I hike solo quite a lot. Every year I do a 10-14 day section hike on the Appalachian Trail, usually solo. It's a bit by choice and a bit by circumstance. My kids are grown and I just don't have buds to hike with for that long. I could probably find a companion through the hiker sites or on the trail, but frankly I really like the solitude.

That being said, it's the AT. Fairly highly traveled, extremely well annotated trails, campsites, water sources, even trail ups/downs. I have gone several days without seeing other hikers but if I had a problem I'm fairly confident it wouldn't be too long before someone came along. I don't think I would be so quick to hike solo on a less documented and traveled trail.

I'm a careful hiker, including how I step over logs and climb. I carry Doug's Survival Kit plus other selected items. My wife knows my itinerary and I check in by cell at least every other day. I sign every trail register. I greet other hikers and exchange names.I don't go off trail and no shortcuts.

Hikermor raises a good point - in some cases you could be less safe with a buddy because you may take more chances!

Great thread - I look forward to what others say.