Hello,
First time posting here and would appreciate the help! Here is our current plan for a trip in late may. We have wilderness permits for Cathedral Lakes trailhead & Half Dome.
Day 1:
-Drive car to Tuolumne Meadows (≈1.5 hrs) and leave car at Cathedral Lake trailhead
-Hike to Cathedral Lakes (≈4 miles)
-Hike from Cathedral Lakes to Upper Sunrise Lake (≈5 miles)
-Camp at Upper Sunrise Lake, Get a spot on slab facing west. Sunset and views of valley.
-Total distance: 9 mi
Day 2:
-Hike from Upper Sunrise Lake to Clouds Rest (4.7 miles)
-Have lunch and hang out at the top of Clouds Rest
-Hike down from Clouds Rest to the base of Half Dome (Sunrise Creek area) (4 miles)
-Camp at the base of Half Dome (Sunrise Creek area)
Total distance: 8.7 miles
Day 3:
-Leave main bags behind and hike Half Dome
-After hiking Half Dome grab main bags and head down to valley (4 miles), Vernal and Nevada Falls on the way down
-Camp in Yosemite Valley – Backpackers campground
Day 4:
-Hitchhike back to Tuolumne Meadows to get car
** Questions I have and your feedback or criticism would be appreciated**
1) Any tips on getting rides to or from Tuolumne Meadows since the buses will not be running in late May?
2) A majority of the group are beginners but are in good shape. Thoughts on pace of the trip? Worth spending an extra night in the wilderness to decrease miles?
3) Are we rushing Day 3 with Half Dome, Vernal, Nevada Falls, and returning to the valley?
4) Thoughts on difficulty of summiting Clouds Rest and descending into sunrise creek (Half Dome base) with full packs?
5) Any tips on camping spots near sunrise lakes or other areas for the trip I described above?
6) Thoughts on snowpack/weather for late May? I'm under the assumption that snow shouldn't be an issue at this point with the current snowpack (pending upcoming storms).
Thank you!