by AlmostThere » Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:24 pm
You're going to have to clarify - do you mean sub alpine, aka 7,000 - 9,500 feet elevation below treeline, or alpine, 10,000 feet + and sparse, short, springy, windblown pines and grassy meadows interspersed with granite and more granite? Yosemite is not really a park for tons of alpine travel.
A route where permits are still available will probably land you in Hetch Hetchy or southwestern Yosemite crossing into Ansel Adams. You could try a permit for Chain Lakes out of the Quartz Mountain trailhead - permit would be from Sierra National Forest Bass Lake Ranger District instead of the park. Still need the canister. Could also do a trip starting in Ansel Adams from Beasore Rd and get up to Lady Lake, Vandeberg Lake, Cora Lakes - beautiful area.
Then there are the rim trips - a leisurely tour of the high points looking down in the valley.
For real alpine backpacking there is always Saddlebag Lake loop - permit is from Inyo NF for that and easy to get.