I’ve been doing ‘survival jaunts’ as I call them, since 1982. I was 15 back then and I’d go out into the forest by myself, with only a knife, for two weeks or so. Back then I’d start from my home and walk my way through the mountain valleys 30 miles or so into the deep dark forest of the Washington Cascade mountains. I would only take my knife and appropriate clothing for the weather and basically survive. In 1995, during my 14th jaunt into the wilderness, at age 27, I was awakened by a bear attempting to eat my foot. Of course I disagreed with this and decided that punching the bear in the snout was an appropriate response. It wasn’t, because Mr. Bear decided that stepping on my face was an appropriate response. I lived because of two things that day; 1) I was lying in mud so my head wasn’t crushed. 2) I had my knife in my other hand. It’s a Boy Scout knife from the 70’s w/the leather wrapped handle, classic style…still use it today. I was able to get at his face with the knife and he decided this good looking, tall, muscular dude w/a great sense of humor and beautiful green eyes was not worth the trouble.
But from that point on, I created ‘Alerts’ around where I was going to sleep. I created all sorts of elaborate ways to alert me whilst sleeping if a bear or mountain lion were walking about.
So a few years ago a friend turned me on to FithOps and the trip wires, so on and so forth and I was hooooooked! A better system with form & function in accordance to price could not be had.
So onto the midget.
Two years ago in 2022 I was on my 35th survival jaunt and at this point I’m helicoptered into remote locations far away from the things of man by my friends’ father who owns an expedition company. They go into Alaska/BC mountains, Washington & Oregon, blah blah blah.
I will admit, since 2000 I’ve carried a Ruger 357 w/10 extra…and not for animals per se, but for possible crazy humans. I’ve got so many stories, you’d stay up at night holding your pillow tight and wishin’ your mommy was there to hold you.
So I set up a FithOps trip wire at a location I believe I’m going to sleep, only I realize I’m directly above a hidden stream.
So I move, forgetting my trip wire…and go about 30 yards yonder. At 2am that trip wire went off. It was a full moon that night or very close to one and I woke up with a start. Looking across this tiny valley I was in I saw an 7’ figure walking around. I had to clear my eyes and I slowly slowly sat up. I was in the grass covered by leaves. To my surprise I was watching a Bigfoot walk around. He walked around back and forth, crouching ever so often. And I thought; What do I do? So I lay there, not moving. Then, out of the blue from the edge of the forest a 12' Bigfoot came out, walked over to the midget Bigfoot, they talked and then looked my direction. Mind you, I’m about a pitcher’s mound away from them…90’. So they were right there. I decided to show defiance and stood up, squaring my beautifully cut shoulders at them. With my long, wavy chestnut hair blowing in the wind and my dewy muscular arms glistening in the moonlight, they decided to turn around into the forest and walk away.
So FithOps allowed for me to see two Bigfoot! Totally cool and one of the best products I’ve ever owned!
Thank you!