I often get asked if solo hiking is safe or if I am ever scared while I am hiking alone. My response is usually the same as when people ask me that question related to solo travel — I have never felt unsafe, but I have felt uncomfortable, and that is not a bad thing.
I usually follow this up by reminding them that I also never approach a solo hike unprepared. I know exactly what I need to do to keep myself safe and comfortable, so I can focus on the sound of the wind in the trees and not on an imaginary threat.
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Bears do not go out of their way to attack, track or hunt humans. That is not a thing. What they are attracted to is food, or something that might be scented like food.
Unless you are doing things that will attract bears, you are unlikely to ever encounter one. You may see bears on the side of the highway, but rarely will you see them near your tent or on a hiking trail.
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If you want to avoid playing “follow the leader” while trekking through the forest, the shoulder season for the Rockies tends to fall in the autumn during the few weeks before the ski hills open and in the spring, right after the ski hills close. This is when there are fewer people in the park, and the trails located close to the town are usually empty of hikers.
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