jellyjam said
@Gathouria i think "they" is meant to be referring to the woods , as in "hoping the woods would be a good shortcut"
it still works bc woods is plural
This may be a difference in localized grammar, then
I would never use it that way, but I know "data" is treated as singular on the west coast (how I use it) and plural on the east coast (how it was used by those around me in college), so you may be right.