It was years ago, but I remember it well.  It was the end of November and the end of a long day of four-wheeling.  We were finally driving home, down a typical red rock beautiful southern Utah canyon, night had fallen fast and it was dark, the stars and moon were being blocked by low ominous clouds that threatened snow.  It was the kind of darkness that nothing could penetrate, the combined head lights and spotlights that were supposed to have a 4 mile range, only succeeded to light up what seemed like about 10 feet of road.  I fell back from the Jeep in front of me, partly because I was too tired to keep up, and partly not to blind him with the spotlights.  I was tired, and half asleep, as my body was what I call bump drunk, meaning I had been driving off road for hrs and I was just swaying to the bumps, too tired to fight them anymore.  I was thinking about the red canyon walls, arches, pictographs and ancient ruins, that had all been part of this day.  The drone of the Jeep in low gear as I crossed wash after wash, was slowly numbing my mind and body.  As I drove out of a steep wash, my headlights briefly shining futile straight up into the night sky, I rounded the top of the wash and just as my headlights found the road again. I felt the Jeep hesitate and lurch as I hit something, my mind and body instantly awake as I tried to figure out what happened.  I stopped, grabbed a flashlight and got out of the Jeep to look for damage. one of my bumper lights was broken, by, I know not what.  I scanned the area with the flashlight, but could not see anything that would have caused the light to break.  The road behind me was clear.  Not even a sage brush was close enough that I could have hit it.  I jumped as I heard a noise and at edge of the road a shape that I thought was a rock moved.  I slowly cautiously walked up to it.  A injured mountain lion was lying there and staring at me.  I was scared and went to run back to the Jeep when I realized it was too injured to move.  I then stared mesmerized, at the now surreal scene that was before me.   The poor lion, I hit it, I felt sorry for it, sorry that I hit it, sorry that it was hurt, I apologized to it, trying to explain that I didn’t see it. I don't know how long I just stood there and watched it.  After I could tell it was no longer breathing or moving I carefully, moved up closer to it, and reached my foot out to touch its tail.  I almost cried as I realized its life was gone.  I couldn’t leave it lying on the edge of the road, so, I know, I know, I wouldn’t recommend this, but I bent down and carefully picked up the back end and slid it off the road, and into some scrub brush.   I felt bad, I apologized again, before walking sadly away to climb back into the Jeep to resume my drive home.  I was now awake, and looking carefully at the road and watching the brush on the side of the road waiting for something to jump out in front of me.   I was thinking that the drive out was starting to seem like it took a lot longer than the drive in, but I didn’t worry too much about it, as I told myself I was driving a lot slower this time.   As I came up to a fork in the road, I realized that I had been here just a few minutes ago.  I had picked the road on the right, the first time, as it looked to be the most used.  As I turned the Jeep to for the road on the left, a shape out of the edge of my headlights appeared, I didn’t believe it, it was a lion, my heart stopped, my hair stood up, my body erupted in goose bumps, it wasn’t real, it couldn’t be, cause I could see through it.  Wow I was really more tired than I thought; now I am seeing things.  I then quickly drove down the road on the left.  It wasn’t long before the road didn't seem familiar, it was rockier than I remembered, but seemed to be heading in the right direction, I was in a canyon, and it was going down the canyon, so I figured it would lead out a different way. How could I possibly get lost in a narrow canyon?  After about 30 minutes, I was thinking, this is looking familiar I should hit the paved highway any second now, I drove thru a screen of brush and what! I was back to that same fork in the road. I slammed on my breaks and was dumbstruck with disbelief.  I knew I must have missed something somewhere in the darkness.  I then went back to my first decision, the road most travelled has got to be the right one, when again out of the corner of my eye on my far right, I saw the same ghostly image, only this time it seemed to beckon, like I was supposed to follow it, it turned and started to walk away from me, taking a few steps and looking back at me, then taking a couple more and looking again.  I thought, no way, I am not seeing this!  Quickly I popped the clutch and sprayed sand and gravel behind me as I took off down the road on the right.  I was driving a little frantically now, but slowed down when I missed a turn and took out a sage brush.  I was feeling better as this road was looking more familiar.  I was telling myself that the ghost that I saw was a figment of an over tired imagination, fueled by the fact that I felt bad about hitting the lion.  I was convincing myself that I was on the right road, and just about out to the highway, when again I drove thru a gap in the brush, and slammed on the brakes! NO! This isn’t right! I was back at that same fork in the road!  It doesn’t make sense, I have been down the right side twice, and the left side once.  I was too tired to fight the rocks again down the left side, plus I knew I didn’t drive up the canyon on that road.  I must have missed another fork, somewhere down the right side.   I was in a little bit of a panic mode when that ghostly image again appeared off to the right, right at the edge of my lights.  It didn’t scare me this time, because I was expecting it. I think it would have bothered me more if It hadn't appeared.  I was worried, my gas gauge was getting low, and I now had spent over 2 hrs for a 30 min drive.  I knew I had to make the right choice or, I would be sleeping in the Jeep that night hoping that I could find some help tomorrow.  Again the apparition turned to walk away, looking back over its shoulder at me, seemingly asking me to follow it. This time I turned the Jeep so the headlights were centered on the ghost, and slowly started driving closer, when it disappeared only to reappear at the far edge of my headlights, I went a little closer, and suddenly saw a two track road, I couldn’t see it before.  I thought what the heck, and started driving down it, the ghostly lion appeared trotting down the road in front of me, and then disappeared again.  This road was not familiar, but the canyon I was in, wasn’t that big, the only way it could go was out, so I followed it.  I came to some stair steps in the rocks and sand, I was too tired for this, but the Jeep knew what to do, I put it in low, and let it crawl up the steps.  At the top of the steps was a level clearing with yet another fork in the road. Oh man, just what I need.  I stopped and was trying to figure out which way to go. When I saw the lion again, it was standing in the middle of the road on the right, the road was a faint two track, I thought is this really leading me out? Or just farther in to get me more lost? Maybe it was trying to take revenge on me for hitting it? Did I mention I was tired? My next thought was, oh well, I will follow it again, and when my gas runs out, I will try to sleep till tomorrow.  I wasn’t looking forward to hiking out, but I figured I would worry about that tomorrow.  So I followed, down the two track I went, once again, the ghost started trotting in front of me and disappeared as if he was assured I would follow.  I wasn’t so sure; the road was a rough one, with lots of rocks and sand.  Abruptly the road seemed to end; it was washed out, it ended at a 4 ft steep bank, with another only about 2 ft high a long 20 boulder strewn feet away.  Ya, great, earlier in the day I would have loved this challenge, but not at 2 am, and of course there was the ghost standing on the other side as if trying to say, come on, let's go.  I thought well this is it, now we get stuck but at least then I will convince myself to try and get some sleep, so with a very subdued yee ha, I again, put the Jeep in its lowest gear, and crawled, no, more like, dropped off the edge, as soon as I felt the front tires hit the bottom, I hit the gas, and dragged the back end down, scrapping all the way, the boulders proved to be no challenge as they just rocked me and the Jeep frantically from side to side, then I hit the far ledge, It was the only thing I could see clearly, it seemed to loom ominously as I got closer,  I thought no way to finesse this, so when I felt the Jeep hesistant as the front tires hit the ledge, I floored it, all four tires spun as the engine roared, the Jeep practically jumped up and over the ledge.  I had to slam on the brakes as soon as I was over and realized I was now on a well worn road.  I looked around and there was the ghost lion, just to my left, looking at me expectantly as it started to trot off down the road, looking back over its shoulder at me yet again.  I turned the Jeep and yup, again, it disappeared as soon as I was going the right direction.  Almost immediately I recognized this road, I must have missed it clear at the beginning of the drive out, and in about 10 minutes I was out of the canyon with the paved highway in front of me.  I stopped the Jeep , climbed out and turned around, and there it was, I was all goose bumps and tingly but right in front of me was the lion, so I thanked it, and thanked the spirits of the canyon, and thanked God, and every other thing I could think of.  I then wearily, but happily, knowing now I was heading home, climbed back in the Jeep.  I found myself thinking that was kinda freaky, did that really happen? Or was I just lucky and found my way out on my own?  Deciding that it all seemed very real, but who would believe me?  Did I believe me? By this time I was completely exhausted, and was unable to debate the questions, deciding to leave it for another day, and with headlights reflecting off the slow soft fall of snow.  I turned on the wipers opened a fresh Pepsi and drove off in the direction of the nearest town.