I have a permit to go to the Clark Range in the second half of August. We'll enter at Glacier Point, ascend Illilouette Creek and cross Red Peak Pass, and descend the Merced River to return to the trailhead. This will be my first visit to most of these trails (except the short stretch that overlaps "ye olde" Happy Isles to Half Dome route). I have a couple of concerns:
a) Snow on Red Peak Pass. I know it's still early in the summer, and a long time since we had nearly this much snow, but I would appreciate any tips concerning snow conditions descending the north side of the pass. I don't have microspikes, and really don't feel like buying them and carrying them 50 miles for the sake of one pass.
b) Siting the last campsite. My trusty Nat'l Geographic map shows two campgrounds in Little Yosemite Valley, but otherwise no camping between Lost Valley and Glacier Point. I stayed at Glen Aulin backpackers' camp last summer and found it a rather poor facsimile of a wilderness experience. Considering this, I'd gladly add a couple of miles to the last day's hike if I can gain some solitude. Are there good, secluded campsites in Lost Valley? I would consider camping even as high as the area around the bridge and stream crossing above Bunnell Cascade