Over the past 40 years, here’s what I have learned…
Carry what you like, it’s just that simple.
Unless you’re handgun hunting for very large game, there’s really no true need for magnums. For woods bumming, just about anything is sufficient. If you live where bears are, any handgun 9mm on up will get it done provided you do your job. Big grizzlies have been stopped with compact 9mm’s and .40’s. Black bears aren’t hard to deal with, and its pretty rare you can just chase them off.
If you’re carrying for self-defense against two legged critter, well just carry a self-defense pistol.
When I’m in the woods, I most often switch to one of my revolvers, just because I like to carry my revolvers in the woods. I don’t consider revolvers for urban self-defense anymore, so in the wood is one of the few times I get to carry my wheelguns.
These days, I carry either my SAA in .45 Colt, or my Python loaded with .38 Specials.