Class B First-hand BFRO #39578

Snowmobiler observes a large figure cross the trail behind him near Traverse City

12 December 2012 Approximately 10:00 AM Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan 1 witness

Account

The witness was driving a rented snowmobile with a companion when he turned around in a power line clearing. He saw a very tall, reddish figure moving downhill about 200 yards away for about five seconds, initially mistaking it for a skier but noticing no skis or tracks. The companion did not see the figure, and the witness later concluded it was not human.

Summary drafted by AI from the source report and checked by code before I publish it. The witness's own words remain with the publisher — read the original report .

What was reported

Every kind of observation in the account. Select one to find other encounters with it.

Sightings

Described appearance

In the source's own words, field by field. Hover a field's marker to see where it was read.

Height src
maybe 8 to 9 feet
Build src
wide shoulder to slim waste shape
Hair colour src
dark, dirty rusty red
Face src
jet black
Eyes src
very dark to black
Arms src
long
Hands src
falling at or below the knee
Gait src
very long footsteps, parallel skier-like motion downhill
Posture src
bipedal, walked upright like a man
Apparent sex src
male
Clothing src
not clothed naturally
Other features src
cone-like shape of the head

Facts & provenance

Each value names where it came from.

Date
12 December 2012
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, labelled fields: Year, Month, Date
Time of day
Approximately 10:00 AM
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, “Time And Conditions” section
Place
Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, labelled fields: State, County, Nearest Town, Location Details, Nearest Road
Map point
44.71, -85.45 (± 4 km)
Stated BFRO map layer · BFRO published map layer · read with 85% confidence
BFRO map layer point for report 39578 with published boundary
Account type
First-hand
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Witnesses
1
Derived BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, “Other Witnesses” section
Figures reported
1
Derived BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Witness was
riding a rented snowmobile
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Witness's word for it
Bigfoot
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO report, “Observed” section
Source classification
Class B
Stated BFRO report #39578 · BFRO classification label

Evidence & investigation

What the source says was found or done. Claimed evidence is listed as claimed; the Anomadex has not examined it.

Investigated by
Kim Fleming (BFRO)
Photograph

Two photos of a possible tree structure found off the power lines

BFRO report, “Follow-Up” section
Structure

Possible tree structure at the tree line off the power lines

Measurements: about 5'10" at the center

BFRO report, “Follow-Up” section
Structure

An investigator drove the power lines and photographed a possible tree structure at the tree line.

BFRO report, “Follow-Up” section
Photograph

An investigator drove the power lines and photographed a possible tree structure at the tree line.

BFRO report, “Follow-Up” section
Follow-up

An investigator drove the power lines and photographed a possible tree structure at the tree line.

BFRO report, “Follow-Up” section

Source timeline

Every record this entry is built from, earliest known first. Records are versioned and never edited in place.

  1. Published 2013-02-08 Retrieved 2026-09-25 Version 1 2 images at source Hash 9546fa34164d
    BFRO - Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization
  2. BFRO map layer Reference
    Retrieved 2026-09-24 Version 1 Hash cfb8a3d423b7
    BFRO - Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization

The report refers to

  • “sightings like this in WA”
    Not in the Anomadex yet