 "Photo: Ryan Rendleman")
We met Jan. 26 at the Ozark General Store for a hike to Shawnee National Forest. John O'Dell and Eric Johnson, pictured above, guided us to Gum Springs.
As we left the store, O'Dell pulled from under his coat a picture of deer bones. Next to the bones was a shadowy imprint of a foot. A big foot.
Bigfoot.
The search began.
On our leisurely trek we passed frozen waterfalls, large cliffs and a red painted buffalo on the side of a cave rock. O'Dell and Johnson know the Shawnee area like the backs of their hands.
Then O'Dell disappeared. We shouted his name to no avail. After about 20 minutes he reappeared. He found the deer bones.
No Bigfoot.
I expected as much. Bigfoot is, in theory, awesome. He roams the forest standing 9 feet tall. He looks like a man-ape hybrid mixed with steroids. Who would not want this to exist?
Unfortunately, there has yet to be enough evidence to truly support the myth. Strange sightings and hearsay do little for me. Unless I personally run into Bigfoot (or Sasquatch, as some affectionately call him) in the woods, at the market or at school, it is a hard sale.
To all the wishful thinkers who hold out hope for the legend of Sasquatch to be true, happy believing.
