The Alliance of Independent Bigfoot Researchers is a non-profit organization of individuals dedicated to the research and conservation of the species of animal known to Native Americans for centuries by many names, but today called "Sasquatch" or "Bigfoot."

The Board of Advisors for the Alliance of Independent Bigfoot Researchers is made up of a representative sample of the best the field has to offer. The Board is meant to send a clear signal to all concerned that the AIBR is interested in pursuing its mission statement in as professional and ethical way as possible.

by Kathy and Bob Strain

Most of us have probably seen them – human-like footprints on a remote trail or in a dry river bed deep in the woods. You can’t help but ask yourself - why would a human be out here - walking around barefoot? Are the prints really human or are we so remote that maybe, just maybe, the prints really belong to the elusive bigfoot?

Recently a new phenomenon has come to our attention. It’s called Barefoot Running and Hiking. As the names suggest, these sports involves just you and your bare feet. No surface seems to be off-limits as many of the youtube videos demonstrating the sport are off-trail and in very rugged terrain (one shows two people hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney barefoot). Weather conditions also do not appear to be a factor, as several websites discuss snow and rain running as well.

Do you want to know more about evidence collection? Looking for some ideas on equipment? Here are some protocols, tools, and advice for you to help you in your search for the Bigfoot evidence.

Note: This document was presented by R. Scott Nelson at the recent Oregon Sasquatch Symposium as an effort to standardize transcription of reported sasquatch recordings.


Fm: R. Scott Nelson
To: Sasquatch Research Community

Re: Sasquatch Phonetic Alphabet (SPA) (attached)

Since I became involved in Sasquatch research a little over two years ago, I have received dozens of e-mails from around the country involving first-hand witness accounts, many containing recorded audio files, of perceived Sasquatch Language. Virtually all of these have included an attempt to spell out Sasquatch “words” using Standard English. This is of little value to the language researcher, since English is notoriously non-phonetic and is subject to widely-varied local dialects.

Since our ultimate goal is the recovery of Sasquatch Language, I have found it necessary to establish a phonetic alphabet and transcription standard (based on the transcription of the Berry/Morehead tapes), by which the contrast and comparison of all future suspected language can be facilitated.

To this end, as an invaluable tool in the future of Sasquatch Language research, I am requesting that the attached standard be published on research web-sites and that it be copied and distributed freely. With this, I am also requesting that local investigators begin using this alphabet as soon as possible to accurately document any perceived Sasquatch Language.

This standard should not be limited to first-hand witness accounts or recordings from North America, but should be used by investigators world-wide, since most languages have many of the same non-phonetic characteristics as English. The work is written in the style of a military SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).

It is my belief that there is nothing more important, at this early stage of Sasquatch Language study, than to standardize the documentation of evidence.

With highest regard for all those engaged in the work of Sasquatch recognition;

R. Scott Nelson

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A New Species? Scientists Discover a Distant Human Relative

In 2008, a team of archaeologists discovered a fossilized fragment of a pinkie finger in the secluded Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. The finger was buried with bracelets and other artifacts typical of early human sites dating back about 35,000 years. It was sent to the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, for routine genetic analysis. When the results came back, Johannes Krause, a researcher at the institute, called his colleague Svante Pääbo on his cell phone. "You'd better sit down," he said. "The finger is not human."

INTRODUCTION

On July 23, 2009, members of the Alliance of Independent Bigfoot Researchers conducted field operations on the Stanislaus National Forest near Pinecrest Lake, California. The goal of the expedition was to introduce out-of-state researchers with local research methods as well as inspect the area for evidence. Participating in the expedition with Bob and Kathy Strain were Robert and Jamie Swain of Arkansas.

Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer
LiveScience.com

Our ape-like ancestors might have walked like today's gibbons, whose super bendy feet give them a floppy strut.

The modern human foot first evolved in our ancestors around 1.8 million years ago, said Evie Vereecke of the University of Liverpool in England. But studies suggest that even before our advanced feet emerged, our mostly tree-climbing ancestors were walking upright for short stints.

Vereecke wanted to find out how they would have done that without specialized walking feet.

Investigator: Billy Willard

Report Submission Method: Submitted via AIBR 800 number

Date of Incident: October, 2004

State: West Virginia

Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, by the James River

Length of Observation: 2-3 minutes

Weather conditions: light rain