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At this point I am 100% guilty!!! I have nobody to hike with as of yet... Also, because of my schedule (unemployed) I am hiking during the daytime weekdays where it would be hard to find a partner anyway...

How many other people do this and what precautions do you take? ER: leaving a note or telling someone where you went and when you should be back, etc....

I always feel safe in the woods(wilderness), but walking city streets scare me(civilization).

Did South Peak (Superstitions) this morning totally alone. Saw no one at all. It was OK, I did feel pretty "alone" as I climbed the last few feet to the top, where you have to hug the rock a bit.

Hiking alone really depends on "circumstances."

Walking to a Circle K at night alone can be far more dangerous than any hike known to mankind! Just read the Phoenix Police logs!

There are times when neither of us will consider hiking alone and there are other times when we wouldn't give it a second thought.

It just really all depends on "circumstances."

We think people in the "old days" called "circumstances" something like

"common sense."

We're not sure about that but we think so, anyway.

J&S

I hike alone, on purpose, almost all the time. The self-reliance aspect of the sport is one of the reasons I'm out there.

I used to excuse my solitary hiking habit by saying all the things that have been mentioned in this thread: I hike steep, unpopular trails to unusual spots; I love elevation gain, the steeper the better, and most other hikers don't; I start hiking at the crack-of-dawn (or as early as feasible), which seems insane to many hikers; and etc., and etc. But I finally decided that there is a soulfulness to what I am doing, and that by going out alone I am nurturing something worthy and valuable inside of me.

Sure, I leave word about where I am. Sure, I carry extra supplies and clothing. And of course I hike within my limits. I do all these things even when I hike with someone else.

Rick

I have hiked alone on well traveled trails + always let someone know where I am going. After the callous and evil senseless murder of that young couple near Bumble Bee,I don't think I'll ever feel secure again! There are no words for the horror of it.

I did a solo in the Mazatzals for four days a couple years ago. It was my first time solo. The Mazatzals was not the best place for this. On the second day, when I arrived at the west fork of dead mans creek, I realized that this was really really remote, and if I so much as twisted an ankle, I could be in there a long time. Never a saw another human after I left the Barnhardt trail.
It was an interesting mental journey, having no one to consult with but myself. But future solo hikes will be in areas where I might expect another hiker to pass from time to time.
The basic idea of hiking alone does not seem extreme to me. However, one should be experienced and prepared in order to enjoy peace of mind along with the solitude. Leaving a detailed itinerary is good common sense, and gives some assurance to the hiker and his/her family.

Although group hikes can be a great way to get to know a number of people very quickly, and are by far the wildest of times, it seems to me the fewer the number, the purer the experience.
Two is a great number, efficient, quiet, balanced conversation and shared memories.
Solo trips, particularly the stretches when no others are encountered, can be intensely spiritual. My most recent trip, 34 miles to the bottom and along the Tonto trail of the Grand Canyon, was a life unto itself. The silence and scale very much like what many seek in church. I hope to return soon.
For now, I continue to bag peaks and explore around Phoenix, mostly solo, almost always offtrail. I always leave a note with destination, often GPS info, and am fairly well prepared. Life involves some risk, and hiking solo, away from the dangers presented by others, whether it be rockfall dislodged overhead or a drunk driver, puts the responsibility on the individual.

What is the "cardinal rule of hiking alone"? Don't do it? If that's the case then I'm guilty, but hey, I don't feel guilty. For years all I did was "be prepared", now I have to tell my wife where I'm going, and how long I plan to be gone. I usually pad the time estimate a bit to give myself some time for distractions along the way. Never carry a cell phone and never will. (never say never)

I hike alone 90% of the time. All my family lives in Chicago and my few friends here aren't into it, so no one ever knows where I am. I guess it could be classified as stupid by some. It is the wilderness though, so I feel certain dangers are acceptable. My advice is simply know what your doing out there and bring what supplies you need. Certainly not a cardinal sin, though. Humans have walked the Earth alone for as long as our history is.