Advice: Glacier Point to Red's Meadow (JMT Section Hike)

[jsherman]

Hello,

My name is Jacob and I'm from Portland, OR and new to this forum. I am hoping to get any last minute advice from seasoned Yosemite hikers. My family and I (including my 10 y.o. son) are planning to do an approximately 10 day backpacking trip on a section of the John Muir Trail. We couldn't get Happy Isle's permits, so we will start at Glacier Point and end at Red's Meadow. While we all (my son included) have hiking/backpacking/mountain climbing experience, this is certainly the biggest trip we've set off on, and none of us have been to Yosemite or the Yosemite high country before (although I was in the southern Sierras last fall for a Whitney summit). Being personally unfamiliar with the area, but having read the Wenk and Cicerone guides, having talked with some friends who have been there before, and read some online articles here and there, I am just hoping to get general advice outside of the usual (we already have backcountry permits, I know we need bear cans, I know there are normal campfire prohibitions this season, etc), as well as hopefully get answers to a couple of specific questions.

First, here is our itinerary. Any feedback on it would be appreciated...

Day 0: Arrive in valley, get bear cans, stay in backpacker's camp in Yosemite Valley.
Day 1: Pick up permits. Take bus to Glacier Point. Glacier Point to Illilouette Basin.
Day 2: Illilouette to Little Yosemite Valley.
Day 3: LYV to Sunrise High Sierra Camp. (While I would have loved to do Half Dome, it'd be too much for this trip.)
Day 4: Sunrise to Tuolumne Meadows.
Day 5: REST DAY. Pick up food cache. Stay in backpackers camp. Maybe explore a little.
Day 6: Tuolumne to Upper Lyle Canyon. (I hear the bears here are fun.)
Day 7: Upper Lyle via Donohue and Island Pass to Thousand Island Lake.
Day 8: Thousand Island to Rosalie Lake.
Day 9: Rosalie via Devil's Postpile to Red's Meadow.
Day 10: Extra Day (should we need an extra day, or want another rest day somewhere)
Day 11: Exit Red's Meadow to Mammoth and YART back into the valley to get car and start to head back toward Portland.

Thoughts? First impressions? Anything to be concerned about? Important things to consider? Side trips worth taking? One thing about this plan is that, should need be, we can call it a trip and end at Tuolumne if we want... and I'm all about having a fun and memorable trip, rather than having memories of a grueling, "dad-is-so-mean" sort of trip.

One specific question, is where do we park our car? I thought I read something about a long-term parking lot in the valley (near Camp 4)? Also, I recall hearing that they are limiting the number of cars into the valley, so will we even be able to drive in? Also, in terms of our permits, do we pick that up at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center? Do we catch the bus up to GP from there as well?

Another specific question, I was thinking of bringing bear cans with me (I'd rent one here, I don't own one), but also hear they are easily rentible in the valley. Should I be concerned about renting one in Yosemite? If I rented one here, I was thinking of getting a Bearicade, just because they are lighter than what the NPS rents out, any thoughts on that?

Also, it sounds like (no surprise here), it is a dryer year than average... how are stream crossings in early-mid August? We'll be on the trail starting Aug. 1, and while my wife and I have negotiated stream crossings in the past, this will be a new experience for my son. Anything to be concerned about?

I think that's it for now. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and will try and check back in the next couple of days. We depart PDX to start heading south, stopping at Crater Lake along the way, come July 26.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Best,
Jacob

[AlmostThere]

One specific question, is where do we park our car? I thought I read something about a long-term parking lot in the valley (near Camp 4)? Also, I recall hearing that they are limiting the number of cars into the valley, so will we even be able to drive in? Also, in terms of our permits, do we pick that up at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center? Do we catch the bus up to GP from there as well?

Another specific question, I was thinking of bringing bear cans with me (I'd rent one here, I don't own one), but also hear they are easily rentible in the valley. Should I be concerned about renting one in Yosemite? If I rented one here, I was thinking of getting a Bearicade, just because they are lighter than what the NPS rents out, any thoughts on that?

Also, it sounds like (no surprise here), it is a dryer year than average... how are stream crossings in early-mid August? We'll be on the trail starting Aug. 1, and while my wife and I have negotiated stream crossings in the past, this will be a new experience for my son. Anything to be concerned about?

You park your car in trailhead parking - those are pretty well marked. Or at Curry Village in the dirt lot. Not sure where you heard they are limiting the number of cars, I know they talk about that but it's certainly not being done. You'll look for the wilderness office next door to the visitor center.

I would get the bearikade, if I didn't own one. I rented them for a few years by mail because that let me pack 'em in advance, which is a neat trick - you have to minimize packaging and choose items that withstand smashing and crushing. Free flowing small particulate type food does best - nuts, couscous, m & ms, rice meals, pasta meals, and the like. Mountain HOuse should be repackaged as well - those foil bags are bigger than necessary.

I suspect the tour bus leaves from the lodge, which is where you'd get the tickets.

What stream crossings? We'll be lucky if the lakes aren't all puddles.... Most stream crossings I've had so far this year have been rock hops or step across, or sadly, walking through a dry stream bed where in a normal year there would be water.

Take care.

[centurycyclist]

Do CLOUD'S REST between LYV and Sunrise. Higher than Half Dome, less intimidating, and impressive. You're going to love being at Sunrise. one of my favorite spots in the high country.