hiking alone

Bears or not, hiking alone generally requires some basic safety and common-sense precautions, but these shouldn't overshadow the solitary benefits of solo hiking (no snoring tentmates, squabbles over trail mix, you know the score...). As to the bear question, Inyo is home to a good-sized population of black bears and so requires hikers and backpackers to be prepared. This is bear country, so food must be properly contained and disposed of (food canisters are mandatory in the backcountry). Generally bears will go about their business and hikers should follow the basic precautions; we actually have a very detailed article about traveling in grizzly country here: http://bit.ly/kViBer). It does, in fact, specifically advise that it's better to travel in groups in bear country as more people equal more noise (so as not to startle Mama on a walk with her cubs), as well as present a more intimidating sight should a bear actually get in a position to charge. So given your professed fear of bears, we'd suggest you not put yourself in a situation where you could have an unpleasant encounter. Time to start calling your friends to see if they'd join you on this trip? It is, after all, a beautiful part of the world -- bears included!