Two men were found dead in a remote forest while searching for Saskwatch, also known as Bigfoot, according to Washington state authorities, UNN reports citing the BBC.
Details
Two men from Portland, Oregon, were found dead after a three-day search launched on Christmas Day after a family member reported that neither had returned from a trip to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to find evidence of the mythical hairy, forest-dwelling, bipedal primate.
More than 60 volunteers took part in the "grueling" search, which involved airplanes and dogs in dense forested areas and in bitterly cold conditions, according to a press release from the Skamania County Sheriff's Office.
"Both deaths were apparently caused by exposure, based on weather conditions and poor preparation," the statement said.
The sheriff's office located a vehicle belonging to the victims near the town of Willard, the statement said, and the search was redirected to that area. Drones were also used, and a group of Coast Guard helicopters were called in to assist in the search.
Officials did not name the two victims, who were 37 and 59 years old.
The weather conditions in the Cascade Mountains in the days before and during the search were cold, with snow, freezing rain and temperatures below freezing.
Rescuers also had to deal with high water levels in the rivers and fallen trees.
Addendum
Hundreds of Bigfoot sightings have been reported in the Pacific Northwest in the United States and western Canada. Along with the Loch Ness Monster, this creature is one of the most famous cryptids in the world.
There have been so many probable sightings that some communities have taken humorous measures to protect the hairy mythical creature. In Skamania County, where the pair disappeared, a person can get a year in jail or a $1,000 fine if one of the folklore creatures is harmed.