by Phil » Fri Aug 19, 2016 4:57 am
Okay, I think I followed that. If I miss anything, speak up.
You can add a day(s) without a problem. It's the entry date only that's absolute. Make the changes to your trip dates at the time you pick up your permit. Changing exit trailheads isn't generally a problem either, but they've made a few changes to that policy this year with regards to Happy Isles and I believe a couple others in that core area of the JMT, so also ask about that when you pick up the permit. Just be sure that the logistics of getting back to your car at Glacier Point are going to work out.
What are the dates on your GP entry permit and on your HD permit? That's kind of a big deal logistically. but, if possible, it's going to be better to tackle HD the second morning out of LYV when you're fresh. Hauling your gear with you or backtracking to LYV is a tough call, but if you guys want CR to Sunrise Lakes hauling it's the way to go. From up on the HD trail, you can head off cross country and pick up the the trail up to CR, summit, continue on to Sunrise Lakes. You'll save a lot of re-climbing, but be sure you have plenty of water. Have a look at your map, and we can discuss mileages and strategies.
If you do end up going back to LYV after Half Dome, stay another night and make your way over to Sunrise Lakes the next day. The summit of CR is a long, hot slog up from LYV of about 5 miles. No water except for Sunrise Creek at the junction of the JMT, maybe a spring along the trail. Sunrise Lakes is about another 4.5 miles past the summit. Your alternates, I guess easier routes are: 1) The JMT up to Sunrise HSC, then over to the lakes, or 2) the JMT up to the Forsyth Trail, then across to the lakes. From there, you can get back to GP in a long day, but it's going to hurt a bit.
We can parse this itinerary all kinds of ways, but if I were you, I would try my best to scrap the Glacier Point permit and try to get in on a walk-up from Cathedral Lakes, take in both Sunrise Lakes and CR, do HD, then exit Happy Isles and take the shuttle back to the car. If you're going to be in the Valley, at the backpacker's camp, you can try to make that change anytime after 11am the day before your planned departure. This way, all the prizes line up without you having to do much more than start walking from Point A to Point B, with a night of camping at Upper Cathedral Lake thrown in.