A view of the sighting area, from Genoa Lakes Golf Club. I believe it is the Canyon in the middle, with a visible green belt going down the center of it, where the stream might be. (Compare this to the aerial map below.)
For about an hour, in September of 1984, 2 female hikers were followed by a Sasquatch, down a hiking trail, above Genoa, Nevada. Kelly, one of the witnesses filed a report with the BFRO in February of 2003. She wrote a great, detailed account, and BFRO also followed up with more details, after they interviewed her.
I thought my fellow Nevadans might enjoy this report. Nevada has very few documented reports, which I think can be attributed to the sparse human population, over such a great area. Unlike Northern California, where the Bay Area alone has a population in excess of 7 million, and the Sacramento area has a population equal to Nevada itself (2.5 million as of 2007, most of which is in, and around, Las Vegas). Smaller population, equals less people venturing out into the wild, which lessens the chances of Sasquatch encounters, in wilderness areas far larger than most in California. The area in which this sighting took place is east, just over the Kingsbury Grade, from South Lake Tahoe.
Please click on and read the report:
BFRO Report #5909.
I've gone over the maps to try and outline the location of the encounter. The area in which the sighting occurred is still pristine wilderness. Genoa itself, has grown quite a bit, and is now an upscale golf course community, and million dollar plus homes, line the west side of Centennial Drive, in the area in which Kelly said she parked her truck. It looks like it is all private property on that west side of the street now. I will make a trip down that way in the Spring and see if I can find trail access along there. In the meantime, I have pulled a couple photos from Google Earth of the area. (Google Earth, by the way, is a great free service. I could spend hours on there!)
More views of the mountains west of Genoa, Nevada.
There are a few points I found interesting in the report. Firstly, the encounter started with the teenagers running down the hill. This is consistent with theories that Sasquatch are attracted to the presence of children. A couple of teenage boys would probably have been talking loudly, and laughing and giggling, which could have gotten the Squatch's curiosity up. Secondly, two women, walking and talking, who's voices probably carried pretty well through the canyon. This is also consistent with the theory of more frequent sightings with women. Then Kathy, also was playing her recorder at the top of the canyon, where the sound would probably carry rather well. I think maybe all these things combined, added to the reason why they had the encounter, and why the Sasquatch wanted to follow and watch them for as long as it did.
This sighting occurred over 25 years ago, when Genoa wasn't the resort style town it is now, with a then, much smaller population. Back then, all the new homes and golf courses weren't present to deter a Sasquatch coming down from the mountains, to possibly hunt the deer that would frequent the pastures and alfalfa fields along the Carson River. (See the Google Earth photo below of mule deer in Genoa.)
Photo from Google Earth of Mule Deer off of Genoa Lane.
I think that particular Squatch, and any it may have socialized with, may now shy away from that area, to avoid possible interaction with humans, and have moved on back toward the southwest.
I thoroughly enjoy Kelly's report! If Kelly, Linda, or anyone they know, come across this article, please let them know I'd love to discuss this further with them.
Kelly, I'd like to thank you for coming forward, and sharing your encounter with the public. Forever now, when I drive through that area, I will look up toward "Bigfoot Canyon," with a big ole grin on my face.
This aerial map is for reference, to show the proximity of the sighting(A), to the more well known locales in the area.
Carson City(B) Reno(C)
