counsel for hiking plan

[Randy]

I'm planning a 6 day back country trip with 4 young adults and myself (fit 50 year old) that will take us from Yosemite Valley - Little Yosemite Valley - Sunrise - Tuolumne Meadows - Donohue Pass - then Pacific Crest Trail to Mammoth. Is it reasonable to plan to summit Half Dome on the second day and then continue on to Sunrise (about 14 km)? Is it also reasonable to plan to camp at Donahue Pass on the fourth day, and then camp just past Thousand Island Lake on the fifth day before exiting at Mammoth by Devils Post Pile the sixth day? Thanks for any counsel on pacing and elevation related to this plan.

[AlmostThere]

You don't say when, or give any indication of how experienced any of you are. It may be reasonable, it may be too hard, or it may not be possible depending on the weather at the time.

I suspect that you will end up camping before or after Donahue Pass, since actually camping on the pass would leave you high on an exposed ridge in the wind all night.

[balzaccom]

I agree with AT...and this is a long hike the way you have it designed. Why not go up Lewis or Fletcher Creek to Vogelsang (instead of Sunrise) and that will drop you right into Lyell Canyon below Donahue Pass?

[Randy]

Thanks for the counsel. A couple of additional details, our party of 5 are planning this 6 day hike for late July, early Aug. We had planned to stop at Tuolumne after 3 days for a food re supply to keep our packs lighter (thus the route through Sunrise). However, should we instead try a shorter 3 day loop north of Tuolumne - rather than the length of the Lylle canyon, Donavan pass and Thousand Lakes route to Mammath?

[AlmostThere]

If none of you is experienced in backpacking, a shorter trip is probably a good idea.