I started one solo feeling under the weather and became real sick by days 3-5 one year. High fever verging on delirious kind of thing for a while. I'd have rather burned layover days at home but once I felt better my trip continued. Beyond that I've always been lucky I guess. A canoe decided to leave without me at the end of a portage one spring afternoon. Ten feet out was only crotch deep but it was a very good wake up call I've not forgotten.

The only injuries I've seen on trips were tweaked ankles and one bee sting where the guy's leg doubled in size. That was worrisome but it's also what layover days are for. And if you really think about it, yes, there is safety in numbers but it also increases your chances of a trip being hampered by illness/injury.

On the other hand, we saw a plane circle a few times and land on the lake we were at one day. When we got back to camp we found out one girl's dad had a heart attack at home and the family was able to have her found and flown out. That was a good reminder that sticking to an itinerary can be helpful for those at home too.

Last summer I was watching someone's Spot tracks that showed they were on the same lake for far too long. We knew one of them was somehow injured but it was the beginning of their trip so....

Last year too, one day the last "I'm traveling" mark from someone was 100 yrds out in the lake from his campsite. As I recall he lost interest in sending the "I'm OK" thingy for a few days after. I thought he accidently dropped it in the lake or something. Anyway, I was just glad their safety was not my responsibility. It's nice to know people are alive and moving around after worrying a while.

That last situation made me realize that I'd not use the "I'm OK" tracking feature to let my wife and kid follow along at home. I think the possibility for causing them undo worry is greater than any benefit they would get out of knowing I was alive but hurt or sick or something let alone having fun w/o them.