Please suggest route from Glacier Point Illilouette trailhead

I just "won" a wilderness permit for the Glacier Point to Illilouette Creek trailhead. I've hiked many trails in the Park and been to glacier point many times but never took this trail. In this area of the park, I have only been to Ostrander lake (twice), so it is all new to me. I can pack five days of food and 10 miles is about as far as I like to hike in one day.

Where to go?

I figure I want to see Ottoway lakes and the nearby pass. I'd like to make a loop. I'm not a huge fan of a "base camp" style because it removes options, being forced to return to camp.

One idea is on the return to hike Panorama to JMT then down to the Valley, stay at backpacker's camp, ditch my gear in a bear box and hilke up Four Mile trail to my car. but getting to the trailhead without the shuttle could make that more of an all day thing

the only part that is "cast in stone" is the permit and that I'm bringing 5 days of food. and I'd like to explore as much new-to-me area as I can.

(BTW, I'm actually liking this new permit system, I seem to be getting my #1 picks on the first try. The key, it seems is not to try a party of 10 to LYV on a Saturday.)

Why not just hike over Red Peak Pass? So Illilouette Canyon up to Ottoway Lakes, then over Red Peak Pass and down the Merced Canyon ...and from Nevada Falls back up to Glacier Point? Day one to Ottoway Lakes. Day two over the Pass and into Triple Peak Fork of the Merced. Day three to Merced Lake. Day four to Little Yosemite Valley., and Day five to Glacier Point.

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

What Balzaccom said, although instead of going down into the valley, on your last day you could go from LYV back to GP along the panorama trail. That way you could also be a little more leisurely on the other days, or use the time to explore a bit.

I think Shaffer in his book suggests doing this loop in the opposite direction: from GP along panorama to LYV, then up the Merced River canyon, over Red Peak Pass, Ottoway lakes, and back to GP.

I think you misread my post, Geezer. I suggested exactly what you did.

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

So you did.