I didn't realize that WhiteBlaze had so many knowledgeable posters regarding the JMT. I'll post our trip in this thread.
We have a trip planned for late July into early August. I think we have things pretty well thought out but I am posting the trip here to have folks that know the area to pick it apart or make additional suggestions about things we just "have to see" that are a short side trip. Almost any comments are welcome.
We are pretty seasoned backpackers. Fitness wise, we could handle 10-12 AT-miles comfortably and still have something left in the tank. I personally have ZERO experience above 8000'. Aside from a trip to Glacier and Alaska almost all my backpacking as been out east. I have only camped above 6000' a couple times. I do have some concerns about how altitude will affect me.
We are in NO HURRY. We want to soak it in. I like to take LOTS of pictures and figure I'll be stopping quite often. A certain places I may want to set up some attempts at time lapse photography. My good camera equip is fairly heavy but I'm willing to carry my good stuff for a trip like this.
Travel to: I'm driving instead of flying. I'll be leaving Illinois on a Thursday evening and will not be hiking until Wednesday morning. I plan to take 3 days to drive out stopping at interesting spots along the way. I'll drive out on I70 and back on I80. I'll have a couple days before the hike to be a tourist. I haven't explored touristy options much.
Day1: 6-mile hike to Gladys Lake (9700"). Devil's Postpile on this day.
Day2: 3.6-mile hike (1 mile off the JMT) to Ediza Lake (9400'). One of our members has been to this lake and views it as a must-stop. This short day could help with acclimation as well as being a beautiful spot. Day hike options would be nice for this short day should I be feeling up to it.
Day 3: 8-mile hike to the Rush Creek area (9700'). Hike by Ganet and Thousand Island Lakes. I understand that this area is breath taking.
Day 4: Hike 6.5-11 miles over Donahue Pass (11000'), this would be my highest point ever while hiking, to somewhere along Lyell Fork as early as Kuna Creek (9000'). Stopping at Kuna only if the day and altitude has sapped us dry. We would like to get closer to Tuolumne (I don't believe you can camp within 4 or 5 miles of Tuolumne).
Day5: Hike 10-13 miles stopping at Tuolumne to resupply, eat, hopefully charge some batteries, and move on (don't like crowds). Thinking of stopping near Cathedral Lakes (9300'). If this area is crowded we could hike over to Echo Lake.
Day6: Get off the JMT near Sunrise and take the side trail to Clouds Rest. Soak this beautiful place in. Hike on to the JMT. My understanding is that there is a camping area about a half mile before the Half Dome Trail turnoff along the creek.
Day7: Leave our tents up and dayhike the halfish mile to the Half Dome Trail. Take the HDT to Half Dome. We would get there while fresh and WAY before the dayhikers from the Valley. Take our time and then hike back to our tents (slight back track). Hike on down to Yosemite Valley.
I could extend my time in the field a day if the weather messed up my plans on Clouds Rest or Half Dome.
Day8: Be a tourist again and start the drive back.
Please critique the plan, comment, suggest options (especially campsites)(side trails). I'm pumped thinking about this trip.