Hi everyone,
I'll be visiting Yosemite and Inyo National Forest in late August for a 10-days backpacking trip. I'm planning to obtain a permit for Old Big Oak Flat Road trailhead, start my trip from there, reach Tuolumne Meadows in 4 days, leave Yosemite through Mono Pass and reach Red's Meadow in another 4 days, head to Duck Lake and finally exit the wilderness at Duck Pass trailhead in another 2 days.
While hiking from Old Big Oak Flat Road to Tuolumne Meadows, I would really love to reach Happy Isles and head toward TM following the JMT. However, Yosemite park site states: "Hikers may not pass through Yosemite Valley on a single wilderness permit" and "Any travel through Yosemite Valley invalidates the permit". My question is, what does the site mean when talking about "pass through Yosemite Valley"? If I manage to outskirt Yosemite Village, without crossing it (e.g, by following part of the Valley Loop Trail), should I still own an additional permit for Happy Isles to continue my trip? In other words, does outskirting Yosemite Village count as a continuos wilderness travel?
Thank you so much for every insight and advice you can give.
Bests,
Francesco