Right, 9-10 day backcountry trips which I've done a couple times (although not in the past 8 years). Although probably within 1-2 days of people the whole time. And, I'd certainly take a satphone with me, at least emergency beacon, if I did it today (yay, technology).
(This also becomes a philosophical/psychological question: is it more holy to resist sin when surrounded by temptation, or when in a pure environment? Is it harder to avoid talking to people if you know you just have to pick up a phone to do so, or when it's a serious production?)
There's a couple of competing things at play here. You're not seeing people on these trips, but you are being stimulated by the experience you're having.
That being said, some people are hardier to the idea of being in solitude, though it does usually take some training to get there. However most people aren't that hardy, especially in the extreme case of solitary confinement.
(This also becomes a philosophical/psychological question: is it more holy to resist sin when surrounded by temptation, or when in a pure environment? Is it harder to avoid talking to people if you know you just have to pick up a phone to do so, or when it's a serious production?)