10 Must Haves For Your Next Bigfoot Expedition (Plus My Recommendations)

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Last year, The Carolina Cryptid Crew held a public expedition. Participants were chosen by random drawing, plus one that had an awesome submission. Many people asked then and have asked since, what one would bring on a Bigfoot Expedition. Well, there are several things I include in my pack. All of these are not necessities, but will make your experience more enjoyable.

The things that you absolutely must have when on a Bigfoot Expedition is a flashlight (and I highly recommend a camera of some kind).

1. Correct Clothing and Shoes

This may not seem like a biggie to some, but believe me- it is. I've seen people show up to an expedition wearing shorts and flip flops- not a good idea. Not only will you be traipsing around where you can't see 2 feet in front of your face, but there is wildlife out there and lots of bugs (read: chiggers and ticks).

You are going to want to wear hiking boots (or at least good tennis shoes), jeans that you can move in, and a shirt you are comfortable in. You may want to bring along a raincoat. My general expedition uniform is jeans, hiking/ work boots (yes, they are pink), a tank top until it gets cold, a pretty pink camo hat, and a jacket for when it cools off.

Snake guards are always a good idea, as well as a non-scented bug repellant (wristbands work great) and sunscreen.

2. Safety Gear

Along with snake guards, bug repellant, and sunscreen, there are other safety items you may want to consider bringing along. These items include a powerful stun gun, knife, first aid kit, flashlight, hunting vest and snake bite kit.

A survival kit with water purifier is also a good idea. Included in this should be flares, a thermal blanket, and meal bars.

Recommendations:

Personal water filter, 25,000,000-volt stun gun with flashlight, adjustable beam light

3. Camera

In all honestly, it doesn't matter what kind of camera unless you are a serious bigfooter. Our team uses a combination of trail cameras, bell+howell night vision camera, cell phones, Kodak Easyshare, Kodak Easyshare Sport, GoPro Hero 3, MeCam, and several other digital cameras and camcorders. You just want to make sure you can get a photo if you find evidence or of the big guy himself. 

You could always invest in a thermal imaging camera, but they can cost into the thousands. 

4. Monopod or Selfie Stick

This is pretty essential with a camera. They can help you get a better angle, but they serve a more fundamental role as well. With a monopod or selfie stick, your photos and videos will be more stable because the handle will allow the movement of your body to dissipate before it gets to the camera. If you choose not to use one, I highly recommend using a glove, it can help minimize static noise. 

Alexan FlexPro Selfie Stick

5. Mounts

This may seem an odd thing to include, but trust me. I have a GoPro Hero 3 with added IR. In the woods, I use an additional IR light to get a better range on my photos. This meansI have the camera, extra light, and 2 batteries. That doesn't include my phone, flashlight, voice recorder, or any other gear I may carry. So, I use a mount that I attach to my monopod, hot shoe adapters, and velcro to have my set up all smooth (I'll share that another time). This set up is directly determined by your gear and your pereerences. 

You may want to even consider something like a phone lasso that will allow you to put your phone on a lanyard (or anything else with a smooth surface.) I have one on my phone that I keep attached to a wristlet. Then, on an evestigation, I'll switch it to a lanyard. It is always ready to go when I need it. You could also put a voice recorder on it. 

6. Voice Recorder

This is a pretty importaant one. There have been nights that we have been at the research area and heard howls all night long. Then, there are nights we may hear 2. There are many options for voice recorders, including apps. I suggest a freestanding one though, it s much simpler. You can get a very involved one like from Sony or Olumpus, or a more simpler one. I prefer this one touch recorder from Uqique. Just turn it on and it starts recording. Great for catching calls. 

7. Walkie Talkie

This is one of hose essential things that the team you will be with will most likely have, we do. However, if you are going with a friend (or starting a team), I wanted to include this. If you and your friend get seperated, this is a great thing to have! You don't have to have the best one, just enough diistance to reach eachother. 

8. Evidence Collection

You are going to want something to collect evidence with. While you do not have to have all of this, these are some of the items in mine. Paper bags, ziplock bags, vials, tweezers, disposable gloves, alcohol wipes, surveyor's tape, tape measure, lighted magnifying glass, distance meter, UV light and a notepad to write it all down with and number. Don't forget plaster, water, and something to miz it in. 

I have tweezers, surveyors tape, tape measure, and baggies in my pack I carry along. Then, I have a tool box with the rest of this stuff in it. 

9. Something To Carry Your Gear With

While some items can be left at base camp, some can be worn on your person (or monopod), there are still going to be things you need to have with you and not in your hands. So, you need something to carry it with. 

There are many options available, including utility vests, backpacks, waist packs, sling packs, and more. I personally use a variety of options. I use a small backpack and a waist pack. I also have a larger backpack I keep at base base camp with speakers, extra gear, and all that fun stuff we sometimes use in it- just in case. I've been keeping my eye out for a couple different size camera backpacks because they have easier access and padding for equipment and a utility vest for my husband. If you have recommendations, I'd love to hear them. 

10. The Right Attitude

I saved the biggest for last. I'm not going to tell you what attitude is right because essentially, it is about what is in your heart. 

I'm not setting out to prove that bigfoot (or ghosts) exist to the world- I already know they are real. I am doing 2 things I am trying to get people to open their mind to the possibility of something existing that they cannot see, and I'm looking for an explanation to what I've seen- that's all. If they do ever get proven to exist, I will work to have them protected. I do not want to see them killed, although I fear that a body is the only way to prove what I've seen exists. 

What is on your list of essential gear? 

I Caught The Bug: My First Bigfoot Expedition

I have been interested in Bigfoot since I was about 8 years old. A teacher sent me home with a book about mysterious animals to read. The book was about the Kraken, Bigfoot, Nessie, Chupacabra, and many more. From that time on, I would read or watch anything about these mysterious creatures, especially Bigfoot. In all honesty, I never thought I would get the opportunity to look for Bigfoot. I thought they were all in the Pacific Northwest. I didn't think there was any way they were in South Carolina.

On June 1st, 2013, the team decided to have a sort of training exercise to get everyone used to being in the woods and learn how to look for oddities. This was just an exercise in case we needed to look for cryptids or investigate haunted forests. We also decided to take this time to do a live broadcast that was a discussion with the team.

We found a good bit of interesting evidence and even had some experiences that couldn't be explained. After this night, our research took off and gained the attention of the local news stations. Some of these stories were even picked up by international media outlets.

This is my journal entry after that night- I have caught the bug and jump at every opportunity to look for Bigfoot.

Bigfoot Hunt: June 1, 2013 To be honest, I did not expect to have any experiences, especially since I was assigned command central for the night. At the most, I thought we may hear some sounds that we were unsure of and hear from the team if the habitat was likely to be the home of a Bigfoot. However, the evening started out with a bang- literally. Inspector Cryptid, Marty, and a couple of other members went for a preliminary walk in the woods and that left Lisa and I alone at command central. 

At first, we hear a rock hit the building behind the home on the property. A few minutes later, we hear a rock hit the building behind the neighbor's house. A few minutes after that, a rock hits a bag of charcoal behind where we are seated. At this point, we decide that it is not coincidence and decide to go check out the woods. 

We radio the field team and tell them what we experience, grab the camera, and head towards the woods. We get to right before the woods start and stop to listen. Within a couple minutes, we hear a distinct "woop." When we heard the woop, we realized the woods were completely quiet. A bird started singing, but stopped in mid song- I have never heard anything like it. We radio the team to see if they had made the woop. They had not. After we finished talking with the team, we heard a very distinct wood knock from pretty close to where we were. This was not a branch breaking. We decided not to radio the team again- they would never believe us. 

We then headed back to command central so we would not scare anything off. After the team returned, we learned that they had heard woops as well. They had also found some trees that had been pushed over and footprints at the base. We were going to cast them the next day, as it was already about 2am. However, storms came in that night and washed evidence away. 

Family Day with Carolina Cryptid Crew

A few weeks ago, the team and our families headed up to the mountains for a much needed expedition and family day. We decided to make it a family day because we were just going during the day and we were going to just get a feel for the place, as most of the team was pretty unfamiliar with the location. The thing about this location (that I will not disclose at this time) is that there has been a lot of Bigfoot activity in the past. In fact, I have heard that Matt Moneymaker actually had activity here, including hearing "Samurai Chatter." A member of our team even had activity here.

This particular location is a very secluded primitive campground with a small river running through it. It is a popular spot for trout fishing and very close to the Chattooga rafting launch locations. In fact, it is only a few miles away from each of the major rafting companies in the area. This is actually in the area where the film Deliverance was filmed, so you can imagine how wooded and secluded it is.

One of our team members smoked a wild boar and it was so good. The team ate, socialized, laughed, and had a look around. There was some activity, but the spot was pretty populated with fishermen and picnickers that day, with it being such a pretty Saturday, even if it was a big chilly.

One of the kids that came along for family day was throwing rocks into the river and from the other side of the river, a rock would be thrown and hit the water at almost the same spot. Odd, right. While there, we also felt like we were being watched from across the river, found a few breaks high up in the trees, and even saw a few tree structures. One of the team members later reported seeing a tree with the root ball up in the air.

I did record a video while there, which I will upload to my new YouTube channel at some point.

We are going to head back up at some point, and even conduct an over night expedition. We'll be sure to keep you updated with our future adventures at this well known Bigfoot hot spot.

Finding Bigfoot in South Carolina

On Tuesday, January 13th, some of the Carolina Cryptid Crew and CSPRI Inc members will be heading to Aiken, South Carolina for a huge opportunity. We have been invited to come to the Finding Bigfoot Town Hall meeting to share our experiences. This is truly an honor. Some of the Carolina Cryptid Crew members have been speaking with the Finding Bigfoot research team for quite some time and are excited to pass on their experiences face to face.

We wish them luck and safe travels as they go to represent the team.

I am so excited to be included in this adventure. Be sure you are following me on Instagram and Twitterfor fun as it happens.

Here are some news links for more information.

Our Gazette
Anderson Independent
Scene On 7

Welcome To My Paranormal World

For a few years now, my personal blog, The Palmetto Queen has been home to all  blog posts, although it didn't start out that way. It is supposed to be for organizing, parenting, and homeschool. However, my paranormal and tech posts have taken over.

Now, my tech posts will be here. I will gradually move those over here and new ones will be posted on both for a while. Please bear with me while I get this in order.

What I've Been Up To- No, I didn't get kidnapped by Bigfoot

As most of you know, I'm part of a paranormal team that has recently launched a cryptid branch. Well, The Carolina Society for Paranormal Research and Investigation and The Carolina Cryptid Crew have been keeping me on my feet. Paralina is doing a good job of picking up any slack they leave. I love this team!

We have had our hands full with planning events, doing the events, and making sure they run smoothly.

The Carolina Cryptid Crew is still in full swing and going like a whirlwind. We have a meet and greet this coming Saturday in Seneca- y'all should definitely come out.

If you've been wondering why I do all this. Why I am so passionate about it and why I am determined to see the team succeed- Then read this book. This is our story. This is a true story, sometimes hard to believe, but true. This is the power that drives me. Written by Melissa D. George and Brandon Hudgens. Prologue by Dennis Carroll. Introduction by me. 

As always, there is always something going on with us and I would like some input from you all. Would you like to hear more about my paranormal adventures and this rock star life?