Footsteps in Inyo County, California

In the summer of 1991 I took my son and nephew fishing with me to North Lake outside Bishop CA. We arrived late Sunday and we set up camp. The following morning we started fishing with no luck, and the mosquitos were eating us alive, so I decide to go back down to the local McDonalds. That afternoon we did alright by catch a few decent size trout. Mistakenly, I clean the fish at our campsite. I put them away in an ice chest as proof we did have some luck. We went to bed proud of our catch and tired from the sun and the lack of oxygen due to the high altitude [9350 feet]. Needless to say we all fell asleep fast. I don’t know if the dead silence, or if the heavy footsteps woke me up. But I knew someone or something stopped just outside our tent. My nephew asked what is it. I quickly hushed him. I stood up and was able to peek outside to see if it was a bear. I’d like to mention before I continue that I’ve had run in bears and mountain lions. I worked around then with great caution and a bit scared of what may happen if they attack. Fortunately, I never had the feeling that I was in a life or death situation. What I saw that night made feel I had to leave the mountain as soon as it was safe. The angle I had only allowed me to see the legs. The legs were muscular and human like. Its buttocks would have been at my mid abdomen. I am 5’6”. Yes, I’m short but this was Shaquille O’Neil level. Hairy, muscular legs, and just huge. I‘ve been afraid before but never paranoid. I was frozen and shocked. I shined my flashlight on its legs very briefly through the tent mesh then I turned the light away, pointing it at my chest. It stood there for about a minute or two, but it felt like 5 minutes. It moved on and I listen for a while. As soon as I felt it was safe, I packed my nephew and son into my car. I grab our bags and some other stuff but the fear was over whelming. I left the tent and some other camping gear. We made our way home two days early. My son never realized what happened, only to wake up at home Tuesday morning. Everyone was asking why we were home early. I never said why, other than that the kids were getting board. My nephew brought it up 10 years later, and when I told them, I was mocked. So I kept it to myself.