Yeti Trek: Near Death Experience
Posted by: Loren Coleman on October 23rd, 2009
The above images from the expedition have been exclusively shared with Cryptomundo courtesy of Monsterquest.
This year’s first expedition searching for Yeti, simply put, was a near death experience. But a beautiful one, photographically.
Adam Davies
Adam Davies (celebrating his birthday, as it turns out today, October 23rd), author of Extreme Expeditions, writes in with his exclusive insights about the forthcoming special:
The overall feeling I would want to convey about the show, and how I felt about it, was that I found the Himalayas stunningly beautiful, but the location we were in was very risky!!
Although I am very experienced in jungles and deserts, really high scale mountaineering is new to me. I was also conscious of the experience of those around me who made that climb. Mr. Yagiharai is a world class mountaineer, and the cameraman, Jeff, was the first person to summit Everest twice in a week. Then there was me!
The other most important view I took away, is that there is a sustainable environment, just, for the creature to exist in. The contrast in biodiversity between the edge of human civilisation, and beyond it was enormous, with the forests still having large animals in them. As ever I worry about future human encroachment, though. On the higher peaks there is also an abundance of small rodents which
could act as a plentiful food source, which is something you have done a very good piece on in the past as I recall.I think the Nepal expedition will prove to be the most textured and interesting MQ to date, for viewers. Not just because of evidence gathered, but also because of the dangers the team had to face.
The Himalayas in winter are not to be taken lightly. In addition, the team ventured to one of the remotest areas on earth.
Even given the use of helicopters, we still had to trek for days afterwards to reach our final destination. In pursuit of evidence, myself and the crew, really did risk our lives on top of the mountains, which were both terrible and beautiful.
On a cryptozoological note, one very exciting point is that the prints found by Mr.Yagihara’s team are definitely NOT a Langur monkey. Having travelled to the area, there is no way a monkey would have been at this location. Thus, as far as I’m concerned, the previous footprints found remain “unidentifiable primate.”
All I can say at this stage is that I absolutely loved making the show, and it was very, very hard work. Luckily, I’m minus only one toenail, (rather than any other body parts) and that should grow back soon!!!
The hunt was supported by MonsterQuest, who filmed their Season Three ending two hour special of the investigative journey.
Doug Hajicek, MonsterQuest / History Channel, Executive Producer, has released this exclusive statement to Cryptomundo:
I am very proud to present a very special 2 hour Monsterquest episode. It was a great pleasure to devote an entire 2 hours to one of the oldest and most enduring mysteries in Cryptozoology.
When I was a young boy, the name ‘Abominable Snowman’ sent wholesome chills up my spine and gave me a sense of wonder about the world.
The Yeti has surely remained one of the leading icons for all of our cryptozoological researchers. This mystery has been investigated by many prominent folks throughout contemporary history.
Our team members were proud to take on this extremely dangerous and adventurous expedition. We hope their contributions revealed in this special documentary will contribute to the cause of mainstreaming hidden animals. To them I am grateful!
Kuniaki Yagihara
Yoshiteru Takahashi
Ian Redmond
Balloon preparation.
Helicopter extraction.
To save time on trekking, the expedition used helicopters to get deep into the upper reaches of Nepal, quickly. The last time this was done with such grand fanfare was when Tom Slick’s expeditions used helicopters in 1957-1958, and the New York Times and New York American followed their progress!
Yoshiteru Takahashi (R) and Kuniaki Yagihara walk in Kathmandu, on October 21, 2008. The Japanese climbers, returning from western Nepal, told the media they had found footprints they think belonged to the Yeti.
MonsterQuest: Abominable Snowman (Two Hour Event) History Channel
Airs on Sunday October 25 09:00 – 11:00 PM Eastern; Airs on Monday October 26 01:00-3:00 AM Eastern; check your local listings.
The Abominable Snowman is among the most frightening and notorious monsters in history. This ferocious nocturnal creature is said to attack people and slaughter their animals. Witnesses report sightings of a strange, hair-covered beast and claim to have heard blood-curdling screams. Evidence amassed over the last century may point to a startling conclusion: that something real and unknown stalks the desolate mountains of the Far East. Scientists and experts will examine the clues while the MonsterQuest team will undertake their most dangerous expedition to date with an epic ascent onto the snowy peaks where recent evidence of the beast was found. MQ copy.
Also later…
MonsterQuest : Snowbeast Slaughter
Airs on Sunday October 25 11:00 PM; Airs on Monday October 26 03:00 AM
High in the rugged wilderness of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains a large hairy creature is said to be preying on the elk and frightening residents. The stories date back centuries with the earliest settlers describing terrifying encounters with a large beast whose scream bellows across the hills. Even today ranchers and hikers report a monster they can’t explain that may be attacking their horses. MonsterQuest will sift through the evidence and determine what may be killing the elk. The aerial search ascends to 11,000 ft in search of fresh evidence that could lead to the creature; as the ground team scales the side of Pikes Peak to hunt for the legendary Snowbeast. MQ copy.
Museum donations have dropped to zero at a time of the most critical need. Please, if you can…
Please click on the button below (not the one up top) to send in your museum donation.
Thank you.
I think everyone will be watching this special!!
Yeti TV by David Lowe.
And Happy Birthday to the “jungle fever” recovering Adam Davies!
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.
Very much looking forward to the episode.
The 2-hour format should allow for more in-depth coverage of the sightings. Also incorporate a reportage of the rich historical tradition regarding Ole Snowy.
Good show. 🙂
What I want to know is how Adam Davies toenail ended up in Arizona and how Tom Biscardi got a hold of it. LOL. Seriously though, I cannot wait to see the next season of MQ. They always excite me with their journeys. I know it is just a sneak peak at a single moment in time, but it always amazes me to see what pops up.
OK, minor question.
There’s a SKULL up there in those photos.
Praytell what is the provenance of that skull?
I can’t wait to see this show. I was also curious about the skull and pile of bones pictured…
Once again disappointed by the show. I know they risked their lives on this expedition, but it seems like a very short expedition for such an important subject. They had great weather it looked like so I’m surprised that they didn’t stay a month. If you’re looking for what could be an animal that travels long distances then you’d expect to have to stay for quiet a while in order to have a chance of crossing paths with one of them.
I enjoyed the show~ Being a Bigfoot researcher myself, you don’t always have results when you go out on an expedition.