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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

r/PNWhiking might also be able to answer your questions

Might try cross posting to r/PNWhiking

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

r/PNWhiking might also be able to answer your questions

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.

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

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

Issaquah is pretty darn 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.