I guess I have some time to think about it. I fly in on Saturday so Saturday is not an option

I might not get into the lottery for Mt Whitney which would give me more options. On Sunday though if I do go to the springs I would have no issue packing up at 2pm and hiking out at that time to get where I am going. The thing about Blacks Beach is I get the feeling if I go there on my own I probably will not have much interaction with others. People might be a little creeped out by a stranger approaching them there. I would want to go with someone which is going to be difficult to arrange.

From reading it seems like the hot springs has a culture where there are quite a few who go on there own so are probably looking to interact. It seems like you can't help to make friends in such tight quarters unless of course I'm the one lone nude dude in the pool. But maybe that's just my imagination.