Winter finally came to Colorado.  It has been mild and dry until 10 days ago.  The good thing about that I was able to go in and explore the steep and rugged areas while there wasn't snow.  There wasn't much action going on at the gifting rock until recently.  I was thinking maybe they have moved to another location.  But every time I left food for them it was taken.  I'm thinking they were getting ready for winter. 

This past 10 days when I went to the gifting rock I heard movements, knocks and even had one growl at me!  Before the snow came I found some impressions around the rock.  When I was getting ready to leave the other day there was a distinct knock my husband heard across and down past the creek.  That was the loudest one heard in over a month.

10 inches of snow is now on the ground in this area.  I have found some snow impressions but they were not distinct enough for me to make a clear determination of what made them.  Multiple types of overlapping impressions make it hard to figure out.  Two were possible BigFoot but I'm not real certain.  So I will say they were a maybe. 

I have been excited about the snow coming because I was hoping this will make tracking easier for me.  I did not take into account that they are human smart and will make this hard, almost impossible.  I expected to find their snow tracks around the gifting rock but that was not the case.  The food was taken but not where it went.  There were 2 impressions that looked like bare feet at the base of the gifting rock but nothing else.  I am surmising that they stood at the base and reached up carefully without touching anything but the food and then walked back on the tracks around the area and made no new tracks.  Where they go from this point I'm not sure.  It doesn't make sense but that is the way it is.  I have tracked a person's tracks that was not too far away wondering if they discovered the gifting rock area.  I had no problems following them and followed until the tracks left the area.  Never did go near the rock area to my relief.

What I'm trying to say is that I can track prints and movements but I have not been able to track the family of BigFoot coming in and out the gifting rock area.  The only thing I think is that they are climbing the trees.  Which makes sense if they don't want to be found.

For this winter I have decided that I will only go once a month to visit the gifting rock and not explore the surrounding area which includes the nesting area and where I had glimpses of them.  The reason I am doing this is that they know I know where they are and what areas they have marked off as theirs.  I will respect their privacy and need to hide.  I do not want to add stress to them during the long cold winter.  They have enough to do in order to survive and don't need me to add more to their plate.

So are you wondering what will I do now?  Remember I have found other spots within a few miles of this research area that may indicate more activities.  So I will go explore the other areas to see what I will discover.  One of my plans for this winter is to go back to the area where I found that clump of hair, rock stacks and the 17 inch print.  I also have another area I am interested in and may start looking into.  Our forest friends are all over Colorado.  I won't have a problem of not finding a place to explore.

I would like to thank you for allowing me to share my clueless journey.  I wish you and your family a safe and Happy New Year.  My wish is for peace and protection for the bipedal North American Primate known as my forest friends for the 2013 year and beyond.

SQUATCH ON!