Bigfoot Hero: René Dahinden

Who was this Swiss born Canadian bigfoot researcher legend? He had written books, investigated the illusive beast and had a personality to match. Some call him one of the four horsemen when it comes to Sasquatch. Before Matt Moneymaker, there was René Dahinden. More after the jump.


René Dahinden (August 22, 1930 - April 18, 2001) was a well-known bigfoot (sasquatch) researcher. Dahinden was born in Switzerland but moved to Canada in the 1950's where he would live for the rest of his life. He became interested in the bigfoot phenomenon shortly after arriving in Canada, and during the next few decades he conducted many field investigations and interviews throughout the Pacific Northwest. Dahinden was a major advocate for the controversial Patterson–Gimlin film, which was taken in 1967 and supposedly provides photographic evidence of bigfoot. He also wrote a book, "Sasquatch", which was published in 1973.

David Suchet's French Canadian Bigfoot-hunting character in the 1987 film Harry and the Hendersons is based on Dahinden.

Some have said his obsession for the world of Sasquatch had left him a sad and bitter person. With a long broken family and now earning barley enough to keep his hopes for his quest alive... every penny he earned went straight to his search. He carefully followed up every sighting and found witness reports dating back two hundred years... He died in 2001, after almost half a century of following ridge lines, mountain slopes, and narrow valleys, he was upset he had nothing to show for his time or effort.

In an obituary in the National Post, his friend Christopher Murphy remembered a remark of Dahinden's. "One day he said to me: 'You know, I've spent over 40 years — and I didn't find it. I guess that's got to say something.'"

However that does not mean his work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. He left his mark and set the standard for other serious researchers. Never give up. The search for truth is a journey, not an end.