I have to disagree with you Halcon, my judgement is sound, I was prepared to walk out or spend the night....which is what I thought this sight was all about, being prepared. Maybe I'm wrong and need to rethink things. Someone help me out here, what did I do wrong?
Shadow_oo00, I don't know about you young kids ...
Seriously ... don't think your judgment being questioned, and besides, there's no crime in having to spend the night
provided you come well-prepared for that contingency (which, in the experience you shared, you did). It becomes "bad judgment" when one is
not prepared, and the overnighter puts one at undue risk and/or necessitates a SAR response. Otherwise, it becomes another "adventure."
My only suggestion, with the benefit of hindsight: given this was an unfamiliar trail, studying a decent topo map pre-hike would've given you some insight about the return trail's steep terrain, and might've influenced your plans.
Dan