by Phil » Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:34 am
That's the loop, but taking out Merced Lake. I'm not sure what your permit limitations are, but some will force you to camp the first night at LYV, and others are pass-throughs, in which case you'll have to get at least to Sunrise above the Half Dome spur on the JMT or just past Moraine Dome. You'll need to clarify that with your reservation, or better yet, by phone. Tell the ranger what you want to do. If they can make it work, they will. If you can pass through LYV and hit Bunnell or Echo Valley, it's better for more private "wilderness" sites, plenty of water, and a shorter second day. The third day really won't be that hard if you're positioned near CR. You can then head down (it is steep and hard on the knees) and either camp along Sunrise Creek at the CRxJMT junction (or slightly down to the left in the rocks), or head on down to LYV for the night. In either case, your exit to Happy Isles on the final day should be no big deal.
If you are restricted to camping at LYV the first night, since crowds and permit demand are usually lower this time of year, you may be able to make that change in order to go further without too much problem. In this case, even if you hit the wall and absolutely have to stop at LYV, you can. However, if that is where you absolutely have to stop, but do want to continue, getting caught doing it is going to end your trip right then and there, and it'll get you cited to the tune of about $300. Options are good, so make that phone call.
Also, do keep your food storage tight throughout your entire route. The bears are a real issue and very good at obtaining the food of the even slightly careless.