In the forest: recognising hazards, keeping your bearings

The forest canopy slows the wind considerably and holds off rain for a while. Beneath it the air stays more humid and cooler by day, and often a little warmer at night than in an open field. These advantages make the forest a comparatively friendly place for breaks and overnight stays.

The typical hazards come from three directions. From above: dead wood – dead branches and trees – can fall without warning, especially in wind, after storms or when heavy wet snow lies on the branches. From navigation: because there is no long-distance view, you cannot aim for prominent hills or towers. From the season: drought raises the wildfire danger, and ticks are active in the warmer months.

After a storm the forest is not safe again straight away. Broken branches can still fall hours or days later, and fallen trees are sometimes under tension. The word “windthrow” describes areas where a storm has knocked down many trees at once – such areas are often closed, and for good reason.

For every rest stop and camp, look up. Watch for branches without leaves or needles, trees with flaking bark, fungi on the trunk, cracks or a clear lean. A tree whose root plate is already lifting a little out of the ground can topple completely in the wind. Check the ground too: hollows and low stream banks can fill with water quickly in rain.

For navigation it helps not just to follow the path but to tick off points deliberately: this junction, this bridge, this stream. Forest roads are often newly built or abandoned and do not always match the map. If you notice you are unsure, stop, look at the map and the time and, if necessary, go back to the last point you were sure of instead of just walking on.

Plan around the light. Under dense trees it gets noticeably dark earlier than out in the open. So a headlamp belongs in the pack even for short forest walks.

Storms are the biggest danger in the forest. Check the weather warnings before the trip. If there is a storm or thunderstorm warning, choose a route without forest or postpone the trip. If you are caught out, leave the forest quickly towards open ground without standing on the highest point there, and keep away from forest edges with tall trees.

Fire in the forest is only allowed where local rules permit it. In dry periods bans often apply, and in many countries the wildfire danger level is published. Check the local rules before every trip. A fire you are allowed to make is put out completely, until no embers are warm any more.

In many regions ticks can transmit diseases. Long trousers, closed shoes and checking yourself after the trip help. Remove a tick promptly, for example with fine tweezers or a tick card close to the skin. If the spot later turns red, a spreading ring appears or you get a fever, seek medical advice. Whether a vaccination makes sense for your region is something to discuss with a doctor.

Family walk in autumn: after a windy night, branches lie on the path. That is a sign that others could be loose too. Take breaks in open clearings rather than under old trees, and show children how to look up.

In the evening the forest gets dark and the way back is longer than expected. Now what you did beforehand pays off: a headlamp in the pack, junctions remembered, someone told where you are going. If you are lost, stop, calm down and think instead of going cross-country in the dark.

Good to know: whether you may camp, make a fire or leave the paths in a forest differs greatly between countries and regions. Some countries have broad rights of public access, others strict bans. This text cannot answer that for every place – the local rules apply.