In 1978, Mr. Scott, of Haney, B.C. informed the news media of an exotic lost world he had discovered in a small valley somewhere near the headwaters of the upper Pitt River. This secluded location apparently had a tropical climate where extinct vegetation grew in abundance. Inhabiting the valley were 6 foot long meat eating horned-lizards, huge white frogs and a 150 year old man.

Scott's’ original discovery of the ‘ primitive area locked in time’ occurred in June 1973, near his placer gold mining operation. The gold mine is located near a small lake with an island in it at an elevation of approximately the 1800 meters.

Scott apparently brought out a couple of small horned-lizards and gave one to the biology department at Simon Fraser University for study. The story continues on to say that a scientific expedition was dispatched from the SFU to the location of the valley. The expedition was unsuccessful in locating the valley and returned empty handed.

Mr. Scott's story is interesting when compared to information contained in the Fort Langley Journal of 1838.  Page 85 of the Journal refers to the Squalls, a native tribe inhabiting the area of the upper Pitt River.  The Journal does not provide any further information on this tribe.

In 1952, B.C. Anthropologist Wilson Duff documented that he was unable to equate the name Squall with any known native group.  The Squalls appear to have simply disappeared and their whereabouts remain unknown even to the neighboring native tribes themselves.

The native word for Shapeshifter is Qual.  Many persons, professionals included, have speculated on a connection between the lost tribe of Squalls and the Quals.

Mr. Scott is not alone in his claim that 'something' extremely peculiar and unnatural exists within the upper Pitt River and Stave Glacier area.  Many people who have ventured into this harsh and unforgiving wilderness region have reported abnormal events and encountered strange and bizarre creatures.

The photograph below is an example of the strange uncertainty and mystery of the area.  The unusual claw marks in this tree were not made by a bear or any other known animal.  The claw marks are continuous from their starting point to the ground, a distance of approximately 25 feet.  There are five claws, each approximately 6 inches apart.  The claws penetrated  the bark and dug into the cedar tree approximately 2 to 3 inches.

CLAW MARKS - UPPER PITT RIVER