The Footage That Won’t Die

On October 20, 1967, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin filmed what appears to be a female Bigfoot at Bluff Creek, California. After 57 years of analysis, the 59-second footage remains unexplained and stands as the most important piece of cryptid evidence ever captured.

The Filmmakers

Two men:

• Roger Patterson (filmmaker)
• Bob Gimlin (tracker)
• Searching for Bigfoot
• Bluff Creek, California
• October 20, 1967

The Location

Bluff Creek:

• Northern California
• Del Norte County
• Remote wilderness
• Known for sightings
• Accessible by horseback

The Encounter

What happened:

• Horses spooked
• Crossed creek
• Saw creature
• Patterson fell
• Filmed while running

The Footage

59 seconds:

• 16mm color film
• Creature walking
• Looks back at camera
• Continues into trees
• Clear view

The Subject

What’s shown:

• Female (visible breasts)
• 7+ feet tall
• Heavy build
• Grayish-brown fur
• Human-like walk

”Patty”

The creature’s nickname:

• Female Bigfoot
• Named by researchers
• Most analyzed film subject
• Never identified
• Icon of cryptozoology

The Walk

Key detail:

• Fluid motion
• Arm swing different from human
• Muscle movement visible
• Natural gait
• Hard to fake

The Glance

Frame 352:

• Creature looks back
• Face visible
• Brow ridge
• Expression
• Most famous frame

Analysis History

57+ years:

• Hundreds of experts
• Every frame examined
• Muscle movement studied
• Costume makers consulted
• No definitive conclusion

Hoax Claims

Skeptic arguments:

• Man in suit
• Bob Heironimus claim
• Costume maker claims
• But no matching suit
• Claims contradicted

Why It’s Not Debunked

Problems with hoax theory:

• Muscle movement under fur
• Body proportions wrong for human
• Film speed debates
• No confession held up
• Remains unexplained

Patterson’s Death

1972:

• Died of cancer
• Maintained authenticity
• Never recanted
• Deathbed consistency
• True believer

Gimlin Today

Still living:

• Never recanted
• Tells same story
• Conference speaker
• Maintains authenticity
• Witnesses stand

Scientific Interest

Some researchers:

• Dr. Jeff Meldrum
• Dr. Grover Krantz
• Serious analysis
• Academic attention
• Ongoing study

Significance

Most analyzed and debated cryptid footage in history, never definitively proven fake.

Legacy

The Patterson-Gimlin film defined Bigfoot for the world—59 seconds that launched countless expeditions, debates, and dreams of what might live in America’s wilderness.