Originally Posted by
schnikel
My wife and I hiked the JMT this past year starting out from Illilouette, so we hiked down what you would hike up. That section of trail is well switchbacked and wouldn't be any harder than other climbs you will face later on the JMT, IMHO.
If you want to make sure you hike every step of the JMT you could hike the 3 miles from HI to where the Panorama Trail hooks up with the JMT the day before you start the hike, then start your permit from mono meadow, staying in illilouette basin the first night. Day 2 you would hike down from Illilouette past Glacier Point on the Panorama Trail to the JMT and head north from where you hiked up to before from the valley. You would make past Little Yos Valley easily that day and into open (legal) camping spots.
Hope this helps,
Schnikel