Giant Barefoot Prints Found Near Vanished Oregon Hunter's Remains
Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2026
By Squatchable.com staff
There's a case out of Oregon that has haunted researchers and investigators for over three decades, and a recent deep dive into the evidence has resurfaced some truly unsettling details. The disappearance of 17-year-old Cory Fay in November 1991 remains one of the Pacific Northwest's most baffling wilderness mysteries, and for those who follow Sasquatch research, the footprint evidence alone is enough to raise serious questions.
Cory wasn't some novice kid wandering into the woods unprepared. He was a trained survivalist with professional-level outdoor skills, respected by experienced hunters and trusted by his family. On November 23rd, 1991, he joined family friend Mark Moping for an elk hunt in Oregon's remote Badger Creek Wilderness, a rugged stretch of dense forest, steep ridges, and snow-covered mountains where temperatures had already plunged well below freezing.
What makes this case so strange is the sheer absence of evidence. When Cory didn't return to the vehicle after dark, search teams mobilized in force. Hundreds of rescuers, helicopters, mounted units, and tracking dogs combed through roughly 12 square miles of unforgiving terrain for ten exhausting days. And they found absolutely nothing. No footprints, no discarded gear, no blood, no campsite, not even a broken branch. It was as if the teenager had simply ceased to exist.
Then, nearly a year later in September 1992, two hunters stumbled upon Cory's backpack and rifle hidden beneath brush and weathered snow, roughly 10 miles from where he'd last been seen. The location was almost impossible to reach on foot, especially through deep winter snow, rocky slopes, and frozen creeks. And here's where things get really interesting for anyone who has spent time studying Sasquatch reports.
Investigators found scattered bones, a single tooth, and nearby, massive barefoot footprints pressed deep into the snow. Footprints that, according to many researchers, simply should not have existed in that location. The size and depth of those prints have been a point of fascination for years, with some suggesting they match descriptions of Sasquatch tracks documented throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The elevation adds another layer of confusion. Cory's remains were discovered on a mountain ridge at approximately 6,500 feet, meaning whoever or whatever reached that spot had climbed thousands of feet uphill through waist-deep snow. Any trained survivalist knows the basic principle: if you're lost and rescue teams are searching, stay put or head downhill toward rescue routes. Higher elevations demand more energy, expose you to harsher weather, and move you farther from help. Cory knew this. So why did he end up so high in the mountains?
Even more puzzling, many of the largest bones were missing, including his spine, ribs, and much of his lower body. Most of his clothing was also gone, his jacket was recovered, but his boots, pants, and socks were never found. For investigators, the missing pieces didn't seem random.
For those who have followed Sasquatch encounters throughout the region, cases like this one carry a familiar weight. The Pacific Northwest has a long history of unusual footprints, strange disappearances, and encounters that defy conventional explanation. Whether you believe Cory Fay stumbled into something he shouldn't have or simply fell victim to the brutal Oregon wilderness, the footprint evidence found near his remains continues to spark serious discussion among researchers.
The full breakdown of this case is worth watching if you haven't seen it. The video lays out every detail of the investigation, the strange discoveries, and the questions that still linger more than 30 years later. It's a sobering reminder that some mysteries don't have easy answers, and sometimes the wilderness keeps its secrets.