Russell Easterbrooks’ recently published book, “Searching for Sasquatch with Historical Observations and Interpretations,” delves into the history and lore surrounding sasquatches in North America. Released in December 2023, the book serves as a reference guide for enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
Years of research inspired Easterbrooks to compile his findings into this comprehensive work.
“I started out doing a high school report on the sasquatch, and that kind of got me interested in the subject,” he said. “I did a lot of research over the years and always wanted to try to put it together into a book, but just never did. Life kind of got in the way and so forth, so I just didn’t get it done.”
That changed last year when Easterbrooks finally completed the 125-page book.
“I’m glad I did,” he said.
Easterbrooks emphasized that his book isn’t written to convince skeptics.
“It’s not like that. It’s just a book filled with information and information on a lot of different things,” he said.
However, he firmly believes sasquatches are real.
“They are very real, I can assure you of that,” he said. “Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina has a family unit, for sure. The Smokies also have some. I worked with the forest service and worked out in the Smokies quite a bit. I never did get to see a sasquatch, but I have some footprint impressions and plaster casts that I was able to collect. The Jefferson National Forest also has a family group living there.”
Easterbrooks’ fascination with sasquatch history stems from a gap he observed in existing literature.
“For me, I felt like a lot of the books that I have read on sasquatch— I have a huge library— but those books don’t talk about a lot of the history going back. It’s more about sightings and things that are happening today, and I felt like there was a lot of good information that should be saved from the history,” he said.
The book explores historical accounts from the Hudson Bay Company, the gold rushes in California and Alaska, and even the Native American perspective.
“Native Americans were very familiar with sasquatches, going as far back as you could go in your research,” he said.
Written in chronological order, the book contains numerous short chapters ranging from two to four pages. Topics include encounters involving notable historical figures such as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, as well as the diverse names Native American tribes have for sasquatches.
“Almost every Native American tribe has a name for sasquatch, which is interesting,” he said.
The book also delves into how diseases like smallpox may have impacted sasquatch populations, as well as historical accounts of sightings and interactions.
One particularly notable chapter recounts Albert Osterman’s story of being kidnapped by a sasquatch in his sleeping bag and held hostage for four days.
“He got to see a lot of things and describe a lot of actions— things that they were eating, how they reacted to him, and so forth before he escaped. So that’s a really interesting observation, and it’s an interesting chapter,” Easterbrooks said.
The book also includes a chapter on a sasquatch sighting near Meadows of Dan about 25 years ago. Easterbrooks noted that the names of witnesses are omitted to protect their privacy.
“There were actually three people together at the time at a hunting camp, and they saw it briefly. Then they saw the footprints in the snow before the snow melted the next day,” he said.
Easterbrooks’ goal was to create a book that could serve as a reference for enthusiasts and researchers.
“One person described it as a patchwork quilt, which I thought was a good analogy because it is like that. I have a lot of different things that I speak about that are all connected about these creatures,” he said.
While he finds it difficult to pick a favorite chapter, Easterbrooks said the Osterman encounter stands out.
“I’m probably as familiar with that encounter as anybody in the country based on the amount of time I’ve spent researching that and so forth,” he said.
Easterbrooks frequently discusses his research on podcasts and has spoken at events, including the Virginia Bigfoot Conference in 2016 and the Reynolds Homestead, where one of his talks drew over 100 attendees.
Although he has no immediate plans for a sequel, Easterbrooks said readers have expressed interest in a follow-up.
“Searching for Sasquatch with Historical Observations and Interpretations” is available on Amazon. Signed copies can also be purchased on eBay.
