February 20, 2009
GHI: Castel D'Escales
The Castel D'Escales is an impressively maintained historic structure, the oldest part of which dates back nearly a thousand years, when the tower was built for a reason we can relate to even today: "To keep out the marauding French," as GHI's host put it. She seemed very knowledgable about the history of the site, and perhaps because of this was keen to believe that it was indeed haunted by the spirits of the dead.
There were a number of interesting occurrences related by their host, many of which she experienced herself. None of them seemed to be of the more dramatic (and more common) "I just saw a ghost" type, but in part that's what made them interesting. Some of the things that happened include light bulbs in the kitchen area unscrewing themselves just enough to go out, a bathroom sink faucet turning itself on full-blast, cold spots in specific locations and hordes of marauding French seen rampaging through the courtyard. Okay, so I made that last one up; I just like the sound of it.
Robb immediately seemed to focus in on the faucet as the most compelling event, and did what any good investigator would have done: call a plumber for an opinion; except in Robb's case the plumbers he called were Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson — who happened to be sitting in a van together waiting for his call, with a full camera and audio rig. Their verdict: it's entirely possible for an old faucet to turn itself on if some of the parts have worn out, especially if it's not properly closed all the way. My only contention with this, not being a plumber myself, is that the client specified the water was on full blast and it just seems unlikely to me a broken faucet could open itself to that extent; but I could be entirely wrong on this one, I don't know much about faucets.
During the investigation itself Robb and Dustin investigated the reported cold spot and discovered that it was in fact cold. For whatever reason, the specific area the women reported running into a cold spot in the middle of the night was six degrees cooler than the area around it, including further into the very same room. Why this is wasn't fully explained or perhaps even explored, but I think it's reasonable to assume if the cold spot is consistent then it's likely something to do with the design of the building's interior, that room itself and the neighboring rooms that connect. No supernatural explanation is required.
The only personal experience that seemed to happen all night was Joe & Angela heard heavy breathing (I though I told people to stop pranking her — she's engaged now!) and Joe said he saw a face — the second time in three investigations, I believe. I hope this doesn't become his "thing".
Going over the evidence, a sound Barry & Brandy heard was examined on the audio recording and identified as simply a dog, probably from a nearby home. The team heard what sounded like they could be footsteps and caught them on audio recording as well but when Barry cross-referenced with an audio source from a different floor it became obvious that what sounded like footsteps in one area of the building was really just water pipes knocking about in a different part of the building, and the sound was just muted in tone a bit as it traveled through the stone.
We're also introduced to another cool gadget seemingly out of nowhere when during the reveal Robb shows their host video of a vibration monitor they'd set up in the room with the loosening light bulbs. As it turns out, that room experiences a lot of vibration as people walk around in the room about it, which the GHI team believes is causing the light bulbs in the ceiling to slowly loosen. I have to admit, it's not completely solid but it seems sound.
Robb was admittedly concerned about their host's reaction to the news of GHI"s verdict, and he certainly did try to lead into it slowly and in a reasoned way, but when she was told the opinion of GHI was "not haunted" she took it moderately well. For the team themselves I give my congratulations on an excellent investigation with some surprisingly insightful debunking.
Filed under Ghost Hunters International, Posts by Logisti
 |
| ^ Please Support our Sponsor |
Comments on GHI: Castel D'Escales »
Hal @ 7:23 pm
How cool! I'm the first, for a change, to post a comment on this forum! Excuse me while I bask in the moment (basking, basking, basking) alright, I've basked enough!
For probably the first time ever I must congratulate GHI for great debunking at both locations on this episode. 'Cause they didn't find crapola! Of course, NOT speaking Spanish to the walls didn't help (AGAIN!) In fact, Barry, Mr. I-can-speak-a-few-words-in-other-tongues-once-and-awhile, said only one word in Espanola during the investigation, "Amigos." Big deal!
I'm tellin ya, unless Angela and Brandy start showing more cleavage during the analysis segments, I'm gonna hafta bail on them!
Nosfer @ 7:56 pm
LMAO @ Hal
I thought I did hear Dustin say something in Spanish (very briefly, and possibly in the other episode) but it was way too little, even so.
I must join you in your congratulations of GHI during this set of episodes. I cannot help but wonder, though, if this is not what happens EVERY time but for the sake of ratings they edit out the natural explanations most of the other times.
I was expecting Robb to declare to the clients: "Well, we were able to debunk everything. So, I can say without a doubt that this place is definitely haunted."
Hal @ 4:48 pm
Hardy, har har! That last jab at Rob was hilarious, Nosfer!
One thing I neglected to point out in my last (and first) post. Something we should all consider relevant and thereby be confused by it also. How is it that GHI can always find interpreters to translate witness' stories but can't get them to join in the investigations so they can ask the spooks the questions?!!
The Doctor @ 10:45 pm
Another new toy – the vibration detector !
It looks like it's homebrew but can anyone identify it ?
appears to be labeled
FFM-ENO-11170(8?)01-1
ML-TFD-IT
Realdeal @ 2:42 am
I think it's called the Geophone you can find it here http://www.myspace.com/creepy_hollow2008
Revenant @ 12:52 am
@ The Doctor
I tried to track it down but couldn't. The "TFD" is probably the Thin Film Detector. The "FFM" throws me because I know the term as a Friction Force Microscopy, and I highly doubt they're doing any friction force mapping.
And for those they don't know, a vibration detector is usually used for a security system with normally closed circuits. It can trigger an alarm when the device or a point of entry (door, window, wall, whatever)that its monitoring is shaken. Then there are "stand-alone" versions as well. People use them to ward off deer or rabbits from their gardens. Either way, this isn't exactly high-tech stuff.
CrowTRobot @ 8:05 pm
The whole scene with Robb calling J&G about plumbing:
My wife and I just looked at each other. Neither of us could think of a thing to say. There were no words…..And even if there were, where to begin?
Oubliette @ 12:58 am
Crow, I agree. That was pitiful. Pilgrim and SciFi really must take most of their viewers to be a bunch of dimwits willing to believe anything they're shown. Whose idiotic idea was it to put that ludicrous bit in? I can only think that it was a way to once again remind viewers that GH is alive and well, and will be back again for yet another season of fun, games and fishing line.
CrowTRobot @ 7:32 am
Oubliette said, "I can only think that it was a way to once again remind viewers that GH is alive and well, and will be back again for yet another season of fun, games and fishing line."
BINGO
The Doctor @ 6:44 pm
The phone call scene was just a so bad idea on so many levels.
It shows us that GHI people are just as ready to stage scenes that Pilgrim thinks are needed as GH is.
J&G are specifically asked a ghost-hunting oriented question – Are cold faucets susceptible to turning themselves on like hot ones are ? – and they give an answer about changing the seals.
… almost as if they are ridiculing Robb for even considering that a ghost might have been responsible for it.
Nosfer @ 8:15 pm
They are probably required to plug the Rooter folks every so often in exchange for them not having to work much anymore. This stupid little staged stunt served perfectly for that. It also reasserts GH's position as the top dog in the Pilgrim Line Up of Paranormal Shows (PLUPS for short) Reminds me of all the other spin-off shows that tease the fan(atic)s by occasionally having guest appearances by the original members.