Help! Which loop is the better one?

[TiMa]

Hey everyone,

our backpacking trip is coming closer and I am still not sure which loop would be the better choice. I hope you guys can help me with making the decision!

Option 1:

1.night: Little Yosemite Valley
2.night: Somewhere close to the Clouds Rest summit (max.1mile radius). I would like to take pictures at night from the top. If I see we are running out of water before reaching the top, I would continue to another spot closer to a water source.
3.night: Washburn lake (Is the hike from clouds rest too much for a day?)
4.night: Vogelsang lake
5.night: Merced lake area
6.night: Little Yosemite Valley

Option 2:

1.night: Little Yosemite Valley
2.night: Somewhere close to the Clouds Rest summit (max.1mile radius). I would like to take pictures at night from the top. If I see we are running out of water before reaching the top, I would continue to another spot closer to a water source.
3.night: Cathedral Lake
4.night: Vogelsang lake
5.night: Merced lake area
6.night: Little Yosemite Valley


Is one of the two options way harder than the other one?

[Dave_Ayers]

I prefer option 2. The Merced Lake/Washburn Lake area is mostly forest and not all that scenic except for the lakes themselves, so I don't recommend going back-and-forth in that area. The views are better at Cathedral/Vogelsang if you can handle the extra distance and climbing.

If you don't have enough water to stay at Cloud's Rest, the next source is ~2.5 mi northward. So take plenty or be prepared to hoof it a while to get to water.

Be aware you'll be traveling a bit through the burn area from last year's Meadow Fire, see https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2fotO ... view?pli=1 .