I think all of us, when we get out deep in the forest, and you have that sense that you are probably going to be alone while you're out there, there's a thought that this is my place I can do most anything I want.
In all the years that I've spent going out in the woods, I can only think of a couple of times years ago when I actually ran into another guy in the woods. Once it was a couple guys who were probably checking their deer yard, they weren't happy to see me, but I
wasn't hunting and neither were they. It was near a spring just over the hill, ( small mountain ) from my house, and I had been going there for decades without ever seeing anybody. That day it was my birthday walk so I was going on a long hike.
Another time it was near Christmas ( so deer season ) and I was hiking a long way over a favorite mountain to the river. Apparently I walked right through some guys deer yard while he was in his stand. Pissed him off. He came down out of his stand and I could hear him coming through the dry leaves. So he had plenty to say; ..how he nearly popped me, etc. Pretty sure he was a sheriff deputy or a cop just by his manner. Good looking guy, probably paying a fair bit to lease that hunting spot. I just told him I was out on a long hike. Didn't ask if he often took shots at deer wearing orange hats..
He was surprised to hear where I hiked from, Seems most people out in the deep woods now have a truck or atv not far away. Not so many want to hike a long way in the woods.
More recently during the pandemic I was in a remote part of a park near a mountain top, off trail, to investigate some giant rocks.
Was surprised to find a young guy already there, I think we both apologized, for intruding. I almost had a sense to give him my number, just because I never have a buddy to hike with out in the woods off trail, but didn't want him to think I was hitting on him.
Still looking for a buddy who likes to get out in the woods, most of my buddies have moved out of state, or cross country.
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