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Typically such groups do not make it to their cars here on their own. They underestimate how long a hike takes, start too late in the day, if asked have no idea when sunset is, are under dressed for the weather, often are completely unaware a weather system is moving in, and have no means to start a fire. . They rely on their phones for navigation, then when it gets dark they use them as flashlights and finally call for help. Usually running their batteries completely dead. Search parties are formed and it takes half the night to find them and walk them out getting them out at close to or at dawn. Week after week it happens in the Columbia Gorge. Not so often now as most of the trails are closed due to the Gorge fires. I do for the most part solo research. I am aware of the risks. Bear, cougar, other humans, and BF themselves add to the overall risk. Have had bullets whistling over my head, confronted by a cougar, bear encounters, and cornered a BF who growled at me with displeasure. Out in the wind, a falling tree is always a danger. Those are all knowns but can happen without any warning. . It is the unknown that probably worries me the most. Hard to avoid something unknown to you. But on the other side of the coin, I move very quietly, can stop and listen often, make human smell proportional to one person, not several, and present myself in a not threatening manner. Have pretty well have worked out BF contact protocols that have worked up to this point. Not that I discovered them, but simply use what Native Americans have found works for them. Two words describe the NA contact philosophy. " Respectful deference." When I have deviated from that, is when they expressed displeasure with me. Corner one, trying to get it to break cover and you will find out what I mean. But quite frankly at my age, to have some misfortune in the woods, sounds like a much better way to go out than drowning from pneumonia in a hospital bed. I nearly took that route after Christmas.

Great country you hunt in Norse, thanks for sharing! My recommendation for anyone new to the outdoors is to get to know the area you are going into. By using maps first then by being out there. Learn how to orient yourself in the woods. Don't bite off more than you can handle all at once. It's easy to get lost, as many above have stated. Learn the wildlife and plant life in your area. Many times it takes years to learn about the noises various animals can make. Bigfoot is a good reason to be out there but very little is bigfoot. Enjoy the outdoors for what they can offer regardless if you have any BF experiences or not. JMHO.