You're more likely to get lost more than anything. Always record a gps track on your phone so you can find your way back.

It's true that wild animals generally avoid trails because they mostly don't want to run into humans. More true of species that are hunted.

It's not the case that bears and cougars are on patrol looking for people to stack when nobody is looking. Attacks on humans are pretty rare. They've been more common in recent years but still not common overall.

Washington has black bears, maybe one or two grizzlies in the NE wilderness. Black bears are skittish and usually very frightened of humans. They can be trouble if they become habituated which is more of a problem near campgrounds.

I would honestly be more worried about breaking an ankle on a rock I couldn't see through the vegetation personally. Or getting cliffed out. That kind of thing. Not wildlife. But there are no guarantees.

It is very dangerous unless you have experienced survival skills. People who do day hikes but are not experienced or prepared with the correct clothing, equipment, and tools can and do get lost only a few miles off the road or trail head and get themselves into serious trouble. Its not the animals that are the most dangerous, its being in unfamiliar terrain and not wearing proper attire for unexpected inclimate weather. There are many stories of hikers in WA getting lost to never be found. Wandering off into the wild with just a bottle of water and phone is irresponsible.

it is dangerous.

there is the wildlife.

there is the ever changing weather. we can get snows and freezes as late as April in the lowlands and much later at higher elevations. rains and winds alone can be chilly enough to trigger hypothermia.

the terrain is hilly and mountainous all over the place , and you could experiences a landslide, rockslide, whatever.

and then, rarely, there is the risk bumping into someone with ill intentions.

No one should be wandering randomly in the woods alone. Ever. Regardless of mental state.

IMO, you need more therapy and less random wanderings. But tat is the choice for you to decide.

One thing you could do to minimize the risk would be to take some classes on outdoor survival. I think REI offers some for free. You could keep a pack with the essentials all ready to go in the trunk of your car, so if the mood strikes you’re ready.

Another risk is if you’re on private property and trespassing, someone might shoot you. Hopefully that’s a low risk, though.

Some people have had good luck managing depression by bicycling, if that’s a thing you’re interested in trying. There’s some weird response the brain gives when you’re moving through space like that. Some skaters get it, too. It’s supposed to be very effective. But maybe it’s not your thing.

I wish you well.

[deleted]

Call them hikes, make sure you know your location and exit points, be aware of your surroundings. People who act like the woods is some scary place 9/10 times haven’t themselves ever been alone in the woods. Common sense goes a long ways. Nature is amazing for your mental health, as long as you’re not purposely getting yourself lost and endangering yourself and those who try to rescue you.

If you go out of service areas, bring a Garmin InReach so you can check GPS or hit the SOS button in an emergency.

If you have common sense and basic survival skills you’ll be fine. Take care of yourself.

I’d say your biggest worry would be stumbling upon a grow or meth lab and the people protecting it

second would be the weather

third would be the wild animals

>someone might shoot you

really

I know you sound harsh but considering how OP is borderline suicidal you might want to be even harsher. I totally agree!

Predators can hear and smell you from a mile away. They will leave you alone

I wouldn't worry about wildlife - they are more afraid of you than you are of them and getting to see a wild animal is a treat. I would worry about terrain. The understory in the foothills of the Cascades is really dense and hides rocks, small cliffs, and all kinds of obstacles and hazards. When you're by yourself you don't have many options if you get hurt. I would also worry about other people. If you stick to 3-5 miles out of town you might as well be exploring in a greenbelt. There are other folks who find the woods to be curative and some of them cook meth or do other things they don't want anybody to see - and even without considering illegal stuff you're asking for trouble if you stumble on somebody's camp.

I've done my share of off-trail travel out here and I understand the attraction. You'll find it much more socially acceptable if you present it as goal oriented - pick yourself a list of peaks to work on and start knocking off the easiest ones. It doesn't matter if you actually summit, but for what it's worth most of the minor peaks in the Cascades are non-technical and the approach is 90% of the challenge. You'll still get some pushback about solo backcountry travel but you'll find it a lot easier to explain and a lot more acceptable.

I know a girl from highschool who took off into the woods and they never found her. I’d say they can be pretty dangerous.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html

when you do go off rambling in the woods, leave a note as to where you are headed. Hiking in the woods is beneficial for everyone as the above link will point out. I personally encourage you to go hiking, but it would be safer for you to pick frequently traveled or hiked paths. Lock up your vehicle at any parking lot where the trails begin because thieves find that hikers will leave valuables in sight. Put any valuables in the trunk or cover them with black material. If you can, hike with a buddy or join a group. If you choose to go alone, make enough noise(like whistling) to let the wildlife know you are present. Dress appropriately, don't wear a t shirt and jeans right now, Get a backpack and fill it with energy creating food, water, a first aid kit, strike anywhere matches, and something shiny/reflective in case you need to draw the attention of rescuers. Be aware of your surroundings.

Pretty dang safe. Not many bear maulings in these parts, but they are around.

Hikers die on the Oly peninsula more because of weather and terrain factors. Keep that in mind. It can be slippery, wet, cold, and steep.

The bigger problem would be trampling a path through the woods, breaking bushes and crushing ferns. Take trails, and you’ll be fine.

Yes really. You don't want to accidentally get too close to some of these crazies out here they are looking for a reason to kill someone. I see it all the time where guys in trucks will attempt to get someone to road rage by tailgating and turning on their flood lights. A few people have been practically run off the road. I can only imagine what would happen if someone stopped and confronted them 😬 let alone walk on to their property

I think you can use equilab without service but I leave neon bracelets to trace back, the ones made of rope

Leave a boot print in aluminum foil on your dashboard for search and rescue for the inevitable time you get lost.

This is great advice, thanks.

The "getting shot" is a good point. Maybe I should grab some neon. Thanks man

This is very helpful, thanks a lot

Good ideas, thank you

Welcome. Cougars (not the milfs) are present but generally dont want to engage humans, they will stalk us, but its rare. Bears are still hibernating, but once thats done they will be hungry. Wolves are n.e corner of the state, coyotes wont go after a adult human. Snakes are more of a thing in central , eastern wa.

Stay away from the goats!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11562054

It’s not dangerous if you know what you are doing. Animals simply aren’t a big concern. Your biggest danger is getting lost, hurt, or both, and having to spend a night outdoors. Prepare for that and you’ll be fine.

I don’t know if it’s a problem in eastern WA but in western WA I pay attention because wood poachers and some mushroom foragers will kill because of the money involved. An adult is less likely to run into animal issues, though cougars have killed people, but other people with guns are a concern.

My dad uses an app called onX hunt. You have to pay for it but it can keep track of your location even in remote woods and you can mark places. It’s pretty useful and doesn’t require buying an extra device if you have a smartphone.

Ignorance is pretty dangerous and humans are generally pretty poor assessors of risk. I'd be most concerned about darkness, hypothermia, cliffs, and feral humans. Perhaps mitigate risk with education by joining the Mountaineers or taking classes elsewhere. Definitely start carrying the ten essentials and understanding the terrain by studying topographic maps of the areas you want to explore.

[deleted]

Biggest risk is getting lost, wet and cold. You won’t last a night this time of year without proper gear. File a plan with someone, carry enough gear to sleep overnight in the rain. Compass, gps and offline phone app like Gaia.

It is very dangerous. I live in the woods and mountain lions have been spotted and so have bear. Also, most people just get lost or hurt themselves on the terrain and never found. I would not hike in the area unless you are familiar with it.

That is a great app. Very accurate info.

I am in therapy. These quasi-hikes in nature also help my mental state. Thanks for letting me know about the risks though, I'll keep it in mind.

Predators primarily use thermal optics to detect prey. Make sure keep an eye on the tree line and look for the shimmer from their cloaking device.

DO IT!! DO IT NOWWWWWW!!!!

Piggybacking to add this; Tell someone where you plan to be and when you plan to return.

Cougars, but not usually attack humans, bears, yes, but also usually don't attack humans. Worst thing you might get into are hornet nests, lots of those active in spring/summer throughout the woods, no poisonous snakes around here. I suppose one could run across a pack of coyotes but they mostly come out after dark.

Also a medium size bell on a pack or walking stick to make noise without having to think about it

Yes really, there's literally a dude in Kitsap county jail on a possible murder charge cuz he followed a dude who he thought was committing a crime and then shot him in the head through his car window as he was driving away.

Pro tip for not getting shot - shoot first

From your question I'm assuming your prior forest wanderings haven't occurred in western Washington? With that I'd say they're very dangerous, but not because of the wildlife lol. There's literally 0 mountain lion fatalities in recorded history js... What you gotta watch out for is getting lost. Specifically the biggest things I've noticed in that regard are people underestimating how truly thick and dense the vegetation can be and how quick the weather can change into adverse conditions, I mean it's fairly common to go from blue skies, to dark and rainy, even hailing then back to blue several times within a single day lol. But again, and I can't stress it enough how deceptively easy it is to end up lost. I grew up here and have roamed the forests for decades and honestly it's spooky how truly easily and quickly even I can end up getting turned around if I'm not vigilant.

[deleted]

The Mountaineers also have a very good course on this (walking off trail in the woods without getting lost or hurt):
mountaineers.org/courses/course-overviews/scrambling

Try out hiking trails first to familiarize yourself with the terrain and weather. Get a map and figure out what is private and what is public (and open access) land. 3-5 miles outside of town isn't going to get you easy access to public lands unless you're going to a park or are knowledgeable about the area. Lastly, reconsider just going off trail and pushing through the brush - not only for the reasons others have stated, also because trails have been established to protect the eco systems. Because of our local geology, many areas have pretty shallow soil. I know, what difference will person make? It's not the one person, but the next that, out of curiosity, follows the path made, then the next, etc...until there's a worn path that encourages erosion where plants were holding the dirt in place before.

Totally agree, and might add the risk of falling. Depending where someone is wandering, elevation change can be extreme. Bushwhacking in dense vegetation, it is possible to walk off a cliff or into a hole some places.

Probably not too many bears 3-4 miles from town. At least not the killer kind.

But mountain lions and bears don't attack people in the PNW. This isn't Alaska.

Bears regularly wander into urban areas.

Download Gaia on your phone. Use it for your excursions. Keep a battery pack on you to recharge your phone in case it gets low.

You’re hiking, just not on trails. That is fine.

Not the killer kind.

All bears can be the killing kind. Black bears are more likely to attack humans with the intention of eating them than grizzlies are, and the black bear population in western WA isn't small. They wander into Oly on a regular basis.

Definitely do this ^

Definitely do this ^

r/PNWhiking might also be able to answer your questions

r/PNWhiking might also be able to answer your questions

Might try cross posting to r/PNWhiking

Yeah we got rid of the goats a couple of years ago. Flew them out with helicopters, I haven’t seen one in ages now, although I’m sure there a few still out there.

I've ate shit stepping off the road into what I thought was a shallow ditch but ended up being closer to a ravine more times then I'd like to admit haha.

I live in Olympic National Forest, I often go off trail for hiking. I have encountered lot of animals, sometimes within feet, bears, coyotes, elk, goats, and a cougar eating salmon once, that was mad as hell, one of the few times I felt in danger. It’s fairly safe, all the tracking gps stuff people suggested is a great idea, people go missing here all the time. I will say the two things I won’t be caught without are a good first aid kit, with a tourniquet, and a big bottle of Benadryl. I can’t stress enough how important it is! I saved my life with it once after breaking a log walking on it, and ground wasps swarmed me, after 100+ stings and bites, running for a mile at least, that Benadryl came in clutch. I can think of 4 times that I have been swarmed, they are aggressive here. Be careful!

You’re only worry is poison Ivy and getting lost, or stumbling into some homeless camp. Just tell someone where you’re going, it’s not a big deal.

If you enjoy stomping around the woods maybe consider a career in forest management? No idea about your age/ physical abilities, but it sounds like being outside is good for you. Utility company’s need powerline tree trimmers, the state needs fire fighters. Just sayin, get paid to do what helps your mental health.

Make a lot of noise while you’re adventuring. Don’t wanna startle a mother with cubs!

99% of things out there are actively trying to avoid you.

They were mostly murdered a third were dislocated. And they were not particularly dangerous. A rabbit once attacked a president in a boat and we didn't go kill all the rabbits.

Tell that to Australia. And the goats killed a guy, and hurt a bunch more. They were introduced and not native.

Not dangerous at all. Might stumble across humans tho. Very dangerous animals.

2010 in the Olympic National park a guy was killed by a mountain goat.

The biggest dangers are hypothermia and injury, the wildlife is extremely mild around here. Venomous snakes and dengerous spiders/insects are almost unheard of. I would make sure to bring a compass and paper map as backup navigation (and know how to use them,) and some emergency warm clothes in case you unexpectedly have to spend the night. I would also recommend hiking on remote and seldom used trails rather than just cutting cross country (the kind of trails with a handful of people per week.) It helps protect our wild places from human impact, it provides more safety, and you will probably only spend a few seconds in proximity to others durring the rare times you pass eachother on the trail. People in the PNW usually understand the need for alone-time and won't try to say more than a quick "hello" as they pass.

I mean.. there is always a small chance of something happening but I wouldn't let it stop you. I love the woods and I have done the same thing. Parked along the road where it was safe and just walked into the woods. Made a nice fire, a hot drink, and some lunch.
Could something happen? Sure. I could also trip and hit my head. Do I let it stop me? Not at all.
Hell, I almost had a vehicle run me over in a parking lot because this woman was looking down at her phone. Since I was paying attention I managed to avoid her. She never looked up either.
My point is.. there are dangers EVERYWHERE. Not just in the woods.
Keep doing what you're doing.

First I’ve ever heard this. You sure? Black bears generally scramble at the sound of any humans coming.

North Bend

Evergreen

SPSCC

Lacey

Campgrounds

Black bears aren't afraid of people, and when they do choose to interact, it's to the detriment of every party involved.

It's not that dangerous except for random cliffs you will surely encounter. it's mostly just not nice for the environment or what lives there. we have trails to confine humans and allow nature to have it's space too. you should respect that.

As a therapist who has been here for 50 years, I applaud your efforts. Spend all damn day in the woods, if you like. Walk and hike for miles and miles. There is no danger if you just do this one thing:

My suggestion, and not just for your MH, is to stay on the trails! Holy shit please stay on the damn trails! Trails are not going to lead you over a cliff. Trails are not going to be full of brambles and grass seed and shit that gets stuck in your fur. Trails are where the wild animals don't hang out.

But, here's my biggest cringe about going off trail: Wildlife protection. Small animals and necessary bugs make their homes off trail. Mushroom colonies, slime molds, small groundcover plants, and all that stuff is damaged when you get off the trail. This flora and fauna are adapted to make their homes away from the trails where deer and bear and other animals also commute. Every footstep off trail kills something else that isn't on the trail.

Go be in the forest. But please, for the health of the forest and to prevent broken bones, stop going off trails.

For some reason I read that as ghosts and was what to hear a scary story lol.

Getting lost and also slipping on something and / or sliding down a steep incline and getting injured.

The wildlife here is actually pretty benign compared to most places. No venomous snakes or spiders, and ticks and poison ivy are extremely rare.

Yes, we have cougars, but you’re extremely unlikely to encounter one. There have only been two fatal cougar attacks in WA in the past 100 years.

As others have mentioned, there are other risks you should prepare for instead.

> There’s literally 0 mountain lion fatalities in recorded history

There have actually been two, including one in North Bend in 2018. Still, your probability of being attacked is vanishingly small.

Yeah, just say you’re scrambling or mushroom hunting and everyone will understand lol.

[deleted]

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be careful, but none of these articles (the Olympian ones are behind a paywall) suggest what you mentioned in your original comment. Yes, bears who frequent places where humans give them food can be less intimidated by humans. But, they’re not actively hunting out humans to eat, which is what you said.

I don’t have the exact figures on hand, but the number of serious injuries from bears in the last century is insanely low. And many if not most of those were caused by human negligence.

I wasn't aware, my bad. Personally I'd say virtually non-existent... but tomato potato I suppose lol.

My family and I have been hiking/ camping in every corner of Washington State for almost twenty years. Before that it was Utah. Being attacked is definitely not a concern. Make sure you have the right gear, food, and support network (contacts back in civiliation who know what your plans are), and you'll be fine. The woods in Washington are the greatest single gift you'll experience in this lifetime.

Add a blaze orange hunter safety vest, and a can of bear mace to your hiking kit.

Yes it is dangerous. A friend of mine died a couple years back hiking alone in the north cascades. She was an experienced outdoorswoman but ran into some bad luck and had no one there to help her. Furthermore, with you only bringing your cell, you are risking your safety on the assumption that cellular service would be consistently available. It might sound extreme, but if you’re really putting yourself in these situations on a monthly basis, you should at least get a satellite phone or something similar. Can’t help but think sometimes about how Rachel might still be here if she’d had one herself.

It could be that putting yourself in dangerous situations is a form of self harm. I’m sorry you’re going through it right now, I understand what it feels like to be chronically depressed or even suicidal. If you ever need a stranger to talk to my DMs are open.

>they’re not actively hunting out humans to eat, which is what you said.

It's not. I said they're more likely to eat you during an attack than other types of bears one might encounter in the US. A list of fatal bear attacks in the US shows one is statistically more likely to be eaten by a black bear than a grizzly.

Think of the adage 'if it's black, fight back. If it's brown, lie down.' This is because black bears are more predatory toward humans and are trying to kill you, where grizzly attacks are often because you're deemed a threat to their resources; playing dead makes you less of a threat.

Your biggest danger will be getting lost in deteriorating weather.

I'd look into when the bears come out of hibernation and when they have their cubs, and follow the precautions for that. I wouldn't let it keep me out of the woods. I don't remember ever hearing of someone being killed by a bear in the state.

If you get lucky enough to see a cougar in the wild, I will envy you. Those things are so elusive you have to hunt them with dogs wearing radio collars.

You maybe might see a rattlesnake? It's pretty rare to get bitten by one.

ETA: During deer season, while not required to unless you're hunting but still a good idea, wear a hunter orange vest, or one of those bright green ones like road crew guys wear. You'd hate to be mistaken for a deer.

To mitigate your risk, let someone know where you will be in general, what you will be doing, and when you expect to return. Carry something like a space blanket and wear a hat in case you get caught out overnight. Stuff like that, there's a million youtubes about things to put in a daypack.

Other than that, enjoy your walk.

I can't believe I forgot fuckin WIND!!! Honestly didn't even occur to me as it seems like such a no-brainer.. but if you don't know, even just mild gusts is sketchyyyy AF in heavily wooded areas. I suppose after that I'd say landslide/flood/washout but that's typical seasonal stuff

OMG, I used to get poison oak so bad whenever I’d venture off trail in California. I was SO happy to find it’s virtually non-existent in western Wa.

Especially in hunting season.

Most missing folks just disappear, never to be found?

I’ve only heard of a few over the last couple years but I seem to recall them being found.

Also I lied.. THERE IS dangerous wildlife... Brush Grouse...

Issaquah is pretty darn safe

My one experience with a black bear was when i went out to a thurston county radio site east of Yelm. We we coming back down the hill and we saw this big blob of black. I have never seen a bear before, anyhow it looked at us in the van and this bear hauled ass up the hillside. So 1) it wanted nothing to do with us 2) i can guarantee you will not outrun a black bear

Ok so do you want to kill the nonnative moose that entered Ranier National Park this winter? Moose are way more dangerous than goats.

Your biggest risk is something on two legs, whether it’s someone with bad intentions or a hunter making a mistake. Consider wearing bright colors. A knife a bear spray can offer peace of mind but statistically it’s unlikely you’ll need them.

Keep hiking off trail, especially in the national forest land, that’s what it’s for. Don’t listen to all these dummies telling you to stay on trail. That is only relevant inside the national park in high traffic areas. Bushwhacking is good for the soul.

Sorry, but you’ve got it completely backwards. If it’s black, fight back is because you have a chance of at least getting out alive and because black bears typically aren’t predatory. They’re straight up docile compared to grizzlies and most black bears will steer clear of humans.

Grizzlies on the other hand you absolutely don’t mess with. You wouldn’t be able to out fight them for starters. And so you should just play dead and cover your midsection.

I wonder if you’re out and about in this region much? Black bears are EVERYWHERE and as long as you don’t threaten their cubs or surprise them at a close distance, they’re too busy munching on insects and berries to bother people.

I have lived in Eastern Washington my whole life, bears most likely won’t but a mountain lion will. I have know two people where I lived that have died from them. Granted that is not a lot but they are seen almost every couple months or so. Not all of Eastern Washington is the same.

Your biggest issues as far as wildlife are concerned would be cougars and bears. Elk can be dangerous if spooked. Just be aware of your surroundings, especially when filtering water or relieving yourself.

Their "10 essentials" is a must have for forest wanderers.

Oregon and Washington are both on the top ten list for missing persons and a lot of that is due to heavily forested and remote areas. Every year there are at least one or two stories about bodies found of long lost hikers or unidentified persons found in the woods

It’s getting more common as they get hungrier due to impacts on habitat.

I wouldn't worry as much about wildlife as general outdoors safety. Volunteered with SAR for awhile and very experienced people can still have weird accidents like their foot hitting the wrong spot on a rock when they stand up and breaking a leg. Being alone without a designated itinerary introduces some extra risks and it's a good idea to take some extra self-preservations steps accordingly. Our cell reception varies wildly in the outdoors here and I wouldn't rely on it.

Carry the 10 essentials and be prepared to keep yourself alive. Keep it all in a grab-and-go pack that you restock after you use anything so you won't have to worry about getting everything together before you head out the door. Learn route-finding skills and consider getting a personal emergency beacon since you'll be harder to find if you get hurt or lost when you aren't sticking to a known trail. Text a buddy to let them know your starting point and expected return time and call-911-to-report-me-missing-time.

I recommend listening to "Finding Life on the Edge of Death" from the Out Alive podcast. A person describes how they survived 9 days in the Washington wilderness after making some hiking mistakes. Maybe something to keep in the back of your mind and consider.

Lifetime hunter here. All good tips here but I would add this: The skill of Orienteering would be very good to have. Orienteering is the craft of map and compass. GPS is fine but can be notoriously undependable due to poor reception in rugged terrain and an overstory forest. A compass will not fail you ever if used properly. I would not be so concerned about "Feral Wildlife" as I would be about getting lost in the thick, brushy outback of Western Washington. Also be prepared to protect against hypothermia and be prepared to spend at least one night in the woods. Any Search and Rescue organization is a good source for information and they are glad to help. It sounds like you need some education on being in the woods to be safe.

Why not use a trail, there are so many great trails here? We as humans have already invaded and disturbed so much wild space.

That's literally my point. People that shoot at you end up in jail. There isn't some kind of wild west culture that encourages it.

You'll probably be fine if you have a little common sense and are sturdy on your feet. I work out in the woods nearly every day and am by myself more often than not.

Keep a first aid kit in your car or on you if it's not too cumbersome and let someone know roughly where you're going if possible.

As for wildlife, I really wouldn't worry too much

You might bring some guide books with you to see if you can get to know some of the plants, fungi, birds, etc. I’m a plant person and would recommend “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast” by Pojar & MacKinnon. I love to take plant pics on my phone and ID them back at home or camp. :)

I did things similar to this when I lived in Eastern WA. It's definitely easier over there due to less blackberry thickets that swamps honestly. I would study the area on Google maps first then just go park somewhere near and go. Had my dog with me, sometimes walking game trails, sometimes just meandering but I always knew where I was and how to get back. Your phones GPS even without signal (if you download the maps) is pretty damn accurate at tracking you even in the middle of the woods miles gone from cell service. Certainly don't depend on it unless you're confident in your abilities. I never relied on it. I rarely actually used it other than to mark waypoints of cool stuff.

Always at least tell somebody where you're gonna start and when to call it in if you don't show back up.

There are cougars and black bears, depending on where you hike. They usually turn tale and run if they see you.

Mostly I would be worried that you got hurt and nobody knew where to find you. When I was in college a guy broke his leg badly mountain biking not far from the college. Then died of hyperthermia over the night. He wasn't far from the dorms.

Bring a little backpack with a couple emergency blankets and a heavy sweatshirt.

Yup. Also gtfo if you come across anything that looks like a meth cook. Bear mace works against more than just bears and mountain lions.

Alot of helpful comments in this thread! Consider following them. I wish you well and I am impressed you have found a safe and positive way to manage your depression! Keep going. I think the biggest danger is slipping and get hit with a branch or brambles in the eye so just focus as you are hiking, and opt for caution. If you have glasses that helps.

Yeah dude completely normal, just don’t get lost. Do you ever find antlers or anything cool?

A deer carcass once! It was partway up a tree and I don't even want to think how it got up there.

I'll definitely check it out, thanks!

I do the same thing haha, haven’t had an issue yet. It’s a more raw experience in nature vs traditional trail hikes. I use OnX to navigate around. There’s a lot of old logging roads out there that help me get around too. Me and my dog make a lot of noise stumbling around the brush that keeps us from surprising any wildlife.

There is a huge difference between introducing goats in the 20’s for hunting, and moose spreading naturally. We didn’t fly in moose. And yes, if it affects the natural environment or humans, get them out.

You do not know how that moose got there. Goats do roam so you don't know if some walked in either. Do you want wolves in ONP? Because they are native. But coyotes are not they only arrived after colonizing humans murdered the wolves - so kill all the coyotes. You cannot be a hypocrite once you start killing off mega fauna.

Lol mega fauna what year is it?!?? The moose came from the north Cascades. I’m starting to understand you’re likely a child or not far off, so I’m gonna leave this as my last comment.

I like to do the same thing! Maybe we’ll run into each other some day

[deleted]

Megafauna is a completely not outdated scientific term used to refer to large animals. Nothing childish about that when discussing mountain goats, wolves, and moose. What is childish is insulting someone.

Maybe consider joining a search and rescue team as a volunteer. Every county has one. Get to bushwhack on your own yet you're out with other like-minded people, and for a good cause.

Maybe wear bright colors (especially if it’s hunting season) and learn some basics on navigation or buy a sat phone in case you do get lost, letting someone trusted know where you’re going is always a good idea too. But overall it’s pretty safe compared to places like wyoming (absolutely do not wander around the woods by yourself in grizzly country), I think the biggest concern would be getting injured or lost and caught in bad weather (like all winter here) and unable to call for help. If you’re only going a few miles outside of a town anyways you might want to check out hiking trails, you can avoid some of the risks (like difficulty figuring out how to get help to your location) and it’s better for the ecosystem. Idk where you are exactly but I might know of some usually pretty empty trails if you’re ever looking for some!

Wow! Maybe a big cat was trying to drag it up! I’ve never found anything that cool. Found two sheds though. :)