How safe is it to hike alone?

Probably most everyone has done it.

My answer is that it is simply not as safe overall as hiking with another person.

Alone on a mountain trail can turn in a dangerous situation, even in this cell phone age. That's because a cell phone doesn't always work in canyons or behind obstacles.

That device has made it a little safer to hike alone, but it cannot be relied on completely.

The more remote and the longer the hike, the greater the risk when hiking alone.

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What are some of the specific dangers of hiking alone?

1. If you fall and can't move, you have no one, at least readily, to assist you or go for help. The same goes if you have some kind of sudden health issue.

2. It might be easier — in some cases — to get lost hiking alone, or do something risky, since there's no one to back you up or to debate with.

3. Women hiking alone might become easier targets for predators.

4. In the rare case any mountain lion is in the area with you, a solitary hiker is a more likely prey.

5. If you did somehow get bitten by a rattlesnake, you have no one to back you up.

Anytime you hike, a family member or friend should know where you are and that's especially relevant if you are going to be hiking alone.

Also, if you use a popular trail or one you know, it is likely safer than a rugged trail you're on for the first time.

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My mother used to always express great concern when I went hiking, with or without company. However, the reality is and always was — it is statistically far more hazardous to be driving on the highway than hiking.

Also, unless you are in a meditating mood and seeking pure solitude, it is more fun to have company along on any hike.

And, if you are alone, you may have to figure out how to take your own photograph on a summit or along a trail ….

Where have I hiked alone?

I most recently hiked the west rim trail in Zion, beyond the Angels Landing turnoff, alone for about 4 miles. There was no cell service there and it was 95 degrees. I met 2 backpackers, but was otherwise alone for almost 90 minutes.

I've hiked Malan's Peak/Basin, east of Ogden, alone a lot over the years. (I know one man who has done that hike alone a thousand plus times with no problems.)

Also, Waterfall Canyon, Ben Lomond Peak, Adams Canyon, Bald Mountain, Bryce Canyon's Peekaboo Trail, parts of the inner Grand Canyon, Crater Lake, the Columbia Gorge and more alone.

So, I've hiked alone much more than I initially thought — mostly when I was younger — with no problems.

Some hikes I've taken a dog along, but that is a future subject of its own ...

However, I would never consider hiking to Kings Peak, Notch Peak or any other area that's very isolated, alone.

(Note: All 3 photographs are of the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park, well beyond Scout Lookout.)

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