Hi there,
I'm looking for advice/feedback on this itinerary.
We are a group of 3-4 "intermediate" backpackers. We're looking to do a 4-5 day hike around the weekend of July 25-26. Probably arriving ~July 23rd. Since many of the more popular wilderness permits are already booked, we are thinking of starting from one of these 3 trailheads: Happy Isles->Illilouette or Glacier Point->Illilouette or Mono Meadow. We'd like to end up at Tuolumne meadows. The itinerary might be something like:
* Day1: Start at Happy Isles (or Bus to Glacier Pt). Camp near Illilouette creek
* Day2: Camp near Sunrise Creek (Past Junction w/Half Dome)
* Day3: Camp at Campgroud Sunrise
* Day4: Camp at Cathedral Lake
* Day5: Hike out to Toulumne Meadows, bus back to Valley
Here are my questions:
1) How does this *rough* itinerary sound?
2) What are some good camping possibilities for the first night (near Illilouette creek)? What restrictions, if any, are there for where we camp the first night (Given the 3 trailheads I mentioned)?
3) What are some good camping possibilities for the second night (starting beyond LYV)?
4) When looking at trailhead availability page, do we only need to see availability for the 1st day of our trip? Or can we have to see availability for each day we are out?
5) As we head NE from beyond the turnoff for half-dome, looks like we have at least two possible routes. Which one is better? By way of 'Clouds Rest', or 'Sunrise Creek'?
6) Merced lake is a little bit out of the way, but is it worth a side-trip? Any other possible side-trips that are worthy of mention?
7) What are some good places to camp in the area of Cathedral Lake? Any nice places that aren't swamped with other hikers?
Thanks!
Dan