A Very Interesting Encounter In The Eastern Sierra

On the weekend of August 19, 2010 I went squatching with Woodrat in the Eastern Sierra in an area we're where we're keeping the location private. Around 2 AM a Sasquatch specimen approached our tent stealthily but I was awake and on my right side facing the tent wall. The shadow of It as I will call him was cast against the wall from a kerosene lantern we had left on low about 40 feet from the tent.

It was apparently aware I was awake as it moved behind a large tree next to our tent and peered down from above. The top of Woodrat's tent is an open mesh construction so it's fairly easy to see out above or in. It didn't exhibit any form of intimidation behavior so I was wasn't overly concerned by its' presence there at the time.

I believe that It spent the next 3 hours communicating with me by symbols and a great deal that was communicated can't be properly interpreted. We don't have a common core of experience to understand the meaning of the symbols.

I would seriously consider the experience as a possible hallucination except for the fact that I'm certain of the moving Shadow against the tent wall and what Woodrat and I found in the morning. The duff of the pine tree next to the tent showed the distinctive outline of the species footprints and they were fresh.

The experience is not something I wish to repeat because the species has quite powerful minds. I did get the distinct impression they've done this before to others under like circumstances. It seems they're trying to communicate in a way they understand.

Some of what I sensed we already understand either by our study of the species or by comparison to us or other primates. Here's a list of what I think I can understand from It:

1) The species is quite old going back before the rise of homo sapiens. They are uncertain of their own origin and an extraterrestial origin can't be ruled out.
2) They view us with some contempt and at the same time are quite curious about us and our technology. They consider our efforts to find them and/or photograph them as inept and comical. They have intimidation of us down to almost a science anytime we engage in irritating behavior. Their best defense is avoidance which they're pretty good at.
3) They've got a defined set of mores among themselves and for their reactions to intrusions by humans. This includes a nearly absolute taboo against killing their own kind or killing humans. They have an unfathomable respect for life except what they need to live and I can't grasp the symbols.
4) Their measurement of time is by seasons and our sense of time has no meaning to them. Their view is continuation of their species and all other issues are subordinate to this. Children have a special meaning to them and they'll defend not only their own children but human children as well so long as they're not engaged in what they view as irritating behavior.
5) They are opportunistic when it comes to food and would just as well take it from us as get it from the wilderness so long as they can remain hidden.

Woodrat and I both have noticed that if you follow his guidelines for being in their territory you're unlikely to receive significant intimidation behavior. The species will come up within yards or feet of your location and study you. They may toss a few items like pine cones, sticks or rocks in your general direction to let you know they are there or measure your reaction to their presence.

It's best just to say hello, roll something in their general direction and just wait to see what they do. They may step out and give you a real treat of seeing one of them.

It's occurred to me that there's a simple test to see if the species is sentient and has an advanced intelligence. Set-up a simple math test near a baiting spot. If they complete the math test then my experience and the experiences of others with the species is correct and we've underestimated their intelligence. Mathematics has been proposed as the way to communicate with alien species and the idea may be correct. It does seem that any species capable of advanced thought would have an understanding of basic math. My best,