Cliff Barackman Launches Comprehensive London Trackway Bigfoot Research

Edited screen shot of Cliff Barackmans London Trackway home page

Finding Bigfoot co-host Cliff Barackman (pronounced bear-eck-men) is a self described cast nerd. This becomes absolutely apparent if you have the fortune of talking to him about cast details, which casts are the most compelling or even the history of casts general.

Recently an extraordinary event in Bigfoot history fell into Cliff's lap, a  possible trackway of over 120 sequential Bigfoot prints and the community is the better for it. We are the better for it, not only because Cliff is a prominent cast nerd, but also because Cliff has provided a home for the data. Aptly named The London Trackway Home Page, Cliff Barackman provides the most comprehensive information available on the subject. 

Cliff announced the London Trackway Homepage this morning (Wed, Aug 29th) on his blog, NorthAmericanBigfoot.com with his intentions reprinted below.

My website [CliffBarackman.com] will now have an entire section devoted to the London Trackway.  There will be four sections in total.  One for the history, observations, photos, and an index.  The history section will briefly detail what transpired, though others have done this very well before I got to it.  The observations section will detail what I have personally observed in the casts.  This section will continually be updated as I see more and more in the casts, and also as others weigh in on the evidence presented.  The photographs will detail the observations I make, and also present the data in ways that I think are interesting or useful.  Finally, the index will show every footprint in the ground, as well as any casts that were taken of them.  This section will also include a short narrative of my interpretations of what can be observed in the casts or prints.

Go to The London Trackway Home Page Now!

 

London Trackway Revisited

Satellite with Lattitude and Longitude of London Trackway (click to enlarge) 

Going to revisit the London Trackway tomorrow with Toby Johnson and Thom Powell. 

The London Trackway  is the name of the 120-plus tracks, possible Bigfoot tracks, were discovered south of Eugene, Oregon in mid February 2012. These tracks were first discovered by Toby Johnson and his friend known as Tracker. Click the following link to read the official London Trackway Timeline.

Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot has been filming the London Trackway episode for Season 3 since Sunday (8.18.2012) and I'm curious to see how the trackway story will translate into TV land. 

This was an opportunity for me to update my illustrated infographic. I noticed on my original drawing in my sketchbook I had a rough outline of the different soil layers. The sand, clay, and silt substrates. Its not a hundred percent accurate, of course, although I did cross reference with photos. I'm confident that the areas where the tracks cross the different substrates is accurate. As you can see Series A (pink) was almost all silt, while Series B (Lt. Blue) was mostly in a sandy substrate. 

A little additional substrate information (click to enlarge)

I'll let you know how it all goes when I get back home late tomorrow night.

Cliff Barackman and Dr. Jeff Meldrum look at London Bigfoot Tracks

Cliff Barackman co-host of Finding Bigfoot and self-described track nerd.

"The problem I found was that there seemed to be little toe splay variation from print to print." --Cliff Barackman on his initial "impression" of the London Trackway Casts

Cliff Barackman is a fountain of Bigfoot knowledge, he is especially keen on Bigfoot tracks. Recently he has had a break in his taping schedule and has taken the opportunity to update us with an update on his discussion of the London Trackway with Dr. Jeff Meldrum. Click the following link to read our previous London Trackway news.

Below is a excerpt from Cliff Barackaman's update. 

While going over the casts on my very short break in April, I discovered some things that made me wonder if the impressions could have been hoaxed.  The problem I found was that there seemed to be little toe splay variation from print to print.  This feature (or lack thereof) might indicate a prosthetic foot, such as a wooden cutout.  

I later discovered that Dr. Jeff Meldrum had an opportunity to examine a small sampling of the London casts obtained by Toby Johnson, Thom Powell, and Guy Edwards at the recent Primal Peoples gathering in Washington.  After seeing the casts, Dr. Meldrum also had some concerns about their authenticity.  

Read the rest of this update at Cliff's Blog NorthAmericnBigfoot.com

Impression 121 of the London Trackway

Thom Powell: Review of London Trackway Talk at Sasquatch Brewery.

Author Thom Powell next to an impressive display of the London Trackway Discovery

Author Thom Powell spoke to a crowded room at the Sasquatch Brewery last Tuesday the 20th. As you can see the restaurant/brewery temporarily became a museum for a night. Click the following link for our complete coverage of Thom Powell.

Not all of the casts in the display are from the London Trackway, but take note on the five that are behind Thom's elbow. The 3rd from the left on the top row and the 2nd from the left on the second row both support a midtarsel break feature. The midtarsel break is a proposed feature of Sasquatch foot morphology. Basically it is a hinged foot as opposed to an arch like humans have. The hinged foot allows for  flat prints without an arch and animated prints that exaggerate the hinge during push off. The prints behind Thom support such animation. 

If you have had the fortune of seeing Thom speak before you know he can capture the attention of the audience. Many of the topics he covered, last Tuesday, he had introduced over 10 years ago in the acclaimed book, The Locals. Although these topics were borderline taboo then, many of these "fringe" ideas have gained popular acceptance in the community; habituation, mind-speak, and telepathy. In his recent book, Shady Neighbors, he weaves the "new fringe" of the Sasquatch cannon, that can only best be told through allegory and fiction. Rest assured, readers will find what is in store for the next ten years of Sasquatch research in Shady Neighbors; mosquitoes, burial grounds, and curve balls.

Our favorite topics Thom Powell covered is the the proposal that Bigfoot research is intelligence gathering not science. In his post, aptly titled, Bigfoot Research: Intel not Science, he spells it out more concisely. Below is a blurb:

Bigfoot researchers, then, are like the CIA and the spooks at CIA are not utterly focused on unassailable proof when they evaluate the information they gather. I suspect they take spurious and incomplete data sources because sometimes that's all they can get, and they use them to look for recurring observations that suggest suspected patterns of behavior that might have predictive value.  Everything they gather is a bit uncertain but this does not justify throwing that data away.  It is understood that the quarry is smart enough to cover their tracks.  Indirect and uncertain sources of information are still valued and exploited. SRC: ThomSquatch.com

Get your very own copy of Shady Neighbors at Amazon.com, or get your signed copy of Shady Neighbors by author Thom Powell here.

Author Thom Powell's London Tracks Presentation at Sasquatch Brewery

Nearly 30 cast made by  authorThom Powell from the London Footprint Sequence
with help from Toby Johnson, Beth Heikkinen and BigfootLunchClub editor, Guy Edwards

"Max was't looking for bigfoot, or even bigfoot evidence.  He was looking for an old car to buy.  He never found the car, but he did find some of the best bigfoot evidence ever dicovered. Talk about serendipity." --Thom Powell, author of The Locals and Shady Neighbors

Sasquatch & Suds is a monthly event presented
by the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium

Tonight, at the Sasquatch Brewery: 6440 SW Capitol Hwy, author Thom Powell and Toby Johnson will discuss the five days following the discovery of the London Trackway (Read complete coverage of the London Trackway).

The London Trackway  is the name of the 120-plus tracks, possible Bigfoot tracks, were discovered south of Eugene, Oregon in mid February 2012. These tracks were first discovered by Toby Johnson and his friend known as Tracker. You can read the brief timeline and the original report here or the extended one written by Toby himself. 

On March 14th, Toby Johnson was interviewed during the last hour of Alex MidnightWalker's BlogTalkRadio show. (Listen to interview) During the last half of the interview Toby recalls the some truly puzzling events that transpired the following Sunday after the tracks were discovered.

Both author Thom Powell and Toby Johnson will cover the London Trackway and expand on the following paranormal Sunday. Bring your questions and an open mind!

BRING CASH TOO!
Tickets to the 2012 Oregon Sasquatch Symposium will be available, as well as copies of the London Trackway casts available for purchase (both $20).

Author Thom Powell will have signed copies of both of his books The Locals and Shady Neighbors. Shady Neighbor cover artist, Guy Edwards, will be available too.


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Toby Johnson: The Paranormal Sunday after the London Tracks, Bigfoot Mind-speak

Toby discusses a shared paranormal Bigfoot mind-speak
incident on BlogTalkRadio. 

"It's a separate story from the London Trackway, It's a very relevant story because it has so many corroborating witnesses...I don't shy away from talking about it, because it was so incredible..." --Toby Johnson

During the week of February 12th through 17th over 120 possible Bigfoot prints were discovered south of Eugene, Ore. Most of the story has been told and documented. What has not been made public is Toby's experience the following Sunday. On the following Sunday (FEB 18th), Toby Johnson, Beth Heikkinen and a few other individuals recall having non-verbal communication with Sasquatch. Some of the men had bouts of nausea and, at points, restricted mobility.

On March 14th, Toby Johnson was interviewed during the last hour of Alex MidnightWalker's BlogTalkRadio show. The first half of the interview Toby reiterated most of what has already been documented by Bigfoot Lunch Club in our London Tracks section.

Below is just the portion of the interview where Toby recalls the events that transpired during the paranormal Sunday.

Toby and Thom Powell will go into further detail at the Mar 20th Sasquatch and Suds Event located at the Sasquatch Brewery. Also make sure you buy your tickets for the 2012 Oregon Sasquatch Symposium. 

BlogTalkRadio Interview with Toby Johnson Tonight

Toby Johnson, Oregon Sasquatch Symposium organizer and "Friend of the Feet"

"...the annual OSS partly served as Sasquatch support group, albeit one where the therapeutic model is reversed." -- Toby Johnson

March 14th, a month after the discovery of the 122 possible Sasquatch prints, known as the London Tracks, found south of Eugene, Ore, Toby Johnson is interviewed by Alex Midnighht Walker on his BlogtalkRadio channel blogtalkradio.com/midnightwalkers.

At 6:00pm you can tune in to this link  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/midnightwalkers/2012/03/15/welcome-toby-johnson. and listen to Toby talk a little about this year's Oregon Sasquatch Symposium and Featuring Bob Gimlin and Bill Munns (buy your tickets here). Toby will also discuss the 122 tracks found south of Eugene, Ore., in Cottage Grove. You can read our initial report on the London Tracks, our follow up video-interview with Toby, and Toby's video, "The first 48 hours" 

The description of tonight's BlogTalkRadio hosted by Alex Midnight Walker is below.

Oregon Sasquatch Symposium organizer Toby Johnson hasn’t seen a Sasquatch first hand, but he is a "Friend of the Feet" none the less! This wasn’t always so. The curiosity of a genuine wooded mystery peaked when he and his son walked upon a 5 toed human looking track back in 2005. Since that day to his surprise, Johnson discovered that the Willamette Valley area is teeming with Sasquatch witnesses that are silent in "mixed" company.

Because of this, the annual OSS partly served as Sasquatch support group, albeit one where the therapeutic model is reversed — instead of opening up and sharing your problems, you’re simply sharing what is actual and factual in a uncommon world view.

Recently on Feb 15th of 2012, Toby Johnson was the first to document and cast the historical London Trackway. The 122 Sasquatch prints from Lane County Oregon is as of today one of the most documented suspected Bigfoot tracks to be investigated. With over 10 Sasquatch researchers on scene, 2+ hours of video, witness testimony, ample sharing of data and a 5 day follow-up into the mountains, The London Prints could serve the whole Sasquatch community as a unmatched resource for years to come.

London Bigfoot Tracks: Tobby Johnson Interview at the Scene

Toby Johnson sending a postcard from the past.
Date/Time: Saturday, ‎February ‎18, ‎2012, ‏‎7:11:50 AM  Location: London, Oregon

At this point Toby, Thom, Beth and I had only 3 hours of sleep. We had been casting almost the entire night prior. This video was shot right after daybreak. I decided to record this interview for posterity's sake. This is the location four days after the initial discovery. In the interview there are two corrections that must be made. 

1. The original discoverer, Max Roy, was not walking his dog, he was approached by a man walking his dog who mentioned the prints to Max. The name of the man and his dog are unknown.
2. The independent count that Cliff Barackman and I, Guy Edwards, came up with was 122. Toby Mentions over 160 in the video. The 160 may be other prints that were discovered nearby, Cliff and I only counted the ones in sequence.

You can get the details Toby is describing in our earlier post titled, "Over 120 Sequential Sasquatch Prints Found South of Eugene." Enjoy the video below

London Trackway: Over 120 Sequential Sasquatch Prints Found

One of the first measurements taken by Toby Johnson 15-16 inch print

South of Eugene, over 120 footprint tracks were found in a clay-mixed substrate that was a perfect material to capture and record footprints. We believe the tracks were made as recently as Saturday February 11th, although the first few prints were not discovered until Sunday the 12th.

Quick run down of events.

• (SUN Feb 12th) Max is a retired man who once worked in the auto industry and now spends his retirement restoring cars, he happened to be looking for cars in the London, Oregon when he is approached by a man walking his dog. 
• (SUN Feb 12th) The man walking his dog mentions to Max there are three Bigfoot prints near the tree line. Max checks it out and is surprised to see the three good tracks
• (MON Feb 13th)  Max can't sleep, has to go back to  site to take pictures.
• (TUE Feb 14th)  Max remembers Toby Johnson's Sasquatch-mobile, it had been decorated with large Bigfoot stickers resembling footprints. He had also recalled reading an newspaper article of the first Oregon Sasquatch Symposium Toby had held in 2010 at Lane Community College in Eugene. The Sasquatch-mobile is now owned by Toby's ex-wife, sans stickers, but Max, the car afficianado that he is, recognizes the vehicle non-the-less. So when Max went share the Bigfoot prints he contacted Toby's ex-wife first. Max gives his contact info to Toby's Ex
• (TUE Feb 14th)  Toby calls Max and max sends the pics of the three prints via phone.
• (WED Feb 14th 8:00pm ~ THURS  Feb 15th 7:00am) Toby goes to the site with his friend, an avid hunter and a local. Since Toby's friend wishes to remain anonymous, we will call him Tracker. Both Toby and Tracker see the original three and few others that were not photographed, these other tracks were in heavy vegetation.
• (THURS  Feb 15th afternoon) Toby goes home and Tracker ges home. Toby tries to return to site later in afternoon, due to obligations he can not stay long, as he leaves Tracker returns. Tracker is with his daughter's boyfriend, and continues to follow the tracks on his own time. Tracker follows the tracks out of the vegetation into a clay-like substrate and realizes there are at least a hundred prints. He calls Toby.
• (THURS  Feb 15th 3pm-ish) Toby calls Cliff Barackman, co-host of Finding Bigfoot and a self-described "track/cast-nerd". Cliff drives 2 hours to investigate the scene. Cliff also contacts Chris Minniear who picked up most of the casting material, did about half of the 65 cast made. Chris also documented the evenings events on video.
• (FRI Feb 16th 6pm) I am able to get a ride with Thom Powell, we meet Beth Heikkinen and Toby Johsnson and see the tracks ourselves. 
• (SAT Feb 17th 6am) Our original count was around 118 sequential prints. Cliff Barackman was able to count 122, we will confirm if his count are the sequential set or total prints in the area.We made two set of measurements recording step length stride length.

Step length is the distance between the point of initial contact of one foot and the point of initial contact of the opposite foot. In normal gait, right and left step lengths are similar.

Stride length is the distance between successive points of initial contact of the same foot. Right and left stride lengths are normally equal.

Below is a rough illustrated diagram of the the general path and the measurements we took. Knowing how difficult it is to get exact measurements, I added a third column titled Calculated Stride Length to compare against the Measured Stride Lengths. The numbers in the calculated column are based on the recorded step length. the numbers I am interested in are the average and means. 

The mean is the usual average,

so in Series A: Step Length average is 47.29:

(45 + 48 + 46 + 45 + 46 + 54+ 47) ÷7 = 47.29

The median is the middle value, so I'll have to rewrite the list in order

so in Series A: Step Length median is 46:

45, 45, 46, 46, 47, 48, 54

As you can see in the two sets, Series A and Series B, there average numbers and the means for the step and stride are relatively close.

Click to Enlarge

Below is a chronological slideshow of London Footprints (possible sequence of 120+ Sasquatch tracks). Photo compilation from Max Roy & Toby Johnson (initial discoverers), and Cliff Barackman & Thom Powell (first seasoned researchers on the scene) and yours truly, Guy Edwards (Bigfoot fanboy).