Ok, so I know that this is just a pipe dream until I get realistic weather, snowpack, etc… closer to June 16th. However with that said I’m super excited because this will be my 3rd attempt at backpacking in Yosemite and the third time is the charm, right? My son broke his ankle a week before our trip last year and my previous attempt in 2003 was interrupted by an unscheduled trip to the Middle East so I’m hopeful this will be the one that works. I know there is a lot of knowledge on this forum so I wanted to see what everyone thinks and make sure I'm not missing anything.
So here is the plan:
June 15th: Arrive early, pick up permit, check out the valley, and catch afternoon YART to Tuolumne Meadow. If the YART isn’t available then we will catch morning concessionaire shuttle and spend the day at Tuolumne Meadow.
June 16th: Rafferty Creek Trail to Booth Lake, short first couple days for altitude.
June 17th: Continue along Fletcher Creek and camp east of Merced near Fletcher Creek and Lewis Creek intersection. (Hence my earlier post about the picture location)
June 18th: Hike to Echo Valley then stash packs and hike Lost Valley/Merced River. Return to packs and continue north in Echo Valley and follow Pack?? Trail west that runs above Lost Valley/Merced River and ties into John Muir Trail. We plan on camping prior to the John Muir intersection somewhere along this trail above Lost Valley.
June 19th: Continue via John Muir and Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest. Camp near Clouds Rest.
June 20th: Clouds Rest to Little Yosemite Valley. Not Crazy about camping in Little Yosemite Valley but right now that’s the plan.
June 21st: Little Yosemite to Panorama Trail to Illilouette Creek. South along Illilouette to designated camping area.
June 22nd: Backtrack back up Illilouette then head to Glacier Point and Pohono Trail. Camp west of Bridalveil Creek (designated area).
June 23rd: Finish Pohono Trail to Tunnelview.
If for some crazy reason the trail is available and the snowpack is acceptable we may try and change the first couple days and go down Lyell Canyon, past Vogelsang HSC, then continue with original plan. This may also increase the trip by one day.