Yes, as a Western Washington native, I do not inately fear the forest, but my first horse, a wild-born Mustang from the desert, did. He was forever fearful of close places where a view of any distance was hidden. From what I have seen of pine forests, your pine forests are even less tangled than our mixed woods. Our forests are thick with undergrowth, and one could not travel through them without a path.
In that way, I am familiar with the disappearing nature of the paths in the Old Forest. paths I may stumble on here, made by deer and other critters, meander and disappear, leaving you know choice but to crash through ahead or turn back.
Trees ... to be in a forest is quite an experience. Primal and such quiet. Entering a glade is idyllic, in the deep shade it is a bit ominous, ... in the presence of old trees the forest has the majesty of a sacred place, its silence is magnified and its own sounds are as well. Man is dwarfed in the presence of trees. I love to hike for an hour or so and then my inner yearning says ... "turn around and leave now". I am much more comfortable if there are others with me for companionship.
Perhaps trees are a perfect metaphor for our subconscious projections ... at once majestic and threatening. What do you think?