Trip Report
A Love Affair with the American West
Monday November 17, 2014 10:15am
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.
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Credit: merk-daddy
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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.
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Credit: merk-daddy
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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
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Credit: merk-daddy
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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.
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Credit: merk-daddy
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Credit: merk-daddy
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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.
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Credit: merk-daddy
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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.

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Adventures in mtn driving.  Eastern CA
Adventures in mtn driving. Eastern CA
Credit: merk-daddy
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Another great adventure and another blissful journey back to the homestead.
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Credit: merk-daddy
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  Trip Report Views: 3,008
merk-daddy
About the Author
Alex is a trad climber from Starvation Bar CA, on the banks of the Yuba River in the Western Sierra foothills. He's always lookin for an adventure buddy.

Comments
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Nov 17, 2014 - 11:05am PT
Nice report. Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
  Nov 17, 2014 - 11:32am PT
thanx but, huh?? or maybe hmm, it is the kolab that I will go back to when the chance to go to Zion next comes along if when ??ever!!
Grippa

Trad climber
Salt Lake City, UT
  Nov 17, 2014 - 11:42am PT
sick house dude
Don Paul

Social climber
Washington DC
  Nov 17, 2014 - 11:49am PT
When I read the first sentence of your report, I thought you had escaped from the hospital by dosing one of the doctors with your haldol. The picture of the fake drowning confirmed it, then I skipped to the bottom looking for the police car pictures, lol. But, I really need to get back to Zion, it's so beautiful.
Inner City

Trad climber
Portland, OR
  Nov 17, 2014 - 12:16pm PT
Nice report! Zion is a special place. I was just there last month for a 6 day canyoneering trip and we really enjoyed it. I have previously done that Lady Mountain scramble you described and found it compelling as well.

Your Angel's Landing picture is great!
martygarrison

Trad climber
Washington DC
  Nov 17, 2014 - 12:41pm PT
Let's see more pics of the Yurt!
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
  Nov 17, 2014 - 12:56pm PT
Cool. Love Zion.

Now, more on that yurt! Pics, tales of living in it, pros/cons. Dish the dirt, yo!

BAd
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Nov 17, 2014 - 03:32pm PT
hey there say, merk-daddy... thanks for sharing this very fine trip... extra good to know, that you got some 'rescue practice' stuff done, for to help folks, too...


say, also, as to this quote:
The journey home was a sentimental one; traversing through mountain ranges and memories. Places that hosted adventures, gatherings. Mountains where friends have perished.

the picture even did convey this, and a deep reminder to appreciate the ones we love...

and, wow, a very very well done, the best i have seen, photo
of angels landing... thank you for sharing this...
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Nov 17, 2014 - 06:24pm PT
Cool yurt house, thanks for the TR!
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Nov 17, 2014 - 07:03pm PT
i like the angels landing sunrise pic a lot, and you got a sweet little yurt. cool little journey. i recognize that countryside. starvation bar, eh?
bergbryce

climber
East Bay, CA
  Nov 17, 2014 - 07:08pm PT
I want to work in your ED. We'd get along well.
merk-daddy

Trad climber
starvation bar, ca
Author's Reply  Nov 19, 2014 - 08:43am PT
Happy World Toilet Day [according to NPR]

Here's our off-grid composting toilet at the homestead. We call it:
The loo with a view

cleo

Social climber
wherever you go, there you are
  Nov 19, 2014 - 11:06am PT
Nice, thanks for the share. Where's the homestead?
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Nov 19, 2014 - 11:16am PT
Best place in the universe!
Go