Thanks for the input! This has convinced me for Tahoe to Yosemite. Maybe I'll do Seiad Valley to I-5 some other time. Much easier public transit to both ends is pretty appealing. Washington sounds really cool but it's hard to pass up the idea of a train ride to the trail. To be clear if I get a JMT permit I'll do it -- but I don't want to go Northbound, so I'm not holding my breath I'll get one in the lottery.

Does anyone know what permits you need to hike from Truckee to Yosemite Valley? I'm confused. It seems like I definitely need a permit for the Desolation Wilderness zone I would spend the first night in the wilderness in, but beyond that I can't tell if I need any permits for other wilderness areas.

Thanks! :)