The Backwoodsman: Fire

Bigfoot encounters, unexplained phenomena, and outdoor folklore blur the line between fact and mystery in this collection of articles from The Backwoodsman magazine.

For more than 40 years, The Backwoodsman magazine was a trusted voice for self-reliant living, traditional skills, and life close to nature. Growing up alongside the magazine that his father founded, Charlie Richie Jr. learned that the woods hold more than just shelter, food, and fire—they also hold stories, experiences, and mysteries that defy explanation.

In The Backwoodsman: Encounters, Charlie Jr. collects 23 of the magazine’s most compelling articles that explore outdoor enthusiasts’ reportedly true encounters with Sasquatch, ghosts, UFOs, time slips, and other unexplained phenomena. Some pieces recount firsthand experiences, while others examine the legends, history, and enduring questions surrounding them. Thoughtful essays and practical discussions ponder whether Sasquatch truly exists, explore how Bigfoot researchers operate, and examine why such mysteries persist wherever people venture away from civilization.

Grounded in outdoor experience rather than sensationalism, this book reflects the Backwoodsman tradition: honest storytelling, respect for the natural world, and curiosity shaped by time spent in remote places. These are not campfire tales invented for thrills but are stories and reflections, passed along by people who know the woods well.

If you’re fascinated by Bigfoot, intrigued by paranormal encounters, or simply drawn to the strange and unexplained corners of the outdoors, this collection offers a unique perspective—one rooted in real landscapes, lived experiences, and a lifelong connection to wild places.

Inside you’ll find:

• 23 collected articles about Bigfoot, ghosts, UFOs, and more
• Firsthand encounters from campers, outdoorspeople, and lifelong woods travelers
• Essays examining Sasquatch lore, field research, and enduring mysteries of the wild
• Accounts spanning North America, from remote forests to coastal waters
• Grounded approach to paranormal activity rooted in outdoor experiences