Thanks Steve. The Sierra Point Trail is one I was looking for. Also one called "The Ledges": an alternate route up Four Mile. I'm not sure if my group will attempt either of these. In general we aren't comfortable with too much exposure. But we did hike Half Dome, Whitney, and Angels Landing. And I like your shortcut to Cathedral Lakes but that will have to wait till another Yosemite trip when we are in that part of the park.
I wouldn't recommend heading up this route unless you go with someone who knows the route intimately. Very easy to get cliffed out up there, and if you're not comfy with exposure, a trail would probably be preferable.
And as for signs saying "no hikers", I see signs all over the place that say "no dogs" and yet all sorts of mutts are walking up to Vernal and other areas.
