Cool! Up here in the PNW alot of people have sighted bigfoot type critters. I have no doubt that a gorilla type primate species could be living in various parts of the country. My grandfather was in highschool when the panda bear was discovered. Before that is was always regarded as a mythical creature and I am sure people were laughed at when they said they saw a balck and white bear looking animal.
Have you checked the bigfoot organisations to how many other sighting may have occured in that area? They would like to know about it so it can be logged for future tracking and reference.
Bears are very plentiful around my state but I have only seen them twice in my entire life in the wild. I have hiked, skied , fished, hunted and camped all over the mountains here since I was a kid. Bears just avoid people and I suspect a primate would do the very same thing.
I hope a confirmation/discovery happens in my lifetime. That would be beyond cool!