January 1982

Is there an Ogopogo?
Sighting continue in Okanagan Lake
By Marni Dickson
Daily News Writer

Is Ogopogo dead or alive?

It depends on whether or not you believe he, she or it, ever existed.

The last previously recorded sighting of the monster, which legend says inhabits Okanagan Lake, was in July 1981.

If you believe the story, you will probably believe Ogopogo is still alive.

The story is related by Arlene Gaal, the Kelowna author of the book "Beneath the Depths" published by Valley Review Publishing Company which summarizes what is known about "Ogie".

Near Kelowna

Her story was told to her by Wally Wachlin of Kelowna, when she was doing research for her next Ogie epic In the Throes.

Wachlin and his two children were boating near Rattlesnake Island, off Squally Point near Kelowna, when they saw and photographed Ogie.

Wachlin says a huge, snake-like thing surfaced about 100 feet from them. It was between 30 to 40 feet long and either dark green or black. The family didn't see a head.

Ogie moved like a caterpillar, in waves, contracting and expanding as he moved through the water.

When they tried to get close to him, Ogie submerged, leaving a 18-inch wake. When they crossed the wake, the water bubbled around them as if boiling.

Second Sighting

Gaal says there was a second sighting near Okanagan Lake Resort not long afterward. Rick Tremblay, a native of Vancouver, thought he was seeing a whale surfacing until he remembered whales can't live in fresh water. Ogie was about 50 yards off shore.

Gaal said she thinks she saw Ogopogo near the north end of the lake in October. But since it was in the evening twilight, she's doubtful even through she wants so much to believe.

She took pictures of what she saw with a 200 mm lens. When the pictures were developed she saw there was something there, but it wasn't until she compared her pictures to Wachlin's that she knew for sure. The front of whatever was in both photographs matched.

Beachcomber Bay

It was at the same time that May Stanley, her mother and son, also saw Ogopogo. Their sighting was the farthest north of any reported.

Ogie Hunter plans a search this summer.

Over the years, there have been several photographs taken of dark sports and waves in an otherwise calm lake believed to be Ogopogo. Most of them have been taken around the center of Okanagan lake near Squally point. There are no pictures of Ogie taken near Vernon.

There have, however, been sightings, the earliest in 1900 near Okanagan Landing. It wasn't seen again until 1951.

Another sighting in 1969 was one of two by Sam Ivanitz.

Like a fish

The first time he saw it was the better of the two. He and some others were fishing in the area of Ellison Park, but on the other side of the lake. Most of the people who have seen Ogie agree on a general description. Ivanitz account of what he saw differs from this description.

Generally, Ogie is said to have dark green or black "skin", a head shaped like that of a horse or a goat, a forked and fish-like tail, three or more humps that appear about five feet apart and is up to 50 feet long, depending on how much appears out of the water.

Ivanitz says what he saw was more like a 45 foot fish. It had a tall, fins that were pointed and between two and three feet high.

The second time Ivanitz saw Ogie, the lake monster was not alone.

In 1976, Ivanitz saw three of something. One in the center, and two on either side. They were submerged and moving slowly to the north.

Conditions for the sighting do fit the pattern. The lake was calm and the sun was shining.

Ivanitz is convinced he saw something resembling a monster, if not Ogie, and will set out this summer in a 60 foot boat to find out exactly what he saw.

There are others in Vernon who may want to join him.

In 1964 Louis Bixby and Rose Langlid both saw what they took to be Ogopogo. Bixby saw Ogie just off Adventure Bay, not far from Vernon, and Langlid saw it on the other side fo the lake closer to Ellison Park.

Bixby wasn't alone when he saw Ogie. There were three others in the boat he was in and there were other boats in the fishing party.

"There were fish, jumping, so I think Ogopogo was feeding," says Bixby.

"It was about 12 feet long with domes on its back, either five or six of them. The head was in the water so I didn't see it, but my wife saw it and said it looked like a seal's head."

Slid under water

Bixby and his party were about 100 feet from what they saw. They hadn't looked at it long before it slid under the water, leaving the lake once again flat and calm.

He thinks what he saw was a big sturgeon, since they are known to grow to 800 or 900 pounds and can live in fresh water as well as salt water.

Rose Langlid was sitting on a rock cooling her feet in the water when she saw ripples in the lake. Otherwise, the lake was calm.

"Them I saw four or five humps, with the head showing, but I wasn't close enough to see the shape," she said.

In 1980, the most recent known sighting in the north of Okanagan Lake, Ted Hatch was close enough to see the shape.

On a job drilling the rock bluff at Nahun to widen the road, he was taking a coffee break, sitting on the cliff and watching the fish jumping when he made a sighting.

"I saw a long neck sticking out of the water," he said. "It was dark and looked like it was covered with seal skin and was six feet long at least."

Not being sure of what they've seen is a common problem. Not only that, many people have difficulties convincing others they've seen anything. If you are a disbeliever you likely won't believe until you've seen for yourself.

Copyright protects name

Gill Seabrook, of Vernon, may never have seen Ogie, but he's not about to assume it isn't there.

In 1953, Seabrook made himself a hero in Vernon and unpopular in Kelowna when he obtained copyright on everything to do with Ogopogo except the monster itself.

If he wanted, which he doesn't, Seabrook could charge a royalty everytime someone uses the word Ogopogo for profit or draws a picture of the monster.

Seabrook didn't copyright Ogopogo with the intention of making money. He did it to preserve Ogie, and all it represents.

"I was worried that Kelowna had taken over Ogopogo and called it theirs alone," he says. "What I wanted to do was make sure it would belong to all of the Okanagan and no one city in particular."

In keeping with that, in 1956 he reassigned his copyright and presented it to the City of Vernon.

The copyright will remain in his name until 30 years after his death, then it's up to Vernon.

If Ogopogo is ever captured, it will not only solve a mystery that has added to the appeal of the Okanagan Valley for years, but it could very well start a court battle as the entire Okanagan argues over in which museum he should be put to rest.