Valley to Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle Question - Shoulder Seaso

[boofnrally]

I am planning a trip to Yosemite, my first, for September 15, 2014 (Monday). My plan was to park in Yosemite Valley and take a shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows on the afternoon of the 15th. I would then hike three days back down to the Valley and my car. However, since it is on the edge of the season and a weekday the shuttle situation is questionable. The YARTS schedule looks ideal (leaving at 5pm from the Valley) but it only runs on weekends in September. The hiker's bus departs daily from the Valley at 8am but that would mean a shortened day at TM and I would like to see more of it, plus that first day is about 10 miles of hiking so having an early start is ideal. Should I be concerned about being able to get to TM in mid-September? Everything I read said TM is typically open until mid-October.
Are there any other options for getting me and my girlfriend from the Valley to TM on a Monday afternoon? Is hitchhiking advisable? What about a local driver?
I have to be at a wedding in San Fran on the 14th so leaving earlier is not an option.
Any advice is much appreciated.

[balzaccom]

You don't say which route you are taking from TM to the Valley. If through Cathedral lakes, it would be pretty easy to do that in two and half days. Take the hikers bus first thing in the morning, and camp that night at Cathedral lakes. Second night to LYV, third night you are back in the Valley.

If you want to go via Lewis or Fletcher canyons, it's a longer hike. But you could still get it done---remember that after the first climb out of TM, the rest of this hike is definitely downhill!

[boofnrally]

I want to hike via Clouds Rest and hike up Half Dome. I have it mapped at about 31 miles. Plan is to camp at Sunrise Lakes the first night, start of Half Dome Trail on the 2nd night. Back in the Valley on the 3rd night.

[balzaccom]

Sounds like a good plan, and three days is still plenty to do that.

I'd take the early morning shuttle---you can still poke around TM for an hour or two, then head over the hill to Cathedral and Sunrise...

[boofnrally]

Awesome, glad to hear that's still feasible! Thanks for the help.