On The Trail Of Bigfoot -- Track These Leads To Sighting The Northwest Forest Phantom

Thing about Bigfoot is, he's so darned elusive.

People devote their lives to searching for the hairy Northwest creature, and most of them don't come up with anything more than a plaster footprint mold, a couple of stray hairs or one heck of a story to tell the grandkids.

So far be it from us to say that we know how you can find him yourself. But we've been on his trail lately, and have found some places where his presence, at least, looms large: places, from taverns to trails, imprinted with his name, his memory or, at the very least, his foot.

There have been many sasquatch sightings in the rugged forest land east of Enumclaw, and just the other day a hunter told a White River Ranger District worker he heard Bigfoot's wail.

"I asked him how he knew it wasn't something else," Dianne Taugher recalls. "His eyes got real big and he said, `You just know.' "

If you want to listen for Bigfoot's high-pitched cries, you can explore some trails around there yourself. Try the Noble Knob trail, about 30 miles east of Enumclaw. It is accessible for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, so you have plenty of options if you need a quick getaway.

The route, part trail, part abandoned road, affords a beautiful Mount Rainier view about one-and-a-half miles in. You can hike for about six miles beyond that on a series of old roads, though the Rainier view is the best of the hike. Unless of course, you happen to find . . .

Sightings to the north

You might find sasquatch roaming around the North Cascades near Darrington as well. Although there haven't been too many sightings there lately, a 10-footer and 11-footer were spotted there in the 1970s. And, in 1969, two boys on a camping trip said they were chased by no fewer than three of the creatures.

Darrington Ranger District forestry technician Peter Selvig is skeptical about some of the Bigfoot accounts he's heard. "But, you've gotta face it," he says, "there's a lot of land out here that man has never been to."

A little-used trail he recommends, near a 1989 sighting, is the Squire Creek Trail. The moderate four-mile hike starts at an abandoned logging road and takes you through patches of old-growth timber and huckleberry bushes. Mountain goats are known to frequent the area, along with, maybe, You-Know-Who.

Before you hike out in pursuit of a sasquatch, there's something you should know. Bigfoot experts claim the creature can pick up your vibes. If you fear him or want to hurt him, forget it - you'll never track him down. But if he senses your intentions are friendly, well, you may have a chance.

And what better way of showing him you like him than visiting some places that bear his name? To prepare for your search, get your waterproof boots and freeze-dried victuals at Bigfoot Outdoor Ltd. in Olympia. The outdoor store also sells maps of Northwest Bigfoot sightings and books about the creature, should you want to embark upon a more educated search.

If it's a Bigfoot education you want, be sure to head to Seattle's Elliott Bay Book Company on Sept. 22, when Dr. Robert Pyle will read from his celebrated "Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the Dark Divide," published by Houghton Mifflin. The award-winning author and naturalist came away from his research "with my mind more open than ever to the possibility of such an animal," he says. The bookstore carries other Bigfoot titles as well.

After you fortify your mind with Bigfoot knowledge, fortify your body with Bigfoot food. Get Bigfoot nachos and Bigfoot burritos at Bothell's Bigfoot Inn. Or try the Northwest Bigfoot Bagel, with lox and capers, at Bigfoot Bagels in Woodinville. Do sasquatches like lox? Not necessarily, says store owner Don Shaw. "But I guess the stories have kind of been that Bigfoot smells like fish."

Experts don't believe he smells like doughnuts, but Snoqualmie's Bigfoot Doughnut Shop and Bakery sells huge maple doughnuts shaped like his footprint. The shop is a makeshift Bigfoot museum, with plaster footprints in one display case, photos and memorabilia on the wall and a talking doll from the 1984 movie "Harry and the Hendersons."

Bigfoot's hometown?

Much of that Bigfoot movie was filmed in tiny Index, Snohomish County, between Monroe and Stevens Pass on U.S. Highway 2. There, the Quonset hut that served as the movie's Bigfoot Museum still stands, with a stuffed sasquatch on display. At the nearby Espresso Chalet, in addition to Bigfoot mugs and T-shirts, they'll serve you up a 32-ounce Bigfoot, with four shots of espresso.

Mark Klein, who owns the espresso shop with his wife, Sandy, isn't necessarily "a believer or a disbeliever," he says. But lots of people who've come into his shop swear they've seen one, he says.

"And they seem like normal people," he says.

So don't feel crazy if some yearning deep within you drives you to seek out this shadowy creature. Thousands before you have felt the same thing.

Perhaps a simple doughnut will sate your primeval craving. But if you find yourself drawn to the wilderness, remember to take a friendly attitude and an open mind. And, by all means, don't forget a camera. ----------------------------------------------------------------- If you go:

-- To get to the eight-mile Noble Knob Trail, take state Highway 410 east from Enumclaw for about 31 miles. Turn left on Corral Pass Road (Forest Road 7174) and follow it about seven miles. The trailhead is on the left side of the road, just before a large parking area. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead as well. For either lot, a National Forest parking permit is required, which can be bought at ranger stations and some outdoor stores ($3 per day). The trail, popular among hikers and mountain bikers, is fairly level to the viewpoint for Rainier. At about mile 4.5, it drops steeply, with a total elevation change of about 3,000 feet. For more information about the trail or parking permit, call the White River Ranger District (360-825-6585). -- The four-mile Squire Creek Trail has a total elevation gain of 2,400 feet, climbing steeply after the second mile. To get there, take the Darrington/Arlington exit (Exit 208) from Interstate 5. Head east on state Highway 530. Follow that for about 31 miles into Darrington, and turn right on Fullerton Road (you'll see the Darrington Pharmacy on your right). Follow Fullerton Road a few blocks to a stop sign. Turn right onto Squire Creek Road (Forest Road 2040) and follow it about seven miles to its end, where you'll see parking for the trailhead. You need a National Forest permit ($3 per day) to park here. For more information, call the Darrington Ranger District (360-436-1155).

-- Bigfoot Outdoor Ltd. is at 518 Capitol Way S. in Olympia (360-352-4616). Take the Capitol exit from Interstate 5 and follow signs toward the Capitol. Turn right on Capitol Way South and drive about a mile to the store.

-- Robert Pyle's reading at The Elliott Bay Book Company is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22. The store is at First Avenue and Main Street in Pioneer Square (101 S. Main St., Seattle; 206-624-6600). Free tickets will be available starting Tuesday.

-- To get to Bothell's Bigfoot Inn, take Interstate 405 to the Bothell-Mill Creek exit. Head west toward Bothell on the Bothell-Everett Highway. Turn right onto 240th Street Southeast, where you'll see the tavern (918 240th St. S.E.; 425-806-2085).

-- Bigfoot Bagels is at 14126 N.E. Woodinville-Duvall Road, Woodinville. From I-405, take the state Highway 522 exit and head east. Take the first Woodinville exit and turn right off the exit ramp. Turn left at the second light onto 175th Street Northeast and go a few blocks to the Woodinville Towne Centre, on your left (425-488-9899).

-- For Snoqualmie's Bigfoot Donut Shop and Bakery, take Interstate 90 to Exit 27 and follow signs toward Snoqualmie/Snoqualmie Falls. Turn left onto Railroad Avenue and the shop will be in a quarter mile on your right (8224 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie; 425-831-2244).

-- Index lies about 20 miles east of Monroe along U.S. Highway 2. The Espresso Chalet and Quonset Hut are at milepost 36 along Highway 2 (360-793-7932).

----------------------------------------------------------------- Bigfoot at Baker

The town of Maple Falls, Whatcom County, will host its yearly Bigfoot at Baker Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22. The festival features a Bigfoot look-alike contest, hunt for Bigfoot prints, storytelling, a parade, talent show, barbecue and arts and crafts vendors. Bigfoot will put in an appearance at all events. Maple Falls is about 26 miles east of Bellingham, on state Highway 542. For more information, call 360-599-1056.