Sasquatch Cuts Gondola Cable?
Edition Three Originally Posted On Sunday February 25th, 2024
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have made public a detailed description and a thermal image of the individual suspected of sabotaging the Sea to Sky Gondola on two separate occasions in the past three years.
According to investigators, the suspect is described as being in "extremely fit" physical condition and possesses an intimate knowledge of the area surrounding the gondola. They also believe that the culprit possesses extensive expertise in using the necessary tools to sever the cable, enabling them to escape without being detected.
The deliberate severing of the gondola's cable occurred on separate occasions in 2019 and 2020. While RCMP Sgt. Chris Manseau suggests that it is possible that the same person committed both acts, there is also a chance that different individuals were involved.
Appealing to the public for assistance, Manseau stated, "We know there are people out there with information that could assist police with this investigation." The police are currently exploring charges related to mischief and endangering lives, particularly due to the security guard who narrowly avoided being struck by the falling gondola cars.
Following the initial incident, the gondola operators implemented enhanced security measures. They now maintain an in-house security team equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance technology to monitor the attraction around the clock. Since reopening in June 2021, the gondola has been operating smoothly and attracting approximately 400,000 visitors annually.
Situated just south of the Stawamus Chief, the 39-car gondola offers breathtaking views of Howe Sound as it transports passengers up a steep mountain ridge. It is not only a significant employer in the local area but also plays a vital role in the town's $95-million tourism sector, as confirmed by Tourism Squamish.
The extensive damage caused by the cable sabotage incidents has had a significant financial impact on the company. It took six months and $5 million to repair the gondola after the first occurrence in August 2019. The total cost of repairs and losses from both incidents has now exceeded $10 million.
Most of you are probably shaking your head and asking, what does this have to do with Sasquatch? The fact is probably nothing, yet Todd Standing the controversial Bigfoot researcher from north of the border would tell you otherwise. Todd has recently put out a series of videos on his Sylvanic YouTube channel, claiming that the figure in the thermal footage released by the RCMP back in late 2022 is not a human suspect. That’s right, Todd says that it is a pissed off Sasquatch that “cut” the gondola cable.
As per usual with Todd, outside of conjecture he offers no evidence to substantiate his bold claims. Well, that is unless you consider this thermal image itself as all the proof you need? I have to admit, I do find it rather interesting. I am certainly no thermal imaging expert, so I had to do a little research to see if I could debunk or add any credibility to Todd’s claims.
By analyzing the thermal images above, several observations can be made regarding the role of clothing and hair in providing insulation. The images reveal that both clothes and hair act as insulators, with the hottest parts of the image located on the side of the neck where the neck is partially protected by the collar. Interestingly, the collar itself appears cold because it consists of two layers of cloth with an air space between them. This indicates that the fabric of clothes does not provide significant insulation, but rather it is the trapped air between the fabric and the body that offers insulation. Hair, including eyebrows, also aids in holding air in place, providing additional insulation.
The slightly lower temperatures observed in the nose and ears can be attributed, in part, to blood circulation. These areas, along with the fingers and toes, have high surface area to volume ratios, making them efficient at losing heat. When we are cold, blood circulation to these parts is restricted to minimize heat loss.
The thermal images also reveal that the glasses, which are reading glasses and not sunglasses, appear cool. Although they are transparent to visible light, they do not transmit much infrared radiation. If they did, we would be able to see the warm skin behind them.
While the temperature difference between the skin and the hair or clothes may seem small, it is important to consider the exchange of radiation and conduction with the environment when it comes to maintaining warmth. The heat radiated and conducted from the environment would balance the heat lost by the body if it were at the same temperature as the environment. In colder or less comfortable thermal environments, clothing can make a much larger difference in preserving warmth.
What is the significance behind the diverse range of colors in thermal imaging? These infrared images serve the purpose of identifying areas that are either excessively hot or too cold, enabling you to detect potential issues and make necessary repairs before they escalate.
When analyzing a thermograph, the color spectrum provides valuable information. Blue represents colder temperatures, green indicates approximately room temperature, while shades of red and white highlight areas of inflammation or excessive heat.
In thermal images, the intensity of the color corresponds to temperature. Therefore, purples and dark blue or black shades represent cooler temperatures since they emit less heat and infrared radiation.
It is worth noting that some cameras capture images solely in grayscale, while others utilize a rainbow color palette.
Now, I'm no expert in thermal imaging, so I decided to do a little research to either debunk or lend credibility to Todd's assertions. Based on the information I found, Todd argues that the individual in the still photo released by the RCMP could either be a naked man or a Sasquatch. He also mentions a conversation he had with an unnamed "expert" who possesses the rare skills required to cut these gondola cables. According to Todd, this expert claimed that it would take at least three highly skilled individuals, equipped with the appropriate tools, a minimum of fifteen minutes to sever such a large cable. Furthermore, he adds that they would need to change their saw blades at least once, and the noise and sparks generated during the process would be visible and audible from miles away.
I must say, I found it peculiar that in the video released by the RCMP, a lone security guard can be seen walking beneath a section of the gondola just moments before the cable snaps. The security guard is clearly visible in the photo below. Strangely, he doesn't react until the gondola starts shaking and sparks appear in the distance, indicating the imminent collapse of the cars. This moment is best observed in the actual video, which you can watch by clicking the link provided. It raises suspicion that the security guard seemed oblivious to the cable being cut just seconds before the violent shaking and the subsequent crash of the gondola cars. Does this support Todd's theory of a Sasquatch being responsible? I am not convinced.
Personally, I tend to favor Occam's Razor in situations like this. Often, when we dig deeper, we discover that human motivations are behind such acts. It's fascinating to contemplate why a Sasquatch or a group of these elusive creatures would want to destroy this picturesque gondola. Yet, when it comes to Sasquatch, we are left to form our own opinions and distinguish between belief and mere grasping at straws as humans.
In my opinion, at least for some this appears to be a strategy to stay relevant in the world of Sasquatch by making extraordinary claims without providing the extraordinary evidence necessary to back them up. It's a clever way to create sensational videos with clickbait titles that generate the necessary views to sustain one's livelihood.
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