In his comments to Cryptomundo, Gates seemed to address this the very way I’d want a truly skeptical scientist to address it. Might it have been a bit more circumspect than the TV show? Sure, I’d expect that. He knows he’s talking to an audience he can’t “hook” without looking overly credulous.

I’m willing to give the dude more than a chance based on what I’ve seen.

(It looked like a rhino print to me. If they have a rhino, where it looks like they took this print, that’s bigger news than a yeti.)

I agree. Gates probably forgot “protocol” and got carried away with himself in his quest for a “good show,” as in “botched footprint.” Like you said, at least he is trying. Well-intentioned, but thoughtless.

I do think that Mr. Gates’ intentions are good and that he has the right kind of enthusiasm for the subject matter. However, following the proper protocols and doing things in a thorough scientific matter do not make for good TV and rushing out to get results and provide entertainment do not make for good science. Case in point, the botched cast. It is very well likely that other evidence can be botched with this sort of approach as well. It is a bit of a conundrum. Anyway, at least he is out there in the field giving it a shot.