Rare 1968 Interview: Patterson Details Encounter and Plans for Bigfoot Capture

In a rare audio recording from 1968, Bigfoot researcher Roger Patterson can be heard discussing his famous film of the elusive creature, affectionately known as "Patty." The interview was conducted by Dr. John Russell Napier, a British primatologist, paleoanthropologist, and physician known for his work with the species of presumably extinct human known as Homo habilis, as well as his studies on the evolutionary development of primate hands and feet. In the recording, Patterson describes his and Bob Gimlin's expedition into the rugged and unmapped wilderness of northern California in October 1967. While on horseback, the pair encountered a female Bigfoot near Bluff Creek. Patterson was able to capture the creature on film as it walked away from them. Patterson goes on to describe the physical characteristics of the Bigfoot, stating that it was approximately 7 to 7.5 feet tall and weighed between 350 and 500 pounds. He also notes that it took an average stride of 43 inches and left footprints measuring 14.5 inches long and 5.5 inches wide. When asked about any sensory impressions beyond the visual, Patterson reveals that he and Gimlin detected a strong, musky odor in the area where the Bigfoot had been. He describes it as smelling like a dog that had rolled in something dead and then gotten into water. Patterson maintains that he and Gimlin were not the victims of a hoax, stating that the creature appeared natural and that the muscle movement they observed indicated that it was not made up. He also notes that the remote and rugged location of the encounter would have made it unlikely for someone to stage a hoax. At the time of the interview, Patterson was suffering from cancer and had begun undergoing treatment. He passed away in 1972, leaving behind his plans for future expeditions to capture a living Bigfoot. Gimlin, who is still alive at 92, maintains that if there was a hoax, he was fooled by it himself. This audio recording provides valuable insight into the Patterson-Gimlin film and the encounter that inspired it. It is a must-listen for any serious Bigfoot researcher or enthusiast.