So I'm all set for the trip (logistics, gear, wilderness permit, ect) but have a few tactical questions:
1) How bad are the bugs going to be? Should I bring a tennis racket to beat back the mosquitoes, or just some deet?
2) Trail conditions: Are any parts of the trail still under snow? If so, is navigation difficult? Is it going to be muddy? How cold at night should I expect it to be? I'm preparring for about 20 degrees.
3) The day before my permit is good for, I've arranged a ride to Toulmne, then taking the NP bus to Yosemite Valley. Its scheduled to arrive at 4:05. It appears that I have then 25 min to find the wilderness center to pick up permit and bear canister. Is this possible? Any suggestions? Is the bus time reliable? I don't want to wait till the center to open the next morning so I can start hiking early.
4) Planning on half dome on day one. When I drop pack near trail head from JMT, do I need to remove bear cannister? Do I have to worry about issues from 2 legged animals?
Any insight to these questions would be greatly appreciated.