Suggestions for 3-day backpacking trip in mid-May

[opirox]

We're planning a 4-day trip to Yosemite around May 17th and were looking for good locations to backpack that time of year.

I have been to Yosemite twice a couple of years ago, but my wife has not. Our plan was to stay the first day in the Valley, drive down to Wawona, and do general touristy stuff. Then the second day we'd like to start our 2-night/3-day trip. We backpack frequently and have good equipment that is good down to 30F (actually rated 20F, but we'd prefer to not go all the way ), but we don't want to have to hike through snow. I understand that the weather is not predictable and there is a chance that there might be (a lot of) snow. So our idea was to plan something not too high in altitude (let's say 7500ft or less) to maximize our chances of good hiking/sleeping conditions.

I have a couple of ideas and would like to get some feedback or other suggestions from more experienced Yosemite backpackers

1) Tunnel View - Glacier Point (or return to Tunnel View):
Stay overnight around Dewey Point for both nights and do a day trip with lighter backpacks the second day. The problem with this trip is that I haven't found a nice location for the second night and would generally prefer to not sleep at the same place two nights in a row...

2) Wawona to Tunnel View/Glacier Point
This seems like a long (but doable) 3-day trip with around 30 miles per day, but I'm not sure about the scenery. Overnight locations would be around Turner Meadows and past Bridalveil Creek. Has anyone here done something like this? Is it worth it?

3) Hetch Hetchy
I was thinking about a loop to Laurel Lake and possibly Lake Vernon. This is not the "classic first time Yosemite location", so I'm wondering if this is a good idea given that my wife hasn't been to Yosemite yet. (And I haven't been to Hetch Hetchy)


Any other ideas?

[balzaccom]

Plenty of snow yesterday and today...and who knows if we are going to get more before your trip.

Of those that you have outline, Lake Vernon will probably get you into snow on May 17. Hetch=hetchy will almost certainly be clear of snow...but somewhere between the Beehive and Vernon you'll hit snow.

Tunnel view to Glacier Point is more of a day-hike for me. I like to Hike to Dewey Point from SEntinal DOme...it's about 11 miles round trip, and Dewey Point has great views. But it's not a great backpacking trip for me---no lakes, few really good campsites.

And Wawona (Chilnualna Falls) to the Glacier point road may be tough becuase the creek is quite high this time of year. Not something joke about.

What about up Yosemnite falls trail, across the north Rim to North Dome, and then back to the valley? Tons of views, not much snow on the North Rim,,,

[opirox]

Thanks for your suggestions, this looks pretty interesting! Yosemite Falls was on my list but then I read about the brutal switchbacks from the valley floor to the rim. Is it really that strenuous?
Are there good camp locations along the route? Would you suggest to make a loop from Yosemite Falls to North Dome via Indian Ridge to the valley or take another route for a 3-day trip?

When I look at elevation, this seems to be higher than Vernon Lake or the other routes that I looked up, so I assumed that there is a higher chance of having to hike through snow... But I'm probably wrong

[balzaccom]

Lake Vernon is higher than the north rim of the valley, which also gets a lot of sun, so the snow tends to melt off there quickly.

Take your time up the Yosemite Falls trail, and you'll be fine.

[scottkidder]

Here's another option

Day 1: Start at Tunnel View and camp past Bridalveil Creek
Day 2: From camp head to Glacier point and then on to Little Yosemite Valley via the Panorama trail. Camp in Little Yosemite Valley
Day 3: take the Mist trail out to the valley.