I'd had to pick up a couple extra shifts to make it happen, but last Monday night as the clock clicked down it all seemed worth it. The last 90 year old belly pain finally got accepted by the hospitalist and the screaming hand-cuffed ruffian got the last dose of haldol I'd ordered. All was well in the department as I skipped out the ambulance entrance and took to the winding highway over the shoulder of Mount Lassen under a clear sky and full moon.

The evening goal was an isolated hot spring out in the high Nevada desert on the way to Zion.
The pale moon light easily guided me down the dirt roads to the steaming oasis in the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately the pool wasn't as much 'hot' as it was a 'warm spring' with the outrageously cold ambient temperatures. So I pushed on across the desert. Edward Abbey reading some of his best pieces about the desert SW burbled from the speakers and kept me company.

Fortunately there were plenty of camp sites available at Watchman [I was the only person in the walk-in sites!] and after a quick recce of the site, it was off for a jog up Angel's Landing.
Surprisingly the trail is actually paved the entire way up and the porta-poopers at the top have been overflowing for a while [something about not having funding to clean them?]. So ... not such a wilderness experience. But as you all know, the last bit is still a blast.
A helpful tip for camping in the park is to head into town for a shower. Frugality dictated that I get a 'cowboy bath' in the Virgin River, which was both painfully cold and painfully embarrassing [when the creekside hikers saw my emasculated manhood in the icy waters]

The main reason for the trip was to help teach the AWLS course held annually in the area. A fantastic opportunity for medical professionals to get exposure to medical treatment outside. Here I was pretending to be a drowning victim and scared the poopie of a few folks with a mouth full of water - hehe

Fortunately we did have a free afternoon and I was able to take y'all up on your recommendations. http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2523359/Zion-solo-recommendations
The old cable route on Lady Mountain was absolutely outstanding. Easily scramble-able without any gear needed during dry weather. The route should be considered a true classic with it's natural [and artificial] stair-step ramps over airy exposures up to the jaw-dropping summit.


Since the upper trail to the pools has been quasi-permanently closed due to a slide, finding the trail is a bit more difficult. I tried to get a lat/long without much success in the deep canyon. Easiest beta is to take the lower trail all the way to the pool, then [when no one is looking] step over the 'closed trail' signage and go until the large metal sign along the trail. Climber trail is ~50 meters back the way you came.

The journey home was a sentimental one; traversing through mountain ranges and memories. Places that hosted adventures, gatherings. Mountains where friends have perished.
Though fall is always a poignant time for remembrance, when the earth tucks in for it's long winter slumber.


Another great adventure and another blissful journey back to the homestead.