Bill, I think this question is appropriate for this forum since it is my understanding you at least suspect what follows you from up hill in the woods is a bigfoot.
My question to you is this: Since you say this critter follows along parallel to you on the hill above you and stops when you stop and walks when you walk have you ever gone up after it to check for tracks? I mean up there in your area I know you have plenty of snow each winter. Seems to be that when it follows you like that it should be easy enough to just head up hill and find the tracks it makes and then that would help to identify what the critter is. So have you done this? If not why not?