food, what ego? I know my place and I'm not even married.:) Most solo trips, the gals are always headed the other way.

I do miss my dog, Pooch. Passed away about 4-5 years ago on 01/11/02 or 03? Some of the places I get myself into, Pooch was just enough company, experienced bp dog, some of the places he came along with me were a little scary. With Pooch along, I never worried much about bears. For a mellow, yellow lab X, he always alerted me to bears by camp or at home getting into my garbage. Rangers said years ago that a dog wouldn't keep a bear away anymore. I never got to test that theory, but then, we never had bears come around at night either. On the trail in the morning maybe but not at night.