One thing to try is walking through slowly, with lots of stops. Critters make noise walking through that stuff too. Elk particularly - they're louder than we are. But even with deer, if you sound like a critter and walk a few steps, stop for a minute, walk a few more, etc., you may not spook them. They know it's a human if the noise is constant, since humans generally walk at a steady pace from here to there. Of course, also keep the wind in your face.