The creatures are documented all over the world hundreds of years before the Patterson film. But they will be doubted until someone drags a dead one to the coroner's office, or captures and exhibits a live one.
A book from the 1970s, "Abominable Snowmen- Legend Come to Life" by Ivan T. Sanderson is an excellent read on them.
I do have a theory...
Long ago, many PNW indiginous people tribes were very short. So, when they saw a 6 foot 5 fat Russian fur trader that was drunk, smelled bad, acting crazy, wearing fur, extremely hairy...they immediately started telling stories about BIGFOOT.
It would seem logical that something so common would eventually be found.
Actually from the 1960s, yes a very good read.
Indeed. IIRC the book is totally from a secular perspective.
A book from the 1970s, “Abominable Snowmen- Legend Come to Life” by Ivan T. Sanderson
I read his books back in the 1960s.
Another book I read fifty six years ago was of a Russian who said something snide about Stalin was put in a Russian prison during WW II. He and several others escaped and made their way south through the Himalayas where they claimed they saw a family of ape men.