by Phil » Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:59 am
The only thing I would add in the way of thoughts on your itinerary is that it sounds like you're focusing too much on doing the basic HSC route, ie: Vogelsang>Merced Lake. As camping destinations, you'll find both to be maybe a bit too structured and likely crowded. Since you're wanting to explore some of the lakes as side trips, why not try to build them into your camping plans and get a more private and quality "wilderness experience" ?
If you get up to Tuolumne Pass and find yourselves fried, by all means, do what you have to do and go up to the backpackers' area at Vogelsang, but know that it's not necessarily the nicest option. I would totally agree with Balzaccom that Bernice is well worth the extra miles and time if the higher Lewis Creek Trail is first on the agenda as your route down the hill. If you want to shorten the miles on that first day, consider rerouting along the Fletcher Creek Trail and camping at the tarns along the trail. Remember, camping is prohibited at Boothe Lake. If you have it in you to keep going, instead of Emeric Lake, head on to Babcock Lake. And instead of Merced Lake, again, I agree with Balzaccom, camp at Washburn.
Either way you come or go, upper trail along Lewis Creek, or lower trail along Fletcher Creek, for great camping options, Bernice, Babcock, Washburn, or even in the area where Florence and Lewis Creeks converge are the names to keep in mind as some of the best places you'll find.
And if there's any way at all that you can add an extra night or find yourselves needing/wanting to stop on the way down to Lyell Canyon on the way out, consider checking out Ireland Lake or Ireland Creek where it meets the Tuolumne River/JMT for that final night.