Happy Birthday Debunker of Yeti!
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 20th, 2007
Today, July 20, 2007, Sir Edmund Hillary is 88 years old.
Hillary’s name will always be linked, in my mind, to his World Book Encyclopedia-supported trek to Nepal in 1960, supposedly, to search for the “Abominable Snowman.”
In reality, it actually allegedly was more about a spy mission against the Chinese, hidden in the media glare of a debunking Yeti expedition. The members of Hillary’s team (1) bought a bear skin that was declared to be a Yeti’s so it could be revealed to be a bear’s, (2) obtained a ritual religious object known to be made in imitation of a Yeti skullcap so it could be likewise overturned, and (3) declared the Pangboche hand that had been replaced with human bones as a hoax. See source.
In a recent mention of this Hillary trek, compared to the BFRO expedition, remarks were made that the 50 man BFRO camping trip might scare any Bigfoot and wildlife over into the next county, just as the World Book one had done in the Himalaya.
Criticism of the Hillary-Perkins expedition was that it was too large and probably would scare humans, Yetis, and most animals over into the next valley. Was it ever a serious effort, or were all those expedition members needed to carry and use the Tibetan rocket-tracking equipment? Hillary’s expedition had 300 members, most of whom were Nepalese porters (over 200) carrying the “supplies” for the extremely short excursion. A few Sherpa guides and the non-natives (including alleged spies) made up the remainder.
For more details, please see “How Not to Search for Yeti,” here.
I wonder if someone will give him a cake with a Yeti on it? I hope so.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Happy Birthday, Sir Edmund!
if I could find his address, I’d give him that cake! 🙂
My bro’s b-day is today too… wierd…
If you see this, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sir Edmund!
If you dont… still, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy birthday, Sir Hillary. I hope it is a wonderful one for you.
Happy Birthday Sir Edmund! I’ve always been a bit of a fan. 88 is some achievement. 🙂
How about a Yeti finger bone cake.
Quite a few scientific expeditions were inspired by a perceived need to spy. I have read that many archaeological expeditions went beyond surveying dig sites or surface exploration.
I vaguely recall a book or two that has dealt with this subject. Anyone know the book titles?
Quite a few scientific expeditions go beyond the stated goal(s). I know many archaeological surveys in the days before satellite photography looked at terrain, man-made structures, and infrastructure in general (roads, communications, power, etc.)
During my career in special communications I read many HUMINT (human intelligence) reports with data
gleaned from international sporting events, especially military-related ones. Of course port visits by U.S. warships gather much information.
Terry