Hi OregonMouse,
Yeah, we are having a tough time deciding between the Winds and Yellowstone. Personally, I would feel better hiking Yellowstone with at least one or two more people with all the bears around, but I wouldn't worry about my husband and I hiking alone in the Winds so much. We will be carrying pepper spray and I've read alot about keeping a clean camp and leave no trace. The waterfalls and hot spings are what got us thinking about Yellowstone, and the easier trail. We have a 3 day weekend coming up and we're going to try to get out for an overnite hike at a nearby state park to test our gear and clothing. I've been working out an hour a day four days a week since the beginning of the year and will continue to do so until the trip (lost 19lbs so far). I'm really looking forward to this wherever we decide to go!