Bigfoot: The Patterson-Gimlin Film and Beyond

On October 20, 1967, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin captured approximately one minute of 16mm film in Northern California that would become the most analyzed, debated, and famous piece of cryptid evidence in history. The footage shows a large, bipedal, ape-like creature walking away from the camera, turning briefly to look back. Over fifty years later, the Patterson-Gimlin Film has never been definitively debunked—and sightings of the creature known as Bigfoot, Sasquatch, or simply “Squatch” continue to accumulate across North America.

The Patterson-Gimlin Film

The Filmmakers

Roger Patterson (1933-1972) was a rodeo rider and Bigfoot enthusiast from Yakima, Washington. He had been investigating Bigfoot reports and planned to make a documentary.

Bob Gimlin (1931-) was Patterson’s friend, an experienced outdoorsman and horse handler skeptical of Bigfoot but willing to help.

October 20, 1967

Patterson and Gimlin were on horseback in the Six Rivers National Forest near Bluff Creek, California—an area with numerous Bigfoot reports. Around 1:15 PM, they rounded a bend and encountered something.

What Happened:

• Their horses reared and spooked
• Patterson fell but grabbed his camera
• He ran toward the creature while filming
• Gimlin stayed back, covering with a rifle
• The creature walked away, glancing back once
• They followed its tracks for some distance

The Footage

The film shows a figure known as “Patty” (named for Patterson):

• Estimated 7+ feet tall
• Estimated 500+ pounds
• Female (visible breasts)
• Covered in dark hair
• Powerful, fluid movement
• Distinctive bent-knee gait
• Muscular structure visible beneath hair
• Turns to look at camera at one point

The footage lasts approximately 59.5 seconds. Frame 352, showing “Patty” turning, has become iconic.

Analysis

The film has been analyzed exhaustively:

Supporting Authenticity:

• Anatomists note musculature consistent with a large primate
• The gait doesn’t match human walking patterns
• The creature’s proportions (arm length, torso, legs) differ from human
• Special effects experts of the era said it exceeded their capabilities
• No one has convincingly replicated it despite Hollywood advances
• Gimlin maintains his account after 50+ years

Skeptical Arguments:

• Could be an elaborate costume
• Patterson had motive to fake (financial troubles, planned documentary)
• Some claim to have made or worn the suit (unverified)
• A famous creature appearing exactly when filmmakers are present seems convenient

The Verdict: The film remains unproven in either direction. It is either the most convincing evidence of an unknown primate—or one of history’s most successful hoaxes.

Historical Sightings

Indigenous Traditions

Native American tribes across North America have traditions of large, hairy, man-like creatures:

• Sasquatch (Salish)
• Ts’emekwes (Lummi)
• Stiyaha (Yakima)
• Oh-Mah (Hoopa)
• Wendigo (Algonquian—though this is a different creature)

These traditions predate European settlement by centuries.

Early Reports

1811: Explorer David Thompson found large footprints in the Canadian Rockies 1840: Reverend Elkanah Walker recorded Native accounts of giants 1924: The “Ape Canyon” incident—miners reported siege by creatures 1958: Jerry Crew found large footprints in Northern California, coining “Bigfoot”

Modern Evidence

Footprint Casts

Thousands of plaster casts of alleged Bigfoot prints exist:

• Many show dermal ridges (fingerprint-like patterns)
• Sizes range from 14 to 24 inches
• Some show anatomical details difficult to fake
• Forensic analyst Jimmy Chilcutt found prints consistent with a non-human primate

Audio Evidence

The “Sierra Sounds” and other recordings capture vocalizations attributed to Bigfoot:

• Complex vocalizations exceeding human capability
• Linguists have analyzed for patterns
• Cannot be attributed to known animals

Thermal Imaging

Recent investigations have captured thermal signatures:

• Large, bipedal heat sources
• Moving through forests at night
• Difficult to explain as known animals

DNA Analysis

Hair samples have been analyzed:

• Most prove to be known animals (bear, deer, human)
• Some remain unidentified
• No definitive Bigfoot DNA has been isolated

The Sighting Pattern

Geographic Distribution

Reports concentrate in:

• Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Northern California)
• British Columbia
• Ohio River Valley
• Florida (Skunk Ape)
• Various locations across North America

Typical Encounters

Witnesses describe:

• Height: 7-10 feet
• Weight: 500-1000 pounds
• Covered in dark brown or black hair
• Powerful build
• Distinctive smell (“like a wet dog,” sulfurous)
• Intelligent, evasive behavior
• Occasional vocalizations (screams, howls, wood-knocking)

Behavior

Bigfoot is generally described as:

• Avoiding human contact
• Nocturnal or crepuscular (dawn/dusk)
• Solitary or in small groups
• Possibly omnivorous
• Highly intelligent
• Possibly using infrasound

Scientific Perspectives

Why No Body?

The central skeptical question: If Bigfoot exists, where are the remains?

Possible Explanations:

• Population is very small
• Bodies decompose quickly in forest environments
• Possible burial practices (apes have been observed mourning)
• Remote habitat makes discovery unlikely
• Remains mistaken for bear or other animals

Could a Large Primate Exist?

Biologically, a large North American primate isn’t impossible:

• Large apes exist (gorillas, orangutans)
• North America has suitable habitat
• The fossil record includes Gigantopithecus (a giant ape)
• New large animals are still being discovered

Mainstream Scientific Response

Most scientists remain skeptical:

• Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
• Physical specimen required for acceptance
• Most sightings can be explained as misidentification
• Hoaxes have been documented

However, some scientists take the possibility seriously enough to investigate.

The Search Continues

Modern Investigation

Organizations actively seek evidence:

• BFRO (Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization)
• Olympic Project
• Various regional groups
• Individual researchers

Methods include:

• Field expeditions
• Trail cameras
• Audio recording
• DNA collection
• Witness interviews

Recent Developments

2019: A prominent FBI file was revealed showing the agency tested alleged Bigfoot hair in the 1970s (results: deer family) 2021: Multiple credible sightings in Washington State Ongoing: Trail camera captures continue to generate debate

The Question

Does a large, undiscovered primate inhabit the forests of North America?

If No:

• Thousands of witnesses are mistaken or lying
• Indigenous traditions are mythology
• The Patterson-Gimlin Film is an impressive hoax
• Footprints with dermal ridges are elaborate fakes

If Yes:

• An intelligent species has evaded documentation
• Ancient traditions were recording real observations
• The ecosystem contains more than we know
• The Patterson-Gimlin Film is authentic

The truth remains in the forests, waiting to be found—or to continue evading those who seek it.

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Something large walks through the forests of North America. For centuries, indigenous people told of the wild man of the woods. In 1967, two men filmed something that has never been explained. Today, witnesses continue to report encounters with a creature that shouldn’t exist. Bigfoot—whether flesh and blood or something else entirely—refuses to be captured, categorized, or forgotten.