John Olsen Discusses Alaska's Giant Bigfoot Legends in New Book

If you've ever wondered what lurks in the vast, untamed wilderness of Alaska, a recent episode of the Mysteries & Monsters podcast is an absolute must-watch. Host Paul Best sits down with veteran paranormal investigator and field researcher John Olsen to dig into Olsen's brand-new book, *Stranger Alaska*—the 10th installment in his acclaimed Stranger series. And let me tell you, this conversation is packed with enough weirdness to keep you up at night. Alaska has always had a reputation as a magnet for the strange, and Olsen makes a compelling case for why. The sheer size of the state is mind-boggling—cut it in half and it's still bigger than Texas. With so much remote, sparsely populated wilderness, it's no wonder the place attracts stories of vanishing hikers, bizarre lights in the sky, and creatures that shouldn't exist. Olsen himself fell in love with the state during a trip with his wife and knew he had to dedicate an entire book to its mysteries. And what a collection it is. *Stranger Alaska* covers the full spectrum of the unexplained—hauntings, cryptids, UFOs, and even encounters with vampires and werewolves. For anyone fascinated by Sasquatch, there's plenty to sink your teeth into. Olsen mentions stories of giant Bigfoot sightings, and the book weaves together indigenous folklore with modern witness accounts. Alaska has long been a hotspot for Sasquatch reports, with its dense forests and mountainous terrain providing the perfect hiding spots for these elusive beings. The Tlingit and other indigenous peoples have passed down oral traditions about large, hairy wild men roaming the wilderness for generations, and modern researchers continue to collect compelling testimony from hunters, trappers, and fishermen who claim to have crossed paths with them. One of the most chilling stories discussed involves a man who vanished during a mountain race in Alaska. Despite extensive searches by organizers and volunteers, no trace of him—or even his clothes—has ever been found. It's as if he simply stepped through a doorway into another dimension. Olsen and Best speculate about what could have happened, joking about UFOs and pterodactyls, but the underlying mystery is genuinely unsettling. What makes this interview so engaging is Olsen's obvious passion and decades of experience in the field. He's not just recycling old campfire tales—he's actively collecting fresh witness accounts, and the synchronicity of stories pouring in once he decided to focus on Alaska speaks to how rich the territory is for paranormal research. He even mentions heading back to Alaska soon for another trip, which means there may be even more stories to come in a future volume. The conversation also touches on Alaska's strangest true crime cases, famous disappearances like the Bogs and Burgich case from the 1970s, and legends of otter men, mammoths, and even dinosaurs reportedly roaming the backcountry. It's a reminder that the Last Frontier isn't just a nickname—it's a description of a place where the boundaries of the known world genuinely thin out. For anyone interested in Sasquatch, cryptids, or just the unexplained in general, this episode is well worth your time. Olsen is a fantastic storyteller, and Paul's enthusiasm for the subject makes the interview fly by. Check it out on the Mysteries & Monsters YouTube channel—you won't be disappointed.