All language subtitles for Expedition.X.S02E06.Americas.Lake.Monster.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb_track3_[eng]

ON THIS EPISODE
OF "EXPEDITION X..."

WHOO.
WHOO-HOO-HOO.

ALRIGHT, CHAMP!
SEE WHAT YOU GOT!

...PHIL AND JESS
INVESTIGATE REPORTS

OF A GIANT LAKE MONSTER...

THE THING LOOKED LONG
AS MY BOAT.

...SAID TO INHABIT
THE MURKY ABYSS

OF VERMONT'S LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING
I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

IS IT A MASSIVE FISH...

SOMETHING'S DEFINITELY
TRYING TO EAT THE LIGHT!

...A PREHISTORIC BEAST
LOST TO SCIENCE...

LOOK AT THIS.

I MEAN, THIS THING
MUST'VE WEIGHED A TON.

...OR SOMETHING
EVEN MORE DANGEROUS?

I'M SEEING SOMETHING.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE.

THE VISIBILITY
IS SO BAD.

PHIL!

AMERICA'S LAKE MONSTER.

MY NAME IS JOSH GATES.

IN MY TRAVELS, I'VE EXPERIENCED
STRANGE THINGS THAT DEFY LOGIC

AND MADE ME QUESTION EVERYTHING.

OH, MY GOD.

NOW I'VE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM

TO INVESTIGATE THE STRANGER SIDE
OF THE UNKNOWN.

LET'S GO!

PHIL TORRES IS A SCIENTIST WHO
HUNTS FOR RATIONAL EXPLANATIONS.

JESSICA CHOBOT'S
PARANORMAL RESEARCH

HAS MADE HER A TRUE BELIEVER.

PHIL, DO YOU SEE THAT?

I JUST SAW
SOMETHING RUN ACROSS.

TOGETHER WE'RE SEARCHING
FOR ANSWERS...

WHAT IS THAT?

...TO THE WORLD'S
MOST EXTRAORDINARY MYSTERIES.

THIS IS "EXPEDITION X."

Captions by VITAC--
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

ALRIGHT, PHIL, JESS,
I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU

HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO CAPTURE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE

OF SOME OF THESE
STRANGE THINGS

THAT I SEND YOU
TO INVESTIGATE.

WELL, JOSH, IT CAN BE HARD
TO PHOTOGRAPH THINGS

THAT AREN'T THERE.

THAT'S NOT VERY NICE.

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING'S ELUSIVE
DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T EXIST.

LOOK, PHIL, I'M WITH YOU
A LOT OF THE TIME, RIGHT,

BUT THERE IS ONE
VERY FAMOUS PHOTO

THAT I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

IT WAS TAKEN BY A WOMAN NAMED
SANDRA MANSI IN VERMONT IN 1977,

THE MANSI PHOTO!THE VERY SAME. HERE IT IS.

IT DEPICTS WHAT MANY PEOPLE
BELIEVE IS THE HEAD AND NECK

OF SOME SORT
OF VERY LARGE CREATURE

PROTRUDING FROM THE SURFACE
OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

THIS THING IS LEGENDARY.EVEN I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE.

YEAH, WELL, I MEAN, IT'S FAMOUS
FOR A GOOD REASON.

THIS THING HAS HELD UP
TO ACADEMIC SCRUTINY

FOR WELL OVER 40 YEARS.

AND IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY,

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

ACTUALLY PUT IT THROUGH
A COMPUTER ANALYSIS

AND DEEMED
THAT IT WAS AUTHENTIC.

WELL, THEY PROVED THAT THE PHOTO
WASN'T DOCTORED.

RIGHT.YES, IT'S NOT A FORGERY,

BUT AS TO WHAT'S IN THE PHOTO,
THAT IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE.

WELL,
IT'S THE LAKE MONSTER, JOSH.

IT'S OBVIOUS.
IT'S OBVIOUS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION
IT'S A COMPELLING LEGEND.

BUT THE STORY OF THE CREATURE
THAT PEOPLE CALLED CHAMP

STARTED WAY BEFORE
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN.

THE RECORDED HISTORY OF
CHAMP SIGHTINGS DATES BACK

TO THE 1700s
WHEN THE NATIVE ABENAKI TRIBE

WARNS FRENCH EXPLORERS
ABOUT A SERPENT-LIKE CREATURE,

GITASKOG, THAT INHABITS LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

BUT THE LEGEND REALLY TAKES OFF
IN 1819

WHEN A MAN KNOWN AS CAPTAIN CRUM

REPORTS SEEING A MONSTROUS BEAST

RAISING ITS MASSIVE HEAD
OUT OF THE WATER.

SUBSEQUENT SIGHTINGS IN THE
1800s INCLUDE A RAILROAD CREW

WHO SEE AN ENORMOUS SERPENT
WITH SILVERY SCALES,

A LOCAL SHERIFF WHO SWEARS HE
ENCOUNTERS A SNAKE-LIKE CREATURE

ABOUT 30 FEET LONG,
AND, THE MOST INTRIGUING REPORT,

A MASS SIGHTING
ON THE STEAMSHIP W.B. EDDY

WHEN AT LEAST 100 PASSENGERS
AND CREW WATCH AS THE CRAFT

SUPPOSEDLY RUNS INTO THE ANIMAL
AND NEARLY CAPSIZES.

THEN THERE'S THE FAMOUS MANSI
PHOTO TAKEN IN 1977.

IN 1999, AN IMAGE ANALYSIS
IS CONDUCTED,

AND IT'S PROCLAIMED THAT THE
MANSI PHOTOGRAPH IS GENUINE,

ONE OF THE FEW PIECES
OF COMPELLING EVIDENCE

FOR AN UNKNOWN ANIMAL
IN ANY LAKE IN THE WORLD.

CHAMP SIGHTINGS
HAVE CONTINUED TO THIS DAY,

WITH MORE THAN 300
ALLEGED INCIDENTS AND RISING.

THE LAKE BORDERS NEW YORK
AND VERMONT

AND BOTH STATES
HAVE TAKEN UNPRECEDENTED ACTS

TO LEGALLY PROTECT
THIS MYSTERIOUS ANIMAL.

WHATEVER THE TRUTH IS, CHAMP
ISN'T GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

BELIEVERS SPECULATE THE CHAMP
COULD BE ANYTHING

FROM THE DESCENDANT
OF AN ANCIENT WHALE

TO A RELATIVE
OF THE PREHISTORIC PLESIOSAUR

OR EVEN SOME OTHER
AS YET UNIDENTIFIED CREATURE

OF MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS.

ALRIGHT, JESS,
I TAKE IT YOU APPROVE.

I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

I THINK IT IS
SUPER SMART OF THE LEGISLATORS

TO PROTECT THE THING
BEFORE THEY LOSE IT.

AND LOOK, THERE IS SOME
PRECEDENT HERE FOR THIS, RIGHT?

I MEAN,
TAKE THE MEGAMOUTH SHARK--

REAL ANIMAL, HUGE ANIMAL,

WASN'T DISCOVERED
UNTIL THE LATE '70s.

SURE,
AND YOU ALSO HAVE THESE CASES

OF WHAT ARE KNOWN
AS LAZARUS SPECIES.

THEY'RE ANIMALS THAT WERE
PRESUMED TO BE EXTINCT

DURING THE FOSSIL RECORD,

THEN THEY REAPPEAR
IN MODERN TIMES.

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE
RAT SQUIRREL-- REAL THING.

- REALLY?
- YEAH.

AND IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE EXTINCT
FOR 11 MILLION YEARS

BEFORE BEING REDISCOVERED
IN LAOS IN 1996.

I FEEL LIKE PHIL'S
MAKING MY POINT

THAT THIS THING
COULD BE REAL.

I'M NOT SAYING
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

I'M JUST SAYING WE HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS

TO REALLY PROVE THIS.
WE GOT TO FIND A LIVE SPECIMEN.

NOW MAY BE
THE BEST TIME TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, WITH THESE RECENT
SIGHTINGS, CREDIBLE SIGHTINGS,

I THINK YOU SHOULD
GO TO VERMONT,

TRY TO MEET THESE EYEWITNESSES,
FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY REALLY SAW,

GET OUT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN,
GET IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN, YOU KNOW,

SEE IF YOU CAN COME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH WHATEVER THAT IS.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.JESS, WHAT YOU THINK?

LET'S CATCH A LAKE MONSTER.

IT'S JUST A FIVE-HOUR DRIVE
NORTH FROM NEW YORK CITY

TO BURLINGTON, VERMONT,

AND THE RUMORED HOME
OF A LEVIATHAN.

THERE'S BEEN SO MANY REPORTS
HERE OF CHAMP.

SO LIKE, WHAT'S THE THING
THAT'S LIVING IN THE LAKE?

MAYBE IT'S JUST A KNOWN SPECIES
OF FISH

THAT GETS PARTICULARLY HUGE.

OR IS IT ACTUALLY
AN ANCIENT DINOSAUR

OR SOMETHING THAT
KIND OF GOT LAKE LOCKED

AND HAS MANAGED
TO ADAPT AND LIVE?

MAYBE THERE IS STILL SOMETHING
IN THIS LAKE...

...WAITING TO BE FOUND.

...OR IT'S SOMETHING
THAT IS KNOWN

THAT JUST KEEPS
GETTING MISIDENTIFIED OVER TIME.

JUST SEEMS WEIRD THAT WE HAVE
A FOOT IN EACH OTHER'S THEORIES.

LIKE, I FEEL LIKE THAT
ACTUALLY GIVES US A CHANCE

TO POTENTIALLY SOLVE THIS THING.TOTALLY.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY
SOMETHING IN THE WATER.

OH, PULL OVER HERE.
PULL OVER HERE.

AS WE PULL INTO CHAMP TERRITORY,

I SEE THE PERFECT SPOT
TO BEGIN OUR SEARCH.

ALRIGHT, COME ON.

YOU CAN'T INVESTIGATE
A LEGENDARY PHOTO

OF A LAKE MONSTER WITHOUT
TAKING A FEW OF YOUR OWN.

WHAT?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "WHAT?"

TAKE A PICTURE.

NICE. YOU DONE?

NOT DONE. OKAY.

OOH, THE SWIM. NICE.

NAILED IT.

NOW THAT WE'RE
OFFICIALLY IN CHAMP'S DOMAIN,

WE CONTINUE NORTH TO CARRY BAY

TO MEET WITH EYEWITNESS
KYLE CORTIANA.

I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED
TO MEET KYLE.

I MEAN,
HE'S A PRO FISHERMAN.

AND IF HE THINKS HE'S SEEN SOMETHING,

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE,

GOT TO SAY. YEAH.

KYLE'S BEEN FISHING
SINCE THE AGE OF 3

AND HAS SINCE GONE PRO,
REELING IN TROPHY BASS

ON THE FISHING LEAGUE
WORLD WIDE PRO CIRCUIT

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AND JUST RECENTLY,
KYLE SPOTTED AND FILMED

A MASSIVE OBJECT
IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN,

SOMETHING OF INCOMPREHENSIBLE
SIZE THAT HE BELIEVES

WAS THE FAMOUS CHAMP.

KYLE.HI, KYLE.

HOW'S IT GOING?GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?DOING PRETTY GOOD.

NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU'VE
GOT ONE HECK OF A CHAMP STORY.

I DO.
I HAVE QUITE THE STORY.

I WAS HERE FISHING FOR
A PROFESSIONAL BASS TOURNAMENT.

I WAS COMING BACK IN
AND IT WAS LAST LIGHT,

AND I WAS COMING BACK
THROUGH AN AREA.

THERE WAS NO WIND.
IT WAS DEAD CALM.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE PHONE
WITH MY FATHER

AND TOLD MY DAD, I WAS LIKE,
"THINK I'M SEEING THIS MONSTER."

KIND OF IN DISBELIEF.

THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE THING
LOOKED LONG AS MY BOAT,

AND IT LOOKED LIKE A LOG,
BUT THE THING WAS MOVING.

AND I GOT OFF THE PHONE AND I
STARTED RECORDING FOOTAGE OF IT.

AND I ACTUALLY WENT PAST
THE OBJECT,

AND WHEN I CIRCLED BACK AROUND,
IT ACTUALLY ALLOWED ME TO SEE IT

BECAUSE BEFORE,
THE WATER WAS FLAT,

THEN WHEN THE WAVES HIT IT,

THE OBJECT STARTED TO SHOW
ITSELF IN BETWEEN THE WAVES.

I WAS LIKE,
"AM I REALLY SEEING THIS?"

AND AT SOME POINT,
DID IT GO UNDER?

IT DID. IT WENT UNDER
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

SO YOU HAVE LIKE A VIDEO
OR TAPE OF THIS THING?

YEAH, I SURE DO.
I HAVE IT ON MY PHONE.

HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE.
I'LL LET YOU GUYS WATCH IT.

THANKS.

OH, WOW.
THAT DOES LONG.

I MEAN,
THAT'S SOMETHING HUGE.

WOW, THAT DEFINITELY IS
SOMETHING BIG IN THE WATER.

SO I'M GUESSING
AS A PROFESSIONAL FISHERMAN,

YOU'VE BEEN TO COUNTLESS LAKES,
RIVERS, STREAMS,

PONDS, EVERYWHERE, AND YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE IT.

ARE THERE ANY TYPES OF FISH
THAT COULD GET THAT BIG

THAT LIVE IN THIS LAKE
IN THE DEEP PARTS?

NOW, THE BIGGEST FISH
THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT'S IN HERE

IS A STURGEON.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 90 SPECIES
OF FISH IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN,

BUT THE STURGEON IS THE
UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION,

GROWING TO OVER 8 FEET LONG
AND 300 POUNDS.

BUT KYLE'S CONVINCED
THAT WHAT HE CAPTURED ON CAMERA

COULD SWALLOW
A GIANT STURGEON WHOLE.

I'M AN ENGINEER
BY TRADE, AS WELL,

SO I'VE TRIED TO SCALE
THE WAVE DISTANCES AND
GET MEASUREMENTS,

AND IT'S QUESTIONABLY
AS LONG AS MY BOAT--

WHICH OVER 20 FEET.

I WATCHED
MY OWN VIDEO OVER AND OVER,

AND I JUST CAN'T COME UP
WITH SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S CLEAR AS DAY THAT YOU RAN
INTO SOMETHING WEIRD OUT THERE.

A MILLION PERCENT.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I MEAN,
WE'D LOVE TO GET OUT TO THE SPOT

WHERE YOU ACTUALLY SAW THIS.YOU BET.

YEAH, I'LL BE HAPPY
TO TAKE YOU GUYS OUT THERE.

I GOT ANOTHER TOURNAMENT,
SO I CAN'T STICK AROUND LONG,

BUT I'LL BE HAPPY
TO SHOW YOU WHERE IT HAPPENED.

OKAY, PERFECT.PERFECT.

KYLE LEADS US TO WHERE
HE HAD HIS SIGHTING...

PRETTY ROUGH OUT HERE TODAY!OH, YEAH!

...AND WE FINALLY GET
A SENSE OF HOW BIG

THIS LAKE REALLY IS.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN
IS 120 MILES LONG,

UP TO 400 FEET DEEP,

AND WAS BRIEFLY CONSIDERED
TO BE THE SIXTH GREAT LAKE.

THERE EVER WAS A PLACE FOR AN
ELUSIVE LAKE MONSTER TO SURVIVE,

THIS IS IT.

WHOO.
WHOO-HOO-HOO.

ALRIGHT, CHAMP!
SEE WHAT YOU GOT!

SO THIS IS THE SPOT,
HUH?!

YEAH, THIS IS THE SPOT!
IT'S WHERE I SAW HIM!

PERFECT.

THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SPEND
A COUPLE HOURS

AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND!

GOOD LUCK!
HOPE YOU FIND HIM!

OKAY, THANKS!
I'LL LET YOU KNOW!

PLEASE DO!

KYLE'S RECENT SIGHTING
TOOK PLACE IN THIS AREA.

THERE'S ABOUT 350 FEET
OF MURKY WATER

BETWEEN US
AND THE LAKE BED BELOW,

EASILY ENOUGH HABITAT
TO HIDE A GIANT.

EVEN THOUGH THE SUN STARTS
TO DRIFT BELOW THE HORIZON,

WE CAME PREPARED FOR
AN ALL-NIGHT INVESTIGATION.

HE MIGHT BE NOCTURNAL,
SO WE MIGHT JUST NOT BE OUT YET.

YOU KNOW,
I'LL TAKE THAT THEORY.

LIKE THERE
ARE ANIMALS LIKE SQUID

WILL SPEND DAY
IN DEEP WATERS,

AND THEN AT NIGHT,
THEY COME UP TO FEED.

YEAH, I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THE IDEA
THAT, YOU KNOW,

MAYBE IT'S
AN ANCIENT PLESIOSAUR

THAT HAD TO ADAPT
TO A NEW WAY OF LIFE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN

THAT THERE IS
A PLESIOSAUR LIVING IN HERE

BECAUSE PLESIOSAURS WENT EXTINCT
LIKE 60, 70 MILLION YEARS AGO.

YOU SAID IT YOURSELF BEFORE.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE STORIES

ABOUT ANIMALS
THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WERE EXTINCT

AND THEN THEY FIND IT?YEAH.

SO WHY COULDN'T
THEY FIND A CHAMP?

WHILE REDISCOVERING A LIVING,
BREATHING, PREHISTORIC CREATURE

SUCH AS THE PLESIOSAUR
SOUNDS LIKE A TALL ORDER,

A NUMBER OF LONG-LOST ANIMALS

HAVE ACTUALLY RISEN
FROM THE DEAD.

WELL, KIND OF.

TAKE THE COELACANTH,

A LARGE PREHISTORIC FISH
THAT CAN GROW TO OVER 6 1/2 FEET

AND WEIGH 200 POUNDS.

IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THEY WENT
EXTINCT 65 MILLION YEARS AGO

UNTIL IT WAS REDISCOVERED
AGAIN IN 1938.

AS FAR AS A PLACE WHERE
ANCIENT ANIMALS COULD BE HIDING,

LAKE CHAMPLAIN
IS SOMEWHAT IDEAL.

SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED
FOSSILS HERE

THAT DATE BACK
OVER 400 MILLION YEARS,

AND THE TEAMS COME EQUIPPED
WITH GEAR

TO INVESTIGATE
THE LAKE'S MYSTERIES.

THE FISH CAMERA, HUH?YEAH.

I MEAN,
THIS THING'S AMAZING.

I MEAN, YOU COULD SEND THIS
HD CAMERA DEEP INTO THE WATER...

TO GET FISH SELFIES.

IT'S A VERY COOL
FISH CAMERA.

IT IS COOL.
IT IS COOL.

TONIGHT, THIS
HIGH-DEFINITION CAMERA

WILL BE OUR EYES UNDERWATER.
AND SINCE BRIGHT LIGHTS

ARE KNOWN TO ATTRACT
UNDERWATER ANIMALS LIKE SQUID,

MAYBE THIS WILL HELP
BRING MORE ACTION OUR WAY.

IF CHAMP IS REAL AND AS BIG
AS EYEWITNESSES CLAIM,

IT WOULD NEED TO CONSUME POTENTIALLY

THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD
TO SUSTAIN ITSELF.

I'M THINKING WHAT I CAN DO
IS TOSS IN THE BAIT

AND MAYBE IF IT DOESN'T
ATTRACT CHAMP TO EAT IT,

IT'LL AT LEAST ATTRACT OTHER
FISH THAT MIGHT ATTRACT CHAMP.

YEAH.

AH, JESS, TAKE A LOOK
AT THE CAMERA.

OH, CHECK THAT OUT.

GETTING A PRETTY GOOD VIEW OF
THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE HERE.

MM-HMM.

OUR CAMERA HAS DESCENDED
350 FEET DOWN TO THE LAKE BED.

FROM HERE, I'LL MOVE IT AROUND
TO GET A 20-FOOT PANORAMIC VIEW

OF ANYTHING THAT'S ENTICED
BY THE LIGHT ON THE CAMERA

OR THE BAIT.

OH, DID YOU SEE
THAT LITTLE FISH JUMP?!

OOH.

THAT WAS A GOOD ON RIGHT THERE.YEAH.

OH, WE'RE GETTING
SOME ACTIVITY.

YEAH, IT WAS A HUGE FISH.

WHOA.

SOMETHING'S DEFINITELY
TRYING TO SEE THE LIGHT!

HOLY CRAP.

RIGHT THERE.
IT DID IT AGAIN,

SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY
INTERESTED IN OUR CAMERA,

BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO TELL WHAT IT WAS.

IS IT JUST A LARGE FISH

OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I START THUMPING THE WATER
TO DRAW IT IN CLOSER

BECAUSE VIBRATIONS AT THE
SURFACE MAKE FISH CURIOUS.

AND JUST MAKE LOUD NOISES
ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.

IT'S KNOWN TO JUST
DRAW THINGS IN.

SOMETHING JUST HIT
OUR BOAT.

I'M GONNA GO
AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
BACK LEFT, BACK LEFT.

- BACK LEFT?
- I'M SEEING SOMETHING.

WE GOT SOMETHING.DO YOU REALLY?

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN,

WENT TOO FAR.
DOWN, DOWN.

LITTLE MORE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE.

WHERE IS IT NOW?

IT JUST WENT
UNDER THE BOAT.

MY TEAM IS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

WHERE THE MYSTERIOUS
LAKE MONSTER NAMED CHAMP

WAS REPORTEDLY SEEN
BY PROFESSIONAL FISHERMAN

KYLE CORTIANA.

AND THE TEAM'S EFFORTS
TO LURE SOMETHING

SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED...

IT JUST WENT
UNDER THE BOAT.

...A LITTLE TOO WELL.

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE.

OH, WHERE IS IT?
IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TELL,

BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY BIG
RIGHT IN THIS AREA.

OKAY, WELL, I'M GONNA RUN BACK
AND MOVE THE LIGHT.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE WATER.ALRIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

SO, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M KIND OF THINKING

WHATEVER I JUST SAW UP HERE,
I THINK IT'S GONE.

SERIOUSLY?
YEAH.

SOMETHING DEFINITELY CAUSED

A BIG THUD
AGAINST THE BOAT.

THIS WHOLE BOAT SHIFTED,

SO SOMETHING BIG HIT US.

WE HAD LIGHT IN THE WATER...MM-HMM.

...AND I WAS THUMPING,

KIND OF SENDING THOSE VIBRATIONS
THROUGHOUT THIS AREA.

SO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT COMBINATION

OR ONE OF THOSE FACTORS

SEEM TO HAVE CAUSED
SOME REACTION.

I SAY WE STAY OUT HERE

AND TRY A FEW MORE TIMES
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

YEAH, GIVE IT
A COUPLE MORE THUDS.

SEE IF IT COMES BACK.OKAY.

WE CONTINUE TO CHUM THE WATER

AND TRY TO LURE
BACK THE CREATURE

WITH LIGHT AND VIBRATIONS
INTO THE EARLY MORNING,

BUT THE WATERS OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN
HAVE CALMED,

SO AS DAWN BREAKS,
WE HEAD BACK TO SHORE.

WE'LL NEED HELP TO TRACK DOWN
CHAMP IN SUCH A MASSIVE LAKE,

SO WE'VE TRAVELED SOUTH TO MEET
WITH LOCAL CHAMP EXPERT

KATY ELIZABETH.

HI, KATY.NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

KATIE IS AN AUTHOR, INVESTIGATOR,

AND THE FOUNDER OF CHAMP SEARCH.

FOR EIGHT YEARS,
SHE'S BEEN ACTIVELY COMBING

EVERY INCH OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN,

GATHERING EVIDENCE
OF THE MONSTER

AND CATALOGING
REPORTED SIGHTINGS.

AND SHE BELIEVES THE LAKE
MONSTER FREQUENTS THIS MARSH.

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN CHAMP
IN THE FIRST PLACE?

IN 2012, I TOOK A TRIP
TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

I SAW THIS OBJECT POP UP
TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.

I WOULD ESTIMATE IT WAS AROUND
15 FEET IN LENGTH,

BLACK, BLACKISH-BROWN
IN COLOR.

WERE YOU OUT ON A BOAT?
WERE YOU WALKING ON THE SHORE?

NO, IS ACTUALLY SITTING
ON A BENCH, EATING MY BREAKFAST.

I'M LOOKING AT IT
AND I'M LIKE, "WELL, MAYBE--"

I'M TRYING TO BE LOGICAL,
YOU KNOW.

I'M LIKE,
MAYBE IT'S AN OTTER.

MAYBE IT'S A BIG SNAKE."

I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO THINK,

BUT IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING
I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

WOW.OKAY, INTERESTING.

WHAT'S YOUR THEORY
ON WHAT CHAMP MIGHT BE?

I BELIEVE THAT THESE ANIMALS
ARE AN ANCIENT SPECIES.

MY IDEA IS THAT THESE ANIMALS
ARE EITHER REPTILE OR AMPHIBIAN

OR PERHAPS A VERY STRANGE
HYBRID OF BOTH.

IN THE WINTERTIME, THE LAKE
CAN FREEZE COMPLETELY OVER,

SO THESE ANIMALS NEED TO BE
BREATHING SOMEHOW TO STAY ALIVE.

THEY COULD BE BREATHING
THROUGH THEIR SKIN

OR, LIKE THE COMMON
SNAPPING TURTLE

THAT'S HERE
IN THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN REGION,

THEY ACTUALLY BREATHE
THROUGH SPECIALIZED SKIN CELLS

BENEATH THEIR TAIL.

KATIE'S THEORY IS
ACTUALLY BASED IN SCIENCE.

BOTH REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
CAN STAY UNDERWATER

FOR EXTENDED AMOUNTS OF TIME
DUE TO THEIR UNIQUE ANATOMY.

AMPHIBIANS ARE ABLE
TO ABSORB OXYGEN

THROUGH THEIR PERMEABLE SKIN

WHILE REPTILES HAVE AN EXTREMELY
EFFICIENT LUNG CAPACITY.

IF KATIE'S THEORY IS CORRECT,

THIS COULD EXPLAIN
HOW THEY SURVIVE IN THE LAKE

AND WHY THEY AREN'T SEEN OFTEN.

BUT I'M NOT NECESSARILY BUYING

THERE'S A GIANT HYBRID
FROG-REPTILE THING

THE SIZE OF A DINOSAUR.

THERE'S BEEN MANY REPORTS
IN THE MARSH SYSTEMS,

PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT.

OOH.
SO YOU THINK

THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT CHAMP
ACTUALLY COMES ONTO LAND?

YES, MATTER OF FACT,
THAT'S WHY I HAD YOU GUYS

MEET ME HERE
IN THIS LOCATION.

THERE'S BEEN PRINTS
AND TRACKS FOUND HERE--
DRAG MARKS

RIGHT HERE?YES, RIGHT HERE.

OH. WHY WOULD THEY FAVOR
THIS AREA?

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO FEED
BECAUSE YOU HAVE SNAKES,

TURTLES, FROGS, LITTLE FISH.

THEY COULD BE
OPPORTUNISTIC FEEDERS

BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN
REPORTS OF THEM

SNATCHING SEAGULLS OFF

THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.INTERESTING.

EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS
ARE ONE THING,

BUT HAVE YOU EVER MANAGED
TO ACTUALLY GET SOME EVIDENCE

OF THEIR POTENTIALLY BEING A
GIANT LAKE MONSTER LIVING HERE?

YES, I HAVE.

THESE ARE SONAR IMAGES
THAT I OBTAINED

ON AUGUST 5TH, 2019.

MY RESEARCH PARTNERS
AND I WERE IN THE BOAT

AND WE NOTICED
THESE STRANGE ANOMALIES

ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.

AND ONCE I ENLARGED IT,
I SAW THAT HORSE-LIKE HEAD

WITH THE HORN-LIKE
PROTUBERANCES ON TOP.

KATY'S SONAR CAPTURED AN IMAGE

OF WHAT COULD BE AN UNIDENTIFIED
ANIMAL UNDERWATER,

RESTING
ON THE LAKE BOTTOM.

THE SHAPE MATCHES
PREVIOUS EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS

OF A LONG-NECKED CREATURE.

FURTHER NORTH...
MM-HMM.

...I SAW STRANGE ANOMALIES
AT THE SURFACE.

OH, MY GOSH,
YOU'RE RIGHT!

THERE'S THE ANIMAL
AND THEN THERE IS ITS WAKE.

YES.

I HAVE TO ADMIT,
THAT DOES LOOK SIMILAR

TO WHAT WE SAW
IN KYLE'S VIDEO.

THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING IN HERE

THAT PEOPLE
ARE CALLING CHAMP.

ABSOLUTELY.

IF KATIE'S RIGHT, CHAMP
COMES TO THIS MARSH TO FEED.

AND FOR ME, THE DISCOVERY OF
STRANGE TRACKS OR DRAG MARKS

COMING OUT OF THE LAKE
STRENGTHENS HER THEORY.

IF THIS LAKE MONSTER
IS A NIGHT PREDATOR,

THEN OUR BEST CHANCE
OF AN ENCOUNTER IS RIGHT NOW.

SEEING A LOT OF FROGS.YEAH, A LOT OF FROGS OUT HERE.

KATY WAS RIGHT.
DEFINITELY A LOT

OF FOOD HERE FOR CHAMP.

AND IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT,
THIS PLACE IS LOOKING LIKE

A MONSTER BUFFET.

GOT ONE.

OH, LOOK AT
THAT LEOPARD FROG.

SO THIS IS THE CLASSIC AMPHIBIAN.

MM-HMM.
AND, YOU KNOW,

KATY WAS THINKING THAT CHAMP
COULD BE AMPHIBIAN

'CAUSE THIS THING CAN BREATHE
THROUGH ITS MOUTH,

ALSO THROUGH ITS SKIN,

WHICH WOULD BE WHY CHAMP
DOESN'T COME UP TO THE SURFACE

VERY MUCH
BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY,

HE DOESN'T NEED TO. YEAH.

THIS IS THE SPOT
WHERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE

HAVE CLAIMED TO SEE CHAMP
NOT ONLY IN THE WATER,

BUT ON SHORE. YEAH.

SO I HAVE THE CAMERA
TRAPS IN MY BAG.

OKAY.
I THINK WE SHOULD FIND

A GOOD PLACE IN THE MUD

WHERE WE CAN REALLY DIG
THESE POSTS IN.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
NOT GONNA LOSE THESE CAMERAS.

OKAY, WORKS FOR ME.

WE'VE BROUGHT A DOZEN
INFRARED WATERPROOF CAMERAS

TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

IF THIS IS A POTENTIAL CAMP
HOT SPOT,

WE NEED TO KEEP THE CAMERAS
ROLLING IN CASE

SOMETHING DECIDES TO EMERGE
FROM THE WATER.

OHH...
WHAT WAS THAT?

THE HECK WAS THAT?

THAT SOUNDED LIKE
SOMETHING BIG.

OH, I SEE THE RIPPLES.HOLY .

LET'S GO CHECK THAT OUT.

LOOK AT THIS.
THAT'S A DRAG MARK.

OH, MY GOD, THAT'S HUGE!

LOOK AT THIS.

THAT'S A DRAG, MARK.

OH, MY GOD, THAT'S HUGE!

SOME MARKS ON THIS SIDE.

OH, YEAH, LOOKIT.
LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S SO BIZARRE.

ARE YOU THINKING THAT WHATEVER
JUST MADE THAT SPLASH

IS THE SAME THING AS THIS?IT'S IN THE SAME EXACT AREA.

I THINK THAT SPLASH
COULD ACCOMMODATE

SOMETHING THAT IS THIS BIG.I DON'T KNOW,

BUT IT STAYED SHALLOW.

LIKE, WE WOULD'VE SEEN
SOMETHING IN THE WATER.

WE WOULD'VE SEEN A WAKE.WHERE DID THAT THING GO?

I DON'T KNOW.
I'M CHECKING FOR EYE SHINE.

NO, I'M NOT SAYING
ANY EYE SHINE.

OKAY, I'VE GOT THE FLIR CAMERA,
SO LET'S TAKE THAT OUT.

OKAY.

THE SCAN.

I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING OVER THERE.

NOTHING THERE?
NOTHING THERE.

THE RAIN'S STARTING.

YEAH.I WANT TO LOSE THE TRACKS.

I THINK WE GOT
TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THAT

BEFORE IT GETS WASHED AWAY.OH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

THERE'S NO SIGN OF
WHATEVER MADE THAT SPLASH

OR THESE FRESH TRACKS,
BUT WE NEED TO MOVE FAST

IF WE'RE GONNA COLLECT
ANY EVIDENCE.

I MEAN, THIS THING
MUST'VE WEIGHED A TON

AND BEEN SUPER STRONG

BECAUSE IT TOOK YOU
QUITE A WHILE

TO POUND THOSE STAKES
INTO THE GROUND.

THE MUD IS WAY MORE DENSE
THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.

I'VE SEEN SEA TURTLE TRACKS
THAT LOOK LIKE THIS

ON OCEAN SHORES,
BUT THIS IS A LAKE,

AND I DON'T THINK THAT SNAPPING
TURTLES GET QUITE THIS BIG.

THE LARGEST ONES GROW
TO JUST OVER A FOOT.

ALRIGHT, WELL,
LET'S GO PUT UP THE CAMERAS

AND SEE IF IT'LL COME BACK.

IF A LARGE CREATURE DOES
FREQUENT THIS MARSH TO FEED,

WE NEED TO KNOW.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR
INFRARED CAMERAS ROLLING HERE

IN CASE THE ANIMAL
THAT JUST FLED THE AREA

MAKES ANOTHER APPEARANCE.

- THAT LOOKS GOOD.
- COME TAKE A SELFIE, CHAMP.

IT'S DAY THREE
OF OUR INVESTIGATION,

AND WHILE WE'VE MET
SOME COMPELLING EYEWITNESSES

AND HAD AN INTERESTING ENCOUNTER
OF OUR OWN OUT ON THE WATER,

I DON'T THINK WE'RE ANY CLOSER
TO SOLVING THIS MYSTERY.

A BIG PART OF THIS FOR ME
IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT IS
BIOLOGICALLY POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE THE BIG LAKE,
SO HOW COULD THIS THING FEED?

HOW COULD IT HAVE
A SUSTAINABLE POPULATION?

HOW COULD IT
STAY UNDERWATER

FOR ALL THIS TIME
AND NOT BE SEEN?

THERE'S JUST ALL THESE QUESTIONS
I HAVE.

WHAT EXISTS OUT THERE
THAT THIS COULD BE SIMILAR TO?

SO WE'RE HEADED
TO THE LEAHY CENTER,

A SCIENCE AND NATURE MUSEUM
NEAR THE LAKE,

FOR WHAT I THINK THIS INVESTIGATION

DESPERATELY NEEDS--

A RATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC
POINT OF VIEW.

WELCOME TO THE LEAHY CENTER
FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

I'VE ARRANGED A MEETING
WITH DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

NINA RIDHIBHINYO,

WHO'S AN EXPERT ON THE LOCAL
ECOSYSTEM AND THE CHAMP LEGEND.

I'M LOVING
THE CHAMP STUFF HERE!

I KNOW, AREN'T THEY CUTE
ALTOGETHER?

THEY'RE SO CUTE.

WELL, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY
WHY WE'RE HERE

IS WE'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF SEEING
IF WE CAN'T FIND CHAMP.

AH, AN EXCELLENT QUEST.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
A LITTLE LESS ADORABLE

AND MORE IN THE VEIN OF,
LIKE, HARD CHAMP EVIDENCE HERE?

WE DO, ACTUALLY.
WE HOST THE FAMOUS MANSI PHOTO.

OH, THAT'S COOL.LIKE THE PHOTO?

THE PHOTO.CAN WE SEE IT?

YEAH.
OH, YES.

THE ORIGINAL MANSI PHOTO
IS SO MUCH MORE DETAILED

THAN THE LOW-RESOLUTION REPLICA
WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT
THE BODY'S CLEARLY DEFINED.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE AN OPTICAL
ILLUSION CAUSED BY A SHADOW.

OH, WOW!
CHECK THAT OUT!

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST
CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT EXISTS?

DO YOU THINK IT'S THIS?I THINK IT REALLY DEPENDS

ON WHAT YOU CONSIDER EVIDENCE.

UNTIL YOU HAVE
A LIVE, LIVE ANIMAL,

IT'S REALLY HARD TO CONFIRM
THE EXISTENCE OF SOMETHING.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN IT?ALRIGHT.

SO I SEE TWO POSSIBILITIES--

EITHER A HUMP AND A NECK

OR MAYBE AN ANIMAL ON ITS SIDE
WITH A FLIPPER IN THE AIR.

SO YOU'RE CONVINCED
DEFINITELY ANIMAL?

YEAH, I'M CONVINCED ANIMAL.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS A LOT
LIKE AN ANIMAL.

I'M TRYING TO TELL
IF THAT'S LIKE A FISH DIVING OUT

AND WE'RE KIND OF CATCHING
A LITTLE ARCH OF IT.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS A LOT
LIKE A GIANT LAKE MONSTER,

I GOT TO SAY.YES, IT DOES.

IT'S CONVINCING.SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?

IT COULD BE
A WAKE OF A BOAT,

OR IT COULD BE DIFFERENT
ANIMALS-- LARGE ANIMALS,

COLLECTIONS OF ANIMALS.

HOW BIG DO YOU THINK
THIS THING IS?

FROM A PHOTO,
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL,

BUT WE KNOW PEOPLE
USUALLY REPORT CHAMP

TO BE BETWEEN
10 AND 40 FEET.

WE HAVE ANIMALS HERE THAT ARE
APPROACHING THAT 10-FOOT SIZE,

BUT 40 FEET'S PRETTY BIG.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN IS SWARMING WITH
90 KNOWN SPECIES OF FISH,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY ANY OF THEM
CAN GROW TO 40 FEET.

BUT THERE IS ONE KIND OF
FRESHWATER FISH HERE THAT, WELL,

LET'S JUST SAY
IF IT WAS SWIMMING BY

AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS,

YOUR HEART MIGHT JUMP OUT
OF YOUR CHEST.

OH, MY GOSH.LOOK AT THESE THINGS.

AREN'T THEY AMAZING?SO THESE ARE THE STURGEON?

THIS IS THE LARGEST FISH
WE HAVE IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

THEY CAN GET UP TO EIGHT FEET.HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE FOR?

THEY'RE REALLY LONG-LIVED FISH.
THEY CAN LIVE 80, 100 YEARS.

TO ME, YOU SEE AN EIGHT-FOOT
ONE OF THOSE GUYS

JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER--
GIANT LAKE MONSTER.

SO A POSSIBILITY,
BUT NOT A TOTAL YES.

NOT ONLY ARE THESE
STURGEON HUGE,

THEY'RE HARDLY SEEN
BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTTOM FEEDERS,

EXCEPT IN THE RARE INSTANCE
WHEN THEY BREACH THE SURFACE.

OH, !

WHICH COULD RESEMBLE
THE HEAD OF A LAKE MONSTER

TO A CASUAL OBSERVER.

IT EXPLAINS
WHY CHAMP SIGHTINGS SELDOM OCCUR

AND WHY THEY CAUSE SUCH A STIR
WHEN THEY DO.

BUT JUST WHEN I'M THINKING
THIS CASE IS CLOSED,

NINA DROPS THIS NUGGET ON US.

THIS IS
THE CHARLOTTE WHALE.

OOH, LOOK AT THOSE TEETH.

- THAT LIVED IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN?!
- YEAH, IT'S UNUSUAL

BECAUSE VERMONT
HAS NO COAST.

YEAH, SO HOW'D
THE WHALE GET HERE?

LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S BEEN HERE
ABOUT 10,000 YEARS.

BUT RIGHT BEFORE THAT,
THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED

THE CHAMPLAIN SEA

THAT WAS CONNECTED
TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

SO AT THAT TIME,
WE HAD WHALES

ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE AREA.WOW.

SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE
OF A PRETTY LARGE ANIMAL,

EVEN WHALES
LARGER THAN THIS,

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN
IN THIS AREA.

HEARING THAT LAKE CHAMPLAIN
WAS AN INLAND SALT SEA

STRENGTHENS MY BELIEF
THAT THERE COULD STILL BE

A LARGE AQUATIC CREATURE
LIVING IN THESE WATERS.

WE DO HAVE THESE EXAMPLES
OF ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO MOVE BETWEEN SALT WATER
AND FRESH WATER,

AND THERE HAVE BEEN PLESIOSAURS
THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND

IN BRACKISH WATERS,

AND BRACKISH WATER'S
WHERE YOU START TO SEE

THIS MIXING OF SALT WATER
AND FRESH WATER.

INTERESTING! SO YOU'RE SAYING
THERE'S A CHANCE!

EVOLUTION
DOES SOME WEIRD STUFF.

I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS
A POSSIBILITY,

BUT THE STURGEON IS
A 65-MILLION-YEAR-OLD SPECIES.

THERE YOU GO.

IT SOUNDS
LIKE THIS IS FEASIBLE.

SOMETHING TO BE
FURTHER INVESTIGATED.

YEAH.
IF CHAMP DID EXIST

THE WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE
REPORTING THEIR SIGHTINGS,

IS THERE ANYWHERE
IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN

THAT WOULD BE
A GOOD HABITAT FOR IT?

WELL, A LOT
OF CHAMP SIGHTINGS

HAPPEN IN THE DEEPEST PARTS
OF THE LAKE.

I'M SHOCKED TO HEAR
THAT NINA DOESN'T RULE OUT

THAT A GIANT UNKNOWN CREATURE

MIGHT ACTUALLY BE LIVING IN
THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE LAKE.

WHILE I'M KEEPING AN OPEN MIND,

I'M NOT SURE WHERE JESS
AND I GO FROM HERE.

SO WE'RE CHECKING IN WITH JOSH
FOR SOME GUIDANCE.

HEY, PHIL AND JESS!
HOW ARE YOU?

HEY, GOOD.
GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

SO YOU FIND
A LAKE MONSTER YET?

NOT QUITE YET.

LISTEN, WE'VE TALKED TO SOME
REALLY COMPELLING WITNESSES,

BUT WE'VE ALSO TALKED
TO SOME EXPERTS HERE.

AND I'M REALLY THINKING THAT
WHAT PEOPLE MAY BE SEEING

OUT HERE
COULD JUST BE A STURGEON.

THEY DON'T COME TO THE SURFACE
VERY OFTEN,

BUT WHEN THEY DO,
YOU COULD IMAGINE SOMEONE

MISTAKING THAT
FOR A GIANT LAKE MONSTER.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN IS HUGE.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE FOUND
WHALE SKELETONS THERE.

THIS THING USED TO BE
CONNECTED TO THE OCEAN.

IN MY OPINION,
THERE IS A REALLY GOOD CHANCE

THAT SOMETHING
LIKE A PLESIOSAUR

OR SOME SORT OF OTHER ANCIENT
CREATURE GOT STUCK IN THERE

AND THEN NOW HAS EVOLVED
OVER TIME

TO BE THE THING THAT PEOPLE
ARE REPORTING IS CHAMP.

SO THAT'S KIND OF SIMILAR
TO WHAT YOU HEAR

ABOUT LOCH NESS, RIGHT?

THIS OTHER BODY OF WATER
CONNECTED TO THE OCEAN.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN
THIS IDEA AMONG BELIEVERS.

NESSIE IS SOMEHOW USING
UNDERWATER CAVES

OR TUNNELS
AS A KIND OF SANCTUARY.

I WONDER IF THAT MIGHT BE
AN INTERESTING APPROACH HERE.

I MEAN, I THINK
YOU SHOULD REALLY DIG INTO,

NO PUN INTENDED,
THE GEOLOGY OF THE LAKE ITSELF.

ARE THERE ANY GEOLOGICAL
FEATURES BELOW THE SURFACE

THAT COULD PROVIDE A KIND OF
LONG-TERM UNDERWATER HABITAT

FOR THIS CREATURE?
- YEAH, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT WOULDN'T
SURPRISE ME AT ALL

TO FIND OUT THAT THERE'S
SOME CAVES DOWN THERE.

TO THAT END, I'M GONNA BE
SENDING YOU AN UNDERWATER R.O.V.

WE REALLY WANT TO GET A LOOK
AT THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS LAKE.

WE'RE GONNA NEED EYES
TO DO IT.

SO YOU'LL HAVE THAT
AT YOUR DISPOSAL

TO HELP WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

AWESOME.
PERFECT. I CALL DIBS!

- Dang it.
- I THINK WE GOT TO GO DIVING,

AND BY "WE" I MEAN YOU.

DON'T GET EATEN
BY A LAKE MONSTER.

YEAH.
GOOD ADVICE.

GOOD LUCK.

THANKS!
ALRIGHT, THANKS!

ACCORDING TO A 2012 STUDY,

IT'S BELIEVED THAT LARGE FISH
PREFER TO HANG OUT IN CORAL

OR ROCKY OVERHANGS,

POSSIBLY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
FROM ULTRAVIOLET SUNLIGHT

OR TO LIE IN WAIT FOR PREY.

ASSUMING CHAMP IS NO DIFFERENT,

JESS AND I PORED
OVER MARITIME MAPS OF THE LAKE,

LINING THEM UP WITH HUNDREDS
OF CHAMP SIGHTINGS,

AND CHECK THIS OUT--

HERE IN THE HEART
OF THE MAJORITY OF SIGHTINGS

IS A GEOLOGICAL LANDMARK
CALLED FERRIS ROCK,

AN INFAMOUS MARITIME HAZARD

THAT HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN
ITS FAIR SHARE OF SHIPWRECKS.

IT'S A MASSIVE
UNDERWATER MOUNTAIN

THAT EASILY COULD SHELTER
THE LAKE'S LARGEST ANIMALS.

IF CHAMP IS REAL,
THEN FERRIS ROCK

IS JUST THE KIND OF PLACE
WE'RE GONNA FIND HIM.

OKAY, SO WE'RE ANCHORED
IN AT FERRIS ROCK,

SO ARE YOU READY TO GO?

IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF
LAKE MONSTER AROUND HERE,

AND THAT'S A BIG IF,

MY THOUGHT IS IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING

THAT'S EITHER AT DEPTHS
OR IN SOME OF THE NATURAL PLACES

TO HIDE OUT AT
IN THIS LAKE.

I'M GONNA BE LOOKING OUT
FOR DIFFERENT CREVICES,

DIFFERENT TRACKS THAT COULD LEAD
TO A BIGGER CHAMBER DOWN THERE.

AND YOU,
WITH THIS UNDERWATER R.O.V.,

CAN BASICALLY BE BACKUP.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE SOUTH
SIDE OF THE ROCK FORMATION?

I'LL TAKE THE NORTH SIDE.

THAT WAY,
IF YOU SCARE ANYTHING OUT,

I HAVE A CHANCE OF CAPTURING IT
ON THE R.O.V. CAMERA.

ALRIGHT.
WELL, I FEEL LIKE

THIS IS OUR SHOT
TO FIND CHAMP.

YEAH. YOU EXCITED?

YOU KNOW...

YOU'LL BE UP HERE SAFE
ON THE BOAT.

I'LL BE, UM, DOWN THERE

LOOKING FOR A GIANT
LAKE MONSTER.

AS PHIL GEARS UP,

I PREP OUR REMOTE-OPERATED
UNDERWATER VEHICLE,

A SUBMERSIBLE ROBOT
WITH A HIGH-DEFINITION CAMERA

THAT CAN DESCEND TO A DEPTH
OF 650 FEET.

IF A LARGE UNIDENTIFIED CREATURE
IS HIDING IN THESE DEPTHS,

WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY
TO DOCUMENT IT.

ALRIGHT. YOU GOOD?

OKAY, WELL, GOOD LUCK.

BE CAREFUL.

ALRIGHT, YOU GOOD?

OKAY, WELL, GOOD LUCK.

BE CAREFUL.

EYEWITNESSES HAVE SPOTTED
CHAMP OVER THE CENTURIES,

BUT IT IS RARE, WHICH MEANS
IT DEFINITELY HAS FOUND

A GOOD HIDING SPOT
DEEP IN THE LAKE

AND FERRIS ROCK IS OUR BEST BET.

PHIL WILL EXPLORE THE SOUTH SIDE
OF THE FORMATION,

LOOKING FOR ANY CREVICES THAT
MAY LEAD TO A LARGER CHAMBER

WHILE I NAVIGATE THE R.O.V.
ON THE NORTH SIDE.

WHILE PHIL'S GEAR AND PHYSIOLOGY
CAN ONLY SAFELY HANDLE

A DEPTH OF ABOUT 150 FEET,

THIS REMOTE-OPERATED VEHICLE

CAN EXPLORE MUCH DEEPER
INTO THE ABYSS.

YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU CLEAR.

ALRIGHT,
DO SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

IT'S REALLY TRICKY
TO MANEUVER THIS.

ALL THE SPACES ARE
PRETTY NARROW.

R.O.V.'S AT 60 FEET.

LOOKING FOR SCHOOLS OF FISH
AND ANY CREVICES LARGE ENOUGH

TO FIT THE R.O.V.

COPY THAT.
DESCENDING TO 150 FEET.

I CAN HEAR YOU.

BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD A CHAMP?

I'VE GOT TO FIND AN
ENTRANCE THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH

TO SAFELY ENTER.

IF MY EQUIPMENT GETS SNAGGED
ON THESE ROCKS,

THIS POTENTIAL UNDERWATER HAVEN

COULD BECOME
EXTREMELY TREACHEROUS.

I MEAN, THE VISIBILITY
IS SO BAD.

PHIL WOULD HAVE TO BE
ON TOP OF ANYTHING

THAT WAS LIVING DOWN THERE
BEFORE HE EVEN NOTICED IT.

IT PHIL SPOTS SOMETHING,

I HOPE HE'S AT A SAFE DISTANCE.

WHAT'D YOU SEE?
WHAT'D YOU SEE?

OH, MY GOD.
WHERE DID IT GO?

WHATEVER THAT WAS,
ITS DESCENT WAS FAST.

IF WE HAVE ANY CHANCE
OF CAPTURING IT ON VIDEO,

WE'LL HAVE TO USE THE R.O.V.

SINCE IT CAN MOVE
MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

MY DESCENT ALWAYS NEEDS
TO BE SLOW AND DELIBERATE

TO AVOID ORGAN DAMAGE
FROM INCREASED WATER PRESSURE.

BUT WHATEVER I JUST SAW
IS SPEEDING DOWN

TO THE DEEPEST PART OF THE LAKE.

YEAH, I SAW YOU WITH THE R.O.V.,

SO JUST GRAB IT AND POINT IT
WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO.

ALRIGHT, GOT IT, COPY.

I'M PUSHING THE LIMITS OF
NITROGEN NARCOSIS AT THIS DEPTH,

WHICH CAN BRING
INTOXICATING EFFECTS

AND LEAD TO A LOSS
IN CONSCIOUSNESS.

THIS HAPPENS WHEN
YOU BREATHE COMPRESSED GAS

AT DEPTHS OVER 100 FEET.

THAT'S WHY RECREATIONAL DIVERS
ARE ADVISED

NOT TO DESCEND BEYOND 140 FEET.

I'VE GOT TO ASCEND

BEFORE I START FEELING
EVEN MORE DISORIENTED.

PHIL, ARE YOU OKAY?

I JUST WENT TOO DEEP,
TOO FAST

AFTER WHATEVER
THAT THING WAS.

THE R.O.V. IS GONNA HAVE
TO TAKE IT FROM HERE.

AS PHIL TAKES OFF
HIS SCUBA GEAR,

I MAN THE R.O.V.
FOR ANY SIGN OF THE ANIMAL.

THE DEPTH GAUGE INDICATES
WE'RE ALREADY AT 250 FEET.

ALRIGHT.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS...UH-HUH.

...BUT WE WE'RE SWIMMING
BASICALLY ALONG THAT LEDGE THERE

UNDERNEATH
ONE OF THE OVERHANGS,

JUST A HUGE, HUGE CLOUD OF SILT
JUST GETS KICKED UP.

JUST SOMETHING TOOK OFF
THAT WAS BIG.

I KIND OF GOT
A GLIMPSE OF IT.

BUT VISIBILITY--
ONCE SOMETHING GETS

10 FEET, 15 FEET...
UH-HUH.

...YOU JUST KIND OF MAKE OUT
A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING.

FILM ANYTHING?

LET'S TAKE THIS DOWN.
100 MORE FEET.

HOW DIFFERENT
IT LOOKS DOWN THERE.

SHADOW, SO HARD TO SEE.

OH, MY GOD.

I JUST KEEP SEEING STUFF
ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S--

WHAT'S THIS?

DO YOU SEE THAT?

IT LOOKS BIG.

WHAT IS THAT?

30 BEFORE THE ICONIC
MANSI PHOTO WAS TAKEN,

ANOTHER FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH
WAS SNAPPED ACROSS THE POND.

AND UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN LIVING
UNDER A LAKE, YOU'VE SEEN IT.

IT CAME TO BE KNOWN
AS THE SURGEON'S PHOTO,

AND IT PURPORTEDLY DEPICTED
CHAMP'S SCOTTISH DOPPELGANGER,

THE LOCH NESS MONSTER.

FOR DECADES, THE PHOTO WAS CONSIDERED

THE HIGH WATERMARK OF EVIDENCE

OF A BONA FIDE LAKE MONSTER.

BUT IN 1984, A TANGLED THREAD
OF LIES STARTED UNRAVELING.

A PHOTO ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED

THAT DETERMINED THE OBJECT
WAS ONLY TWO OR THREE FEET LONG.

THEN, IN 1994,
THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN,

A MAN NAMED CHRISTOPHER SPURLING

OUTED EVERYONE INVOLVED
ON HIS DEATHBED,

CONFESSING THAT THE CREATURE
IN THE PHOTO

WAS JUST A MOTTLED SEA
SERPENT HEAD

ATTACHED TO A SMALL TOY SUBMARINE.

WHOOPS.
BY COMPARISON,

TO THIS DAY,
THE MANSI PHOTO DEPICTING CHAMP

HAS HELD UP
TO SCIENTIFIC SCRUTINY.

SORRY, NESSIE.

WHAT'S THIS?
DO YOU SEE THAT?

WHAT IS THAT?
THAT LOOKS BIG.

PHIL AND JESS
ARE CHASING A LARGE CREATURE

THAT COULD BE THE ELUSIVE CHAMP

USING AN R.O.V.
PILOTED INTO THE MURKY DEPTHS

OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

OH, WE GOT SOMETHING COMING UP.ABSOLUTELY.

OHH, LOOK AT THAT!

What is that?
GET CLOSER. GET CLOSER.

THAT'S A SHIPWRECK.

WOW, THAT'S A SHIPWRECK.WE FOUND A SHIPWRECK!

THAT IS HUGE!

CHECK THAT OUT.

THIS LAKE HAS GOT ALL SORTS OF
THINGS DOWN BELOW, WOW.

OKAY, WHATEVER I SAW

LED US STRAIGHT
TO THE SHIPWRECK.

YEAH, I MEAN,
MAYBE IT'S USING IT AS SHELTER.

YEAH.LET ME SEE HOW CLOSE I CAN GET.

FOR MORE THAN 250 YEARS,

LAKE CHAMPLAIN HAS BEEN
A HUB OF COMMERCE.

AND ON THIS HEAVILY TRAFFICKED
LAKE, ACCIDENTS WERE INEVITABLE.

TO DATE, THERE'S APPROXIMATELY
300 SHIPWRECKS

THAT PROVIDE SHELTER
FOR CREATURES OF THE DEEP.

I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD
THIS THING IS,

BUT IT LOOKS SUPER OLD.
SUPER OLD.

LOOK HOW MUCH IT'S DECAYED.MM-HMM.

I KNOW A LOT OF FISH
USE SHIPWRECKS AS REFUGE.

SO, EASILY, WHATEVER I SAW
COULD BE IN THERE RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THIS WOULD MAKE
A GOOD HIDING PLACE OR A HOME

FOR OUR CHAMP.

IN 2020, SCIENTISTS
COMPLETED TWO RESEARCH PROJECTS

THAT REVEALED
LARGE AQUATIC PREDATORS

MAY ACTUALLY PREFER
ARTIFICIAL HABITATS,

LIKE SUNKEN SHIPS,
OVER A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

IF THE LARGE UNIDENTIFIED
CREATURE PEOPLE CALLED CHAMP

IS ALSO A PREDATOR,

IT'S VERY POSSIBLE IT WOULD
FREQUENT THIS WRECK, AS WELL.

MAYBE JUST SETTLE IT RIGHT HERE.RIGHT OVER THERE?

LET'S JUST SEE
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS.

OKAY, HERE,
LET ME PARK IT.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
WHAT DO WE GOT?

IT'S LIKE A HURRICANE
DOWN THERE!

IT'S THROWING THE R.O.V. AROUND
LIKE A RAG DOLL.

SOMETHING JUST TURNED THE LAKE
FLOOR INTO A WASHING MACHINE

AND KICKED UP
A 30-FOOT CLOUD OF MUCK.

THERE HAS TO BE
SOMETHING HERE.

WHERE IS THIS THING?

WHATEVER IT WAS,
IT HAS TO BE CLOSE.

WE PIVOT THE R.O.V.
IN EVERY DIRECTION

AND CONTINUE TO PATROL
THE LAKE FLOOR.

I THINK IT'S GONE.
I THINK WE LOST IT

AND I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING.

WE CONTINUE TO SCAN THE LAKE BED

USING UP EVERY BIT OF CHARGE
ON OUR R.O.V. UNIT.

WHATEVER WE ENCOUNTERED EARLIER
SEEMS TO HAVE EVADED US.

WITH NO WAY
TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE DEPTHS,

WE HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO CALL IT A DAY.

WATER COVERS 71%
OF OUR PLANET'S SURFACE,

BUT ITS MYSTERIOUS DEPTHS
REMAIN A WORLD OF THEIR OWN.

MANY SCIENTISTS CALL
THIS UNDERWATER REALM

THE FINAL FRONTIER
OF OUR PLANET.

BUT HAS CHAMP,
A COLOSSAL CREATURE,

MANAGED TO ELUDE OUR DETECTION
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS?

AFTER RETRIEVING
AND REVIEWING THE FOOTAGE

FROM THE INFRARED CAMERAS
LEFT ROLLING IN THE MARSH,

MY TEAM FOUND
NO FURTHER EVIDENCE

THAT A LARGE CREATURE
MADE LANDFALL,

THOUGH PHIL DID SHARE THE PHOTOS
OF THE DRAG MARKS WITH HIS PEERS

AND NO ONE COULD IDENTIFY
WHAT COULD'VE MADE THEM.

AND AFTER ENHANCING THE FOOTAGE
CAUGHT ON THE R.O.V. CAMERA...

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
WHAT DO WE GOT?

...THE ANIMAL THAT KICKED UP
A MASSIVE CLOUD OF SEDIMENT

COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED.

WE CAME OUT HERE LOOKING FOR
A CHAMP EXPERIENCE

AND WE GOT ONE.

I JUST WISH WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN
A BETTER LOOK AT IT.

IF A CHAMP EXPERIENCE
IS SEEING SOMETHING GIANT

AND UNKNOWN SWIMMING
IN THE WATER, THEN ABSOLUTELY.

IF I HAD TO MAKE A BET,

I WOULD SAY MAYBE IT'S A GIANT
RECORD-BREAKING STURGEON

THAT ARE TAKING PEOPLE
BY SURPRISE, MYSELF INCLUDED.

A FRIGHTENING-LOOKING FISH
IN ITS OWN RIGHT,

STURGEON SIGHTINGS ARE NEARLY
AS ELUSIVE AS THE LAKE MONSTER

IT'S UNDOUBTEDLY
SOMETIMES MISTAKEN FOR.

BUT FOR CENTURIES,
HIGHLY-CREDIBLE REPORTS OF CHAMP

HAVE PERSISTED.
THERE'S EVEN THAT FAMOUS PHOTO

THAT SCHOLARS
ARE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN,

LURING MANY TO A MORE
FANTASTIC EXPLANATION.

I THINK THAT IT'S AN ANCIENT
CREATURE OF SOME SORT

THAT, IN MY OPINION, HAS MANAGED
TO ADAPT TO THE AREA,

GOT STUCK IN THEIR BACK
WHEN IT WAS PART OF THE SEA

THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO IDENTIFY

THAT PEOPLE REFER TO
AS CHAMP.

I DON'T KNOW.

WITH SO MUCH
OF THE UNDERWATER WORLD

HIDDEN FROM OUR CURIOUS WATCH,
DON'T BE SURPRISED

IF ONE DAY THE MYSTERY OF CHAMP
FINALLY BREAKS THE SURFACE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON "EXPEDITION X,"

HEAD TO
DISCOVERY.COM/EXPEDITIONX.