Actually interestingly enough, my problem the last couple of years is not having buddies to go with - ok it's not a *bad* problem, but I do like to hike solo, and only goot in one good solo trip this last year.

Admittedly, I do like hiking wiht friends too, but I definately see the problems Jim is referring to. My solo Jaunt from Maligne Lake to camp parker this summer (pics here was during fabulous weather. My first two nights, and last night were basically where nobody goes, and I wasn't surprised to see nobody there. However my third night was at what should have been a very busy campground, on the very popular brazeau loop hike in jasper. I saw two couples in that campground and that's it..

Which I supposed comes to the reason why I haven't been solo as much as I'd like - I've been dragging a good number of newbies along trails with me..