by Phil » Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:06 pm
Irrespective of daily mileage...
First night- Upper Cathedral Lake. The alpinglow is amazing, and if it's a full moon, that's even more amazing.
Second night- Either Upper or Middle Sunrise Lakes, or, if you're headed over Cloud's Rest, off to the right on the flats below the north ascent of CR itself (bring water from the creek you pass about a mile before that). Incredible rim views of Tenaya Canyon.
Third night- Sunrise Creek in the rocks to the left of the trail, just past the CRxJMT junction. Great view down the valley and of the backside of Half Dome.
Skip both the backpacker's area of Sunrise HSC and LYV. And even if Cloud's Rest isn't on your route and you're planning to just continue past Sunrise HSC on the JMT, take the time to walk over the hill and then back the next morning in order to camp at Sunrise Lakes.