In episode 26, Joe visited Ben Sanders cabin to borrow some snowshoes so he could do some tracking.
Snowshoe exit
Joe was getting restless. He had one thing on his mind. "That Sasquatch is getting away!" thought Joe. "I'm going to leave as soon as I have this drink of tea."
"Well," said Joe, "You know, I had some time off so I just thought I'd go for a walk and maybe do a little hunting," Joe pointed to a pair of snowshoes hanging on the cabin wall.
Sandy brought down the snowshoes and said, "You're sure packin' a load of shells for a little walk in the woods." He pointed his thumb in the direction of Joe's shell-belt.
"That's a lot of extra weight, son."
"Well, like I said, I might run into a moose or maybe a bear," replied Joe.
"Wrong time of the year for bears," said Sandy. Now, if you want bears, try the West Ridge at the end of May."
Joe gulped down his cup of tea, grabbed the snowshoes and stood up.
"I best be goin' now Sir. Thanks for the tea. I'll bring your snowshoes back soon."
Joe was out the door in a flash.
Sandy followed Joe outside.
"Thanks for the visit. Stay longer next time," he welcomed.
Joe started out on the trail back to town. At the edge of the trapper's yard he turned and shouted, "So long Sandy!"
Joe had walked only a short distance when, much to his joy, he found the same huge tracks once again.
He quickly fastened the snowshoes to his work-boots.
Joe turned onto the sasquatch trail and followed it up the hill and through a dense part of the forest.
In the next episode, Joe is anxious leave on his own private Sasquatch adventure. He borrows a pair of snowshoes from the trapper and sets out.
Tracking Bigfoot
The snow was deep, slowing Joe's progress. After one hour he stopped to rest a few minutes.
Then, he continued.
From time to time Joe would stop and examine the huge tracks.
Once, he heard a sound like a tree falling.
Joe stopped to listen.
He was about to continue when he heard the same heavy thump again.
Joe's heart beat faster. He squatted down on the snow and gripped his Winchester with both hands.
Then he listened hard for another sound.
Joe suddenly had a feeling that he was being followed. He continued to squat on the snow-covered slope, balancing on his snowshoes.
After about five minutes of not hearing a sound, except for a slight gale of wind coming from the south, he slowly stood up.
He positioned himself just off the trail where the snow seemed to hold his weight better. Joe looked back down the trail.
There was no movement. His eyes scanned every tree in sight.
Then, he saw a dark shape at the edge of a giant cedar. That dark object looked very much like a huge furry shoulder.
Yes, a shoulder and an arm! Joe had found his Sasquatch!
He raised his Winchester, pulled back on the hammer and took aim.
The metallic clicking sound of the hammer broke the near silence.
Joe fired his rifle.
A thunderous blast echoed across the mountain-side.
The arm had moved behind the tree to safety.
Joe had missed his target.
He waited until the echo had faded, then prepared to fire his gun for a second shot.
The sound of a human voice came from behind the tree.
"Don't shoot, for gosh sake, Joe, it's me! Please don't shoot!"
Joe lowered the barrel of his Winchester.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
A dark figure stepped out on the snow from behind the giant cedar.
Dressed in a heavy moose-skin coat, and waving his hat, stood Trapper Sandy.
"Don't shoot, Joe!" yelled the man, as he started to cross over to the main trail.
"You're a hard man to keep up with. I've been following your trail."
In the next episode, The Messenger, Joe realizes he may not be up for the challenge of tracking a Bigfoot.
He'll have to make another
important decision.
