HOW TO CAST A TRACK

To cast or not to cast. That is the question.

People's  opinions on casting footprints varies. Some don't bother for various reasons. Some make that a complete study.

They can be valuable evidence. A properly done cast can help you determine how many sasquatch might be in the area. You can also chart the growth of an individual by recording the size each time you make a cast. It can help a researcher determine how big of an area a sasquatch travels through. Or how often he may be in the area.

It can also be a teaching tool. There may be times that after you have cast a footprint, after further examination, you discover that either it was a misidentified print, or even a fake. Having a cast to study can help you learn to read tracks.


A properly made cast offers evidence that is valuable in other ways. They can be examined by others and can help support your claims of sasquatch activity. Many casts made will contain dermal ridges. These are similar to fingerprints and can help identify the individual that has been in the area. [Hospitals used to add the baby's footprint to birth certificates to help identify the babies. Helped keep mix-ups to a minimum. My original birth certificate has my footprints on it. I know I'm me. LOL]


The dermal ridges found on some of the prints don't appear to to belong to any known primate or other type of animal.  If there is enough detail on a cast, it points away from the print being a hoax or faked, and helps to lead to the conclusion that you have cast the print of something unknown.


Once you have determined that you would like to cast the footprints then knowing what you need and how to do it follows.  [Yesterday's post talked on everything you should do before casting a print.]  Once you have completed your examination of the prints and the area surrounding it, you are ready to cast the print (s).


Also, make certain that the area will be secure. You will not want the track and casting process disturbed by people passing through or by animals. If there is loose debris in the track itself, carefully remove it from the track before continuing. If the debris has been pressed down into the track, do not remove it. Doing so will only damage the track and your cast will be flawed.


So, what will you need to make a cast.


First determine a medium for making the cast. Some use Plaster of Paris, others recommend Dental Stone.


Dental Stone can be purchased online from any dental supply house. It dries quickly, and dries strong. It seems more expensive, but you will use less in casting a track.  Plaster of Paris needs to be thicker, and can break more easily. And is heavier. It also tends to crumble and it is said to degrade at a faster rate than Dental Stone.


You will need to carry something to mix your medium in; because of the size of the tracks you will be casting, you will probably need a bowl.  You will need water and  something to make a 'collar' from to put around the track [some fashion one out of plastic containers and reuse them. Others use cardboard.] The collar is used to create a 'wall' around the track to hold the casting material. It will make a thicker and more stable cast. And less likely to crack. If you have several collars with you, you can actually leave the collar on each track until you get home and remove it there. And you will need a cup of some sort to use in measuring the amount of powder and water when mixing the medium.





Now to cast the print.


First, place the collar around the track. Overlap the two ends slightly and secure them with a paperclip or tape. If you can, press the collar slightly into the soil around the track. Be careful not to disturb the track. This should keep the casting material from running under the collar.

casting without a collar.

Next you need to mix the casting material. This will be a 2 parts powder to 1 part water. Add the powder to the water, not water to the powder. Your mix should be like pancake batter. As soon as  the powder is added to the water, it starts to set. Stir the mixture for 4 or 5 minutes, making certain all the lumps are gone. After mixing, tap the container [bowl] full of the mixture on the ground or other hard surface to remove the air from it. You will actually see the air bubbles come to the top. The more air removed from the mixture, the better the cast will turn out. And now  you're ready to pour the mixture into the track.


Avoid pouring the mixture directly onto the track so you will not damage it. Pour it on the ground next to the track. It will run freely across the track and gradually fill the form. Now comes the waiting. You can use this time to further examine the area around the track(s) you have found, looking for further evidence. Or even for more tracks.


Let the track set for at least half an hour. The longer it sits, it should allow for a better cast. As it dries, it will change color from a glossy white to a duller shade. To test if the cast is dry enough to pick up, try tapping your knuckle on the top of it. If it makes a "ceramic" type sound, it is safe to pick it up. If it still feels a little moist or you get a hollow sound when tapped, let it sit for a little while longer and test it again. Depending on conditions like weather, it may take  as long as two hours for a cast to be dry enough.





The cast is now dry and it is time to lift it from the ground. Lift it from opposite edges from beneath the cast itself. If the track was in mud or another softer ground type, you might need to dig a little under the cast.  Prying the cast out from one end will likely break the cast. Care is called for. [And why practice is recommended. LOL]


Placing the cast in a plastic bag or into a box for the trip home is recommended. Once you have it home, take it out of the container so that it can dry thoroughly.  An old baker's wire cooling rack with clean paper on it would work nicely. The cast still needs to let the excess water escape and if you keep it in a sealed container, it will not dry properly.


If you use Plaster of Paris, do not scrub the cast to clean off the dirt as that will remove any of the fine details the cast may have had. Dental Stone is stronger and easier to clean. A light rinsing from a garden hose should remove the loose dirt nicely. Do not handle the cast for at least a week. This will allow it to set completely and will deminish the chance for damage. 

Once your cast is dry, you can label it on the top. The date and other identification can be written on it for easier referral in future study.

Nancy

"I'll spark the thought; what you do with it is up to you."


thanks to : octrackers.co; bigfoothunting.com; and others.