Tuolumne to Valley Floor via JMT - need some advice

[dmede]

Please DO pack out all your toilet paper. No matter how biodegradable it is, it doesn't decompose quickly in the high country, and little critters like to dig it up. Then it blows around and looks rather yucky.

My take on this is that in most cases people are not digging proper holes AND using too much papper. I don't hike in places like Yosemite regularly but I've been visiting the Sierras several times a year for over a decade now and pretty much all of the human waste & paper I have encountered in the back country came from shallow holes or people who didn't even bother to dig a hole at all. Sometimes all they did was place a large flat rock on it with the paper sticking out from the sides. BD paper will not be readily dug up if buried in a proper hole that is then covered and compressed. 6" is recomended, I don't think most people bother to dig more than 2 or 3 inches

Wetting the paper greatly speeds up decomposition. So dig in moist soil, pee on it, or splash some water on it as you wash your hands.

[DouglyStyles]

Here's how I did the trip:
1. First day started around noon (took the daily YARTs bus from Yosemite Valley to Mammoth in the morning). Hiked in from Tenaya Lake and camped below Clouds Rest (to the southeast) in forest. It's probably a full day if you start back at Tuolumne Meadows.

Trying to figure out which trail to reserve a wilderness pass for your trip description: http://www.yosemiteconservancystore.com ... dDates.htm

I was suggested to do yosemite valley to tuolomne meadows (or vice versa), but have not been able to find any available dates for the trail-heads that i THINK im supposed to take. Ive never been to Yosemite and am trying to plan a 4 day/3night trek (looking at about 7-10 miles/day). We are ideally looking for a loop, however, a one way journey with access to shuttles will work as well. It would be greatly appreciated if any suggestions also include the trail head so i can look up the availability.

Also, any suggestions on a good trail map and/or book?

Thanks so much!!!!