No one is looking for them. And no, amateurs don’t count.

Done.

Has anybody paid any attention at all to how difficult-almost-impossible it is for hardened professionals to get any photographs of snow leopard – an animal that is known and whose range is pretty much nailed down? Watch the “Mountains” episode of the “Planet Earth” series to find out how hard it is for somebody who is in known habitat to get anything at all. And he’s LOOKING TO FILM ONE.

And, oh yeah, being funded up the ying to get it done. Did I mention no one is looking because there’s no money to look with? Cryptos are amateurs. At least when they are looking for cryptids they are, regardless their credentials elsewhere. “Amateur” means “no money to do the required time in the field with the proper equipment.” Those cryptos who are professionals in zoology and biology will tell you that they could do this right if the money were there.

Amateurs will require the most incredible nexus of timing skill and luck to get anything that will raise the eyebrow of, much less convince, the mass of skeptical scientists. Because money – which is pretty much a requirement – doesn’t exist for this purpose, in any significant amount.

One of cryptozoology’s critical handicaps is ignorance – on the part of the public and so-called skeptics, definitely, but even on the part of experts who simply are used to researching knowns, and not unknowns. Even the scientists get used to the idea of “everything being known,” even when everything demonstrably isn’t; and they can’t get past their simple incredulity – which really doesn’t have, when one analyzes it which I must admit they generally lack the time to do, any rational basis in the face of the evidence.

A prime example of this ignorance will be anyone who comes on here labeling what PhotoExpert and I have put forth as “excuses.” No, we’re just people who understand the problems, noting what the probelms are, and why no one should reasonably expect what everyone seems to expect. And the evidence for your position is….? Right, what we thought it was. Like I said. Ignorance is NO excuse.

PhotoExpert lays out the pitfalls that await people who arrive in the field, ready to film, WITH THE MONEY TO STAY OUT THERE. Never mind to afford the equipment.

Until professional expeditions enter the field with an open mind, and the commitment and the funding to follow up tantalizing bits of evidence through to solid documentation, there is absolutely no reason ever to expect a clear photographic record of any cryptid, barring luck no one should expect, unless one has won the lottery…several times.

Don’t bring up P/G in this context. Patterson and Gimlin executed the most thorough cryptid expedition on record, which possessed both the required time and the required equipment. And yeah, quite the bit of luck, which the pros will tell you is required. And what they brought back should not have gotten the reception it did.

I could mention that almost certainly somebody – likely more than one somebody – in the field to do “real science” has seen a yeti, and with no more evidence than that, sure wasn’t going to jeopardize his career sounding like “a nut.” If the yeti exists, that is.

If you’re certain you missed a photo of Orang Pendek why would you move on to another country?

Anyway, I see you are on point as usual. Well said, sir.

What people forget is that Nepal has a 30 million population, compared to British Columbia’s 4 million.

It’s a mistake to assume the supposed Yeti habitat is harsher, more rugged and remote and with fewer people than the traditional Sasquatch habitat in North America unless of course you accept that Sasquatch is widespread over the USA and in almost every state, which I certainly do not. Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan etc are no more rugged than coastal BC or southern Alaska.

Still it is surprising that there are so few reports of Yetis coming in these days as well as the almost total lack of imagery. Not even any ‘maybes’. Perhaps there are even fewer Yetis then there are Sasquatch????

My wager is on trail cams. When there are is enough market saturation and a coordinated effort, then the game will be on for real.

I have had several cameras fail on me due to humidity, as one commentator suggests. Last year, in Sumatra, I also had the Orang-Pendek try to evade me and the rest of the team by pinning itself against a tree. Ultimately, they are very rare, very resourceful creatures in often extreme conditions. The other important point I would add, is that in some areas, such as Nepal, I think we are seeing a significant decline in population. I was certainly very worried by the decline in eyewitness reports when I visited the country last year.

I will try again in India with the Mande -Burung. Let’s hope the team’s camera traps come up with the goods this time!

The remoteness of the Yeti habitat and lack of local technology is sufficient for lack of evidence.

1) Lack of cameras. Until recently, I suspect these were pretty hard to come by in the area.

2) Camoflage. It can’t be easy picking out a yeti against a snow bank.

3) Have you ever tried to use a camera while wearing mittens? I can’t even make cell phone call!