larry, I'm not in that great shape. I knew it would be hot (August), so left before sun up each time. Water was the main deal, so I took pint plastic bottles and left them along the trail for the trip out. Dropped lunch under a big tree northt of the Wave. Take a huge drink before you leave. Once over that first sandy hill, it wasn't too bad. I took about an hour and a half from parking lot to the last wash. Walked slowly and looked around alot. Saved the real looking around for the way out. Those are the advantages of an out and back trip.
I spent part of the next days looking around the non-permit area of Wire Pass. Interesting. Buckskin Gulch is a slot but not as spectacular as Antelope. There is a huge boulder dam (8' or so) part way down. Being alone, I decided not to go down out of fear I would have trouble getting back.
November/December shouldn't be as hot. My camera gear weighted about 25 pounds. Tripod essential. I took a wide and normal lenses. A zoom would be great. A polarizer is good too there. I have never seen pools of water there, but have seen some very nice photos.
In three trips there, I saw only two other people on one trip - a couple of high school boys from Salt Lake coming in as I was leaving. Great private place.
Since it was summer, I exited via the dirt road to the south. Right to Jacobs Lake for a milk shake. Best anywhere if you get the "thick." Then south to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (The Canyon will be closed now, and I'm not sure about the resturant at Jacobs Lake.) Turn left and you are headed toward Page, Vermillion Cliffs and Antelope.