- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

- Juris Doctorate (Law degree) from University of Akron School of Law

- Founder of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization,1995.

- Writer and co-producer of the Discovery Channel documentary "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science", 2001.

- Co-producer of the TV Series "Mysterious Encounters" for the Outdoor Life Network (OLN Channel), 2002.

- Producer of the "2003 International Bigfoot Symposium" (Willow Creek Symposium) DVD set, 2004.

- Co-host of "Finding Bigfoot" on Animal Planet Channel, 2010 - 2017.

- Current Director of the BFRO

- Available for private bigfoot expeditions and conferences. To inquire please email [email protected]