I just want to reiterate that I'd be very leary of taking a newbie.
If so I'd just be prepared to turn back around and head back to Nelson.
(heck, you might just want to do it as a dayhike and really do some exploring)
(actually... that would be my recommendation from the "mixed" level comment)
Anyway... the hike down Echo Creek is gorgeous. If you remove the
number from the link above... the first picture is the meadow and
Echo Creek.
As far as going further down Echo Creek. Well... I did look at that
when I came up with this idea last year... and it's really hard to
tell... there is mostly a tree line down to the confluence... but
you could get hung up right near the merging of the creek and
intermittent stream. And by then you have dropped down 400ft.
in 1/2 mile... at which point you will probably want to come
back up the way we went (i.e. follow the intermittent stream up)
(actually a little east of the stream)
Then again... you may want to just head SE from the confluence...
I put a picture here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/BerniceWe did from Eliz TH to Emerick on the first day.... so I would think
you'll have plenty of time... give the dayhike idea some thought...
takes the stress off of you and makes the trip easier...
(you could dayhike down the creek and also dayhike to Reymann)
Regardless... please let us know your experience.