Springbrook Expedition 18/19th oct

[mikka]

Just thought I would do a small write up of a trip a few of us had this weekend.



Saturday, Lunchtime:


Forestguy, Anonimust, Aaron and myself met up at the arranged meeting spot and after the usual pleasantries, drove off to park the cars and embarked on what we hoped would be a good over nighter in the Springbrook rainforest. A short while later we parked the cars and ferried our gear up into the forest.

After a few hours we had all our gear up their and had chosen our camp location for the night. We then headed off to a have general look round the forest and walk surrounding trails. We walked all the trails with no luck and as night was approaching we trecked back to camp to put up the tents. As we where putting the tents up it became obvious that someone ( ) left their tent poles at home so Aaron and myself made a trip back to the car to get the spare tent while we left the others to finish putting up their tent and get organized.

Half way back to the camp spot I got a call from Forestguy, he stated that they weren't alone and had tree banging around them (Im sure he can expand on that). So we hurried back and got our gear set up. All was quiet so we started a small fire and started cooking some food. We sat around the fire talking and listening to the surrounding bush, where a few smaller things creeping round could be heard. Nothing really happened for the next few hours until just after 9pm

Aaron and Anonimust where in the tents sleeping, FG and myself where watching the last few flames flickering on the fire when everything in the forest went a deadly quiet, not a minute later 2 large "things" came running/crashing up out of the valley in our general direction. As they got closer one seemed to notice us and changed direction slightly and kept coming closer until it was maybe 30 feet directly to my side, then it stopped. This weird odour came floating downwind (I would describe it as a mix between cow manure and BO).

While that was happening the other "Thing" kept on its course, crossed the trail somewhere behind Forestguys tent and just continued to run/crash around that side and threw a large rock or something really heavy. After a few minutes they kept on going the direction they where on before they ran into us and they were gone. Slowly the usual animals started moving again.

We woke the 2 sleepy heads up and told them what they had missed. We all stayed up into the AM's this morning and tried a few things to get them interested again with no luck, after that everyone but myself headed to bed to try and get some sleep. I was going to stay up a bit longer and make sure the wood in the fire was burnt right out before I headed to sleep. A few other things happened after, their was a loud roar out of the valley that made Aaron jump up and ask me if I heard it. Also, something came back past the same "path" as the one I smelt and went back down the valley but I was so tired at that stage I went to sleep. Aaron woke me up once during the early hours of morn and said something was walking around the tents, I was exhausted so I rolled back over and went back to sleep.

Morning came and Aaron and myself scouted in the 50 foot radius around the camp for any evidence, unfortunately this area was hard clay with a few cm's of leaf litter on top, I think someone could jump up and down all day in the one spot take a step back and not notice any difference.

After the others woke up we all had a quick poke round and we called it a day.

Was great to meet Forestguy and Anonimust, look forward to spending more time in the bush with you


PS ill add pictures when I get a chance, and please excuse any spelling and grammar errors as I like to write these out straight away also I haven't slept yet

[stickyfingers]

...Mikka... great read my friend!...there would not be a chance in hell that I would possibly sleep after those events... incredible report!!!... I only wish that I was thirty years younger ... man I would've loved to have been there with you!... (unfortunately as I have stated on another occasion... I'm not too good walking around for hours due to an old back injury)... but good onya's!!!... I envy you guys... can't wait for some pics... cheers... Stickyfingers.

[Dion]

Great report Mikka

I was going to ask when where you guys heading out seems like you beat me to that question. I am guessing Alex couldn’t make it?

Sounds like you got some good action that night, Look forward to the photo's and any more reports coming in from the others

Again great report mate wish I was there.

[Yowielover1]

Great story Mikka. Did you record any sounds? I wish I came now with my bionic ear to record this stuff to put it on the site. Well there is always next time. Trail cams would have been good on this hunt to try get pictures too. My brother has some great night vision now. If it was as close as you have said, there would have been no problem in recording video of them because this night vision does about 150m really well.

Dammit! something was walking around the tents? My plan for this trip (had I gone) was to put a trail cam facing the tents to catch any inquisitve visitor.

So next time you go I would like to bring trail cams, night vision and the bionic ear....my brother may be attached to the night vision though.

That would have been soo much fun!

[mikka]

Thanks guys

Sticky, the me not sleeping was more the fault of my other half, she has a thing that is shes awake so am I


Chewy, I dont think anyone heard from Alex ? I dont know what happened to him. The next big trip is already in the wind and hopefully we can finalise a date soon.


YL1, I left my digital recording gear at home as the boot and back seat was crammed with gear, now I wish I took it but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I will shoot you a PM about our next planned trip, when we have a more of an idea about it. A few more should be coming who couldn't make this one because of work commitments.


Seeker, it would be good to have all the hi- tech gear, maybe one day when I win the lotto Ill stock up Your right though about this being more like a Recon, ive only been to this particular spot a handful of times before, still getting to know the area. Ill let you know when the next trip happens and hopefully you can make it.

Oh and as to the leeches only saw one the whole time, as Ive said its been unusually dry up their lately. Normally they are everywhere


Here are a few pictures of the area

[Yowielover1]

Nice little area to camp. Imagine 2 trailcams 50 feet up either side of the track facing the camp. I will bring one next time and other stuff.

If that track is long enough it would be good to set up 2 camps in contact with walkies, so if one camp has a visitor, members from the other camp can come up stealthily and get footage or sound recordings of the event.

[Dion]

Thanks for the pics Mikka looks like a prime little spot

Its times like these I wish I didn’t live so far south (out of range of Yowie hot spots)

[forestguy]

Hi all,

First of all, a very big thank you to Mikka and Aaron for taking a pair of newbies out and humouring us.

As Mikka said, we arrived on site mid-afternoon and ferried our gear up to the campsite before heading off for a wander around.

We returned to the campsite to set up tents around dusk, at which point Mikka and Aaron decided that an extra trip to the car was in order (note how I diplomatically avoided saying that Mikka forgot his tent poles so they had to go get Aaron's tent... ).

Anonimust and I finished our set up and I was sitting outside the tent while he was inside listening to the cricket on a little radio. Just as we lost all sunlight I heard something coming up through the scrub alongside us from the direction we'd been wandering during the afternoon (the opposite direction the guys had gone back to the cars).

I waited for it to get closer before getting him to shut off the radio, at which point it stopped dead (and after having had the radio on the silence really was huge). After a little while there was some slower movement and then some tree knocks roughly level with the camp. These continued intermittently for a minute or two, pretty lightly, before there was a single "heavier" (not sure how to describe it, just more solid) knock from the other side of the camp behind me.

I then called Mikka to give him a heads up and they got back a few minutes later. As he's said, we had a feed, stoked the fire and sat around for a while. Mikka and I were at the fire, with Aaron and Anonimust in the respective tents, when we heard movement come up quickly on the camp. Something crossed the track behind the camp, banged around and threw something, while something else stopped behind us. After a while they moved on and we got the other 2 out for a chat.

At the stage when something crossed the path it was probably within 10 metres of the tent, and as it crossed Anonimust gave a double tap on the floor of the tent to make sure I'd heard it, which I acknowledged. After I went to get him out for a chat it turned out that he was actually asleep, the tapping was just coincidental...

That was pretty much it action wise, when I woke up the next morning and remarked how much better I slept without my 4 year old jumping on me Aaron pointed out I was lucky I didn't have a four footer jumping on me instead... fair point!

Interesting to note that we only had action nearby when there was a maximum of two of us outside the tents.

Again, thank to Mikka and Aaron for taking us out - we got a bit of action and it's just always good to get out anyway.

One more thing I want to add. I've been posting for a while and lurking longer, getting out in the field when I can, etc etc. This was the first chance I've had to get out and do an overnighter in a known area since really starting to read up on the topic, and I was surprised at my own reaction on dusk when those first taps were answered by something behind me that I hadn't even heard until then. I'm not saying it was good or bad, but it certainly added a whole new layer to everything I've been doing previously.

Looking forward to getting out there again.

Cheers,
FG

[Yowielover1]

Nice story forestguy.

I really wish i came along on this one. Interesting point about close contact while only 2 were outside tents. I would like to see a sketch of the camp from above and how far away you heard noises in scale. Has me thinking...

[Yowielover1]

These continued intermittently for a minute or two, pretty lightly, before there was a single "heavier" (not sure how to describe it, just more solid) knock from the other side of the camp behind me.
FG

That second single sound might have been a stomp!

[Dion]

Nice addition Forestguy

Sounds like you guys had a blast

I have always believed, that 2-3 people at the most produces the best results, so its interesting to note (and yowielover picked up on this as well) that while only 2 of you were awake at any one time, got anything substantial i.e. heard footsteps, rocks being thrown or tree knocks etc.

I also believe that you don’t need all the high tech gear to have a good encounter a simple campout like you guys did yields the best results in my opinion and it showed.

Look forward to hearing about your next adventure.

[mikka]

Here is a quick Paint drawing showing the movements

[Yowielover1]

While i agree it was a good encounter, the high tech gear will give you pictures and recordings of them and I would love to see that and share it with people...especially the ones that laugh at our stories. Been waiting for soo long for an "I told you so" moment!!!



Thanks for the sketch Mikka,

I have no doubt that with the gear we could get a picture. Even recording the sounds would be nice.

[Dion]

Just a curious Question

I know you guys heard them approach but did you hear them leave?

[Dion]

While i agree it was a good encounter, the high tech gear will give you pictures and recordings Even recording the sounds would be nice.

Yeah I agree with the recordings statement but I have to disagree on the night vision infrared gear, from advice given and reports read they seem to have a knack of knowing, whether they can see or sense infrared I don't know, but from reports read they always seem to be one step ahead when it comes to technology.

That's why a simple campout is best in my opinion, you may not get the pictures but at least you'll have some encounter that can be put in the memory bank.

Don't get me wrong those that wish to use tech gear by all means do, but its just my opinion that the best results come when you don't have any.

[Dion]

Just a curious Question

I know you guys heard them approach but did you hear them leave?

Oh don't worry just reread mikka's report apparently you guys did hear them leave

[Aaron]

we had a good trip to springbrook and im happy it worked out the way it did

a very good night and a good experence for the 4 of us

[Aaron]

i heard one of them arrive and leave when everyone else was asleep Chewy it was prob investigating the loud snoring coming from the other tent

[Shar*Chi]

Seeker have u invested in thermal vision hardware by any chance? That's the big one in my books, as you can see something blended in behind trees etc.

[Aaron]

thermal vision would have been great up there

[forestguy]

I am in for the long haul but I will not waste my time to get memories - I want proof and that is what I have spent a lot of money on recently - equipment to achieve this aim.

I don't think I would have spent the money I have if I did not think that these things do truly exist. I don't wan't to waste my time with expeditions that are not well planned, well intended or well executed.

Ok... no offence taken. We did all have our own cameras ready, unfortunately I (and the other guys) don't have the coin for night vision, thermal, etc etc.

That said, there's a lot of others both here and in the States who do have the money and the gear and have gone out with the same game plan you're talking about but they're still yet to get the shot. Just ask Dean.

It would have easily been caught on video or successive still images whichever setting the camera is set on. Each encounter without the right equipment is an opportunity missed.

Again, if it was that easy it would have been done by now and we'd have a pic of a real hairy guy in the forum banner rather than a drawing.

I did have my camera set for sound recording, but in the end I didn't worry about it (probably a mistake on my part) because all it would have provided was some random banging/crashing/branches shaken... pointless without pics to go with it.

I can appreciate where you're coming from, and I fully agree with your emphasis on documentable evidence, but you haven't addressed Chewy's comment about the inability of technology to capture that evidence in the field so far.

I like your optimism, but I don't understand what it's based on. How is your trail cam/night vision gear/etc different from the equipment of everyone else who's taken it into the field and still come home empty-handed?

If, as you said, the last thing you want to do is spend a night in the bush with a couple of guys you don't really know...and come back with a good memories, then I think you're going to be disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, I think that sort of gear provides huge benefits in the field and it's something I'm (slowly) working towards - in fact I think it's how someone will eventually get the evidence we all want. But even once I do have the gear, I know that I'm going to have to be content with many more nights around the fire with little tangible to show for it.

I'll stick with your initial comments. You're right, it was a good recon with knowledge gained. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Yowielover1]

I like your optimism, but I don't understand what it's based on. How is your trail cam/night vision gear/etc different from the equipment of everyone else who's taken it into the field and still come home empty-handed?

People with normal cameras come home empty handed - does that make normal cameras bad?

From experience I have optimism too. I have been that close on three occaisions that if i had the gear i would have got a whole body shot. All those times i wasn't prepared. Now prepared, i don't see, given my experiences, any need for pessimism in attaining pictures of the hairy wonder. In fact, for me it is just a matter of time. I certainly don't see it as impossible, and I do think you should use the IR devices yourself before you decide based on other's experiences that they are a detriment to obtaining footage. If Joe redneck says he couldnt get a picture because of the IR device, then what other factors were involved? Did he smell like an old spice bottle? Was there even a Bigfoot in the area to begin with? There is no proof a Yowie can see IR at all, and until proof exists, i will consider such things as a useful tool in the field until my experience proves otherwise.

Also, before anyone mentions the IR footage of the small thought extinct Rhino attacking the IR camera, remember it was a mother with a baby, and that if you look directly at an IR trail cam it does emit a faint red glow. She was just destroying something she had not seen before to protect her child.


There is also conflicting reports about the usefullness of IR devices from US BF sites.

[Dion]

Hey All

Seeker, Great post mate thanks for sharing your friends encounter,

In your friends instance maybe technology may have worked, who’s to know I think it comes down to pure luck on the day.

Yowielover, Seeker Your both entitled to your opinion when it comes to use tech gear or not, after all this is what this forum is about to share and collaborate our ideas and opinions.

I guess where I am coming from is those that wish to use tech gear by all means do there is not a law against it, I on the other hand have already had my own visual encounter so my efforts are in gaining a trustful relationship with the Yowie the need to prove they exist is irrelevant for me.

But…… having said all this when you have the technology you usually get no results, maybe a blobsquatch but what use is that, your back at square one having to gain their trust again. When you don’t have tech gear you usually have a great encounter and they are more willing to come in close and interact with you, just my opinion.

I would rather have some type of Yowie interaction and gain their trust for further visits than to scare them of by shining and infrared beam in to the forest.

Those that do set up tech gear usually have them stay just out of reach, without the gear they come in closer.

Yowies are curious in us just as we are in them and if a trust is gained they can become quite playful and that in my opinion is worth gold.

We are not talking about an animal here like a deer or a roo that can easily be caught on infrared camera but an intelligent being, more intelligent than we give them credit for.

Seeker your spot on with the intent business. They also seem to be able to ‘sense our intent’ and that’s why in my opinion that no results have been made when it comes to tech gear.

Anyway I admire your guys enthusiasm I just think they are far to smart to be caught out with tech gear. I am not saying it can’t happen I just don’t think it will happen in the near future.

Don't get me wrong I would love nothing more than to prove they exist to the world I just think gaining a special relationship with them is more rewarding

[Yowielover1]

No offence to the guys on the trip but without 'seeing' what gave them their experiences, it could have been 2 stoned hippies walking in the forest. (though i doubt it)

I am all for building a trusting relationship with them (not the hippies, yowies) and I hope the IR devices dont bother them at all. If they do bother them I will learn it from experience and go get thermal imaging gear. But i will not dismiss the usefulness of such a device until i can prove it can be seen by them. Case in point, an IR laser device capable of iluminating an object 150+ meters away shone on a possum at 8 feet does not make it bat an eyelid in recognition.

Maybe Yowies have a developed vision capability or a sense of knowing, but i would like to experience that too as fact not "this may have been the cause" experience.

People believed the earth was flat because someone told them so. How many people missed out on contemplation of the wonder of a round earth because of that?

P.S. If a yowie does not come close on an occasion when you have IR equipment and on another occasion it comes closer when you don't have it, does not mean the IR equipment was the reason. I am sure that on occasion it may stand back for it's own other reason. If on all occaisions you had IR devices and it doesn't come close, those occaisions would have to be a significant number to correlate to a negative opinion about IR devices, not "I went out 3 times, and it didnt come close 3 times". That would be like saying, I had my yowie experiences wearing green underwear, so yowies come when i wear that but when i wear blue i dont experience a thing.

Close is also a subjective distance. Maybe on an occasion when IR was used the yowie didnt come close because it did not have suitable cover to hide in.


I would rather capture a yowie on an IR device than flash it with a blinding flash of a camera. Until someone can prove IR scares them more, I will be unintrusive with IR instead. No need to blind the big fellas.

[forestguy]

Hey Seeker - I was serious when I said no offence taken, and thanks for sharing the info on your gear. I'm with you, it would be sweet to beat the yanks to the punch, and I hope it's one of us posting on this site that gets the pic.

As I said in my post, I do think this sort of gear is the key to getting the evidence we're all after, I guess what I was trying to get at (and not very clearly) is that the right gear and right attitude won't automatically equal the right pic.

Anyway, I hope I'm wrong and you do get it, and I hope I'm with you on the trip when you bag it!

People with normal cameras come home empty handed - does that make normal cameras bad?

Ummm... no, that's why I had my "normal" camera with me. I didn't say the tech gear was "bad" - in fact I said it was good, I want it, and it's how someone will eventually get "the pic".

I do think you should use the IR devices yourself before you decide based on other's experiences that they are a detriment to obtaining footage. If Joe redneck says he couldnt get a picture because of the IR device, then what other factors were involved? Did he smell like an old spice bottle? Was there even a Bigfoot in the area to begin with? There is no proof a Yowie can see IR at all, and until proof exists, i will consider such things as a useful tool in the field until my experience proves otherwise.

I agree about trying things for yourself, and I'd love to use an IR device in the field, and will when I get a chance. But I'm also going to take into account the experiences of others who've been at it longer than I have.

I no longer like using IR because it's my belief they can detect it.....

What we really need to do is invest in some good tree mounted cam's with triggers, although probably due to the IR triggers in these units, nobody has had any luck thus far in any Country.....

DMH

Dean - did you smell like an old spice bottle when you came to these conclusions?

Anyways.... YL1, I wish you the same as I do for Seeker, I hope you get the pic, and I hope I'm there with yuo when you get it - I'm still going to pack the lucky blue undies anyway, just in case...

[Yowielover1]

not blue...its the green ones that work and bacon aftershave

[forestguy]

[iwanttobelieve]

I no longer like using IR because it's my belief they can detect it.....

What we really need to do is invest in some good tree mounted cam's with triggers, although probably due to the IR triggers in these units, nobody has had any luck thus far in any Country.....

DMH

Hi All.

What about using heat sensitive triggers for trail cams?

From what I understand the reason some people are averse to using IR systems is that they emit their own light source, which may or may not be detectable, whereas heat sensitive equipment remains passive.

[iwanttobelieve]

I on the other hand have already had my own visual encounter so my efforts are in gaining a trustful relationship with the Yowie the need to prove they exist is irrelevant for me.

Hey Chewy.

Was your visual encounter with Pixie or did you have an earlier experience?

[Dion]

Hey Chewy.

Was your visual encounter with Pixie or did you have an earlier experience?

An earlier experience Iwanttobelieve

Well there is nothing really special to tell other than I saw it out the car window on a holiday up to Byron Bay, Not far from the Pilliga scrub in NSW. I would estimate him to have been about 5ft.

I have told this story before but here it is again for all that have not read it:

Sighting: not far from the Pilliga Scrub NSW

During the spring of 98 or 99 we were driving up to Byron bay for our holiday.
I remember it being quite late in the day around Dusk and I decided to look for roos (Kangaroos) out the window to idle the last few hours of the day away, when I got the strange sensation that something was watching us on a number of different occasions while we drove up this stretch of road. You could almost ‘Feel’ someone there watching but ‘I never saw anything’.

It was after these feelings and in a separate location that I saw him, just walking off away from the road. I would estimate him to have been about 5 feet tall only a small one. Very wide shoulders, long arms small legs compared to his arms and long orange-red fur. I never saw his face as he was walking away from the car as it drove past. At the time I really didn’t believe what I saw and a few days later forgot about the experience and just put it down to being a roo, don’t know why really. I think it was because my mind wasn’t able to comprehend what I saw and I forgot about the experience until I stumble upon this site a few years back after discovering a strange footprint while walking though the scrub out near Noojie in Victoria . Once I read a few reports on the Yowie and had some other valid reports to reassure what I had seen was infact a Yowie my memory came jotting back, it’s strange how the mind works sometimes. From that day on was intrigued to find out more.