I haven't been up there for years, so I don't know what the brush is like at this time. But I am absolutely certain that it will be a lot easier going downhill. My preferred route would be to get a ride to McGurk Meadow and go in that way. Otherwise, I would go up the climbers trail in the Spires Gully, or go up Tree Chute, then come down Phantom Valley...
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,29318,29318#msg-29318