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.)