Sugar Run Bigfoot

by Sam
(Michigan)

This story I believe to be 100% truthful as told to me numerous times by my parents.

In 1967 when my parents were dating they were traveling from Gallitzin to Altoona along the Sugar Run Road to go see a movie. They were double dating with another couple in the same car. As my Father was driving, he noticed a tall and hairy figure suddenly walking across the road. My father slammed the brakes believing at first that it must have been a homeless man drunk wandering across from the woods. He barely missed hitting it, but then it stopped in the middle of the road and placed its hands on the hood of the car and peered in through the window. My Dad reported everyone in the car gasping and shouting for him to press the gas. The creature then continued across the road and up the mountain.

This was before the highway was there parallel to the Sugar Run. They all agreed the creature was 7-8 feet in height, massive with broad shoulders and not a man or bear. They all could not explain it because back then in 1967 my Dad said none of them had ever heard of a Bigfoot. They decided to keep quiet for fear of ridicule but opened up many years later as more sightings became public.

This story has always fascinated me because my Dad is and my Mom was (now deceased) two of the most credible, honest and down to earth people I know. On trips back to visit my grandparents since the 1970s I have always been fascinated with that road and the surrounding woods.

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starstarstarstarstar 		Its REAL!
by: Anonymous

I was vacationing and visiting family in the area around 1971
When a group of us got into the car to go for a ride. It was
sunset and as we travelled, one person in our group got the
driver to slow down to point out something to look at on the side of the road, when a gigantic hairy man-beast ambled down the side of the road about 50 feet in front of us, looked our way, and then continued walking off and into the woods on the right side. We were all in shock, and no one said anything for a minute, as we werent sure we had seen what we thought we had. It is there!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Question for Sam from Michigan
by: Susan Gargon-Centineo

Hi Sam,

Just wondering, sounds like your parents used to live in Gallitzin and your grandparents still do. My parents lived there, too, dated and married, and my grandparents (now deceased), but I still have aunts and cousins there, and my sister recently moved to Sandusky Street in Gallitzin. Can I ask what your parents names are? VERY likely your people know or knew my people, Gallitzin is a SMALL town! And I, too, have ALWAYS been fascinated with the Sugar Run for some reason, drove it every weekend when I was a kid to Sunday dinner at my grandparents house in Gallitzin. My Mom's side was Italian Ferri, my Dad's side was Hungarian Gargon, also related by marriage to Berardinelli, Slebodnick, Shevenock, and closely associated with many other Gallitzin names/natives. :) You? Thanks!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Sugar Run
by: Susan Gargon-Centineo

Where we were hiking: WELL, several places, but usually we go to the top of Sugar Run, where it ends in Gallitzin; then we turn right, and just past the St Patrick cemetery, there is a dirt road and a no-tresspassing sign - it says $10K fine, lol - we would drive down that road back into the Sugar Run woods. The rough road goes down and down to the railroad tracks, I believe it is used as a utility access road, and then we would hike around the tunnels and the tracks. We also went in looking for the old Bennington Cemetery, which you USED to be able to see on the right way up in the woods as you drive up the 'new' 22 highway which runs parallel to the Sugar Run, it has a giant white cross on the ground that used to be very visible. (Painted or paved on the GROUND, not an upright cross.) Well, it is all grown over now, the cemetery has not been maintained, so you cannot see that huge cross, but that, too, is where we hiked several years ago. We also did some hiking off the Sugar Run road more down the mountain, near the creek that runs parallel to the road on the right, closer to the Altoona side. The creek is orange from all the sulphur in the water, it, too, is overgrown now and hard to see from the road even though it is very close to it. But you can see pull-off areas as you drive up the road, especially near the small bridges that you cross where the creek zigzags. THAT area is where we felt the most watched... but everywhere, really. Sugar Run in LOADED with dirt roads going off it, and pull-offs, lots to explore by car and by foot. NOTE: We saw a bear twice, be careful! Make noise, they won't bother you and will take off in the opposite direction before you ever know they are there.
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starstarstarstarstar 		bigfoot
by: Rich

where exactly were you hiking? trying to get familiar with this area.
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starstarstarstarstar 		bigfoot.
by: Anonymous

as long as you know and believe that it is true then that is all that counts. I for one believe in this creature there is no reason to not believe that something of this nature could and does exist.... i remember back in the late 80's of something crossing in front of me on the back road by shawnee state park in Bedford County.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Sugar Run
by: Susan Gargon Centineo

VERY interesting story ... all during the 60's and 70's my parents and then us drove up the Sugar Run from Altoona to Gallitzin MANY times to visit lots of relatives up there. Never saw a bigfoot, but in later years, and as recently as about 5 years ago, my sister and I, while hiking in that area, often had the feeling that we were being watched.

Thanks for sharing this!

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