Pretty freakin' cool stuff.
If one wished to avoid the JMT a bit more, there is
a route that passes to the west of Mather Pass and goes over what my dad and I called "Amphitheater" Pass when we went over it some years ago. This route has a big negative if one is doing the SoSHR in that it drops below 9000' as it crosses Palisade Creek, but it's an interesting variant if a) one wants to stay off trail more or b) one is doing the JMT proper and just wants a shorter XC jaunt.
The west side of Amphitheater Pass is class 3 but doable. There are a couple of cliff like bands, but you can thread your way through them.
Just something to file away in your memory banks for the future if it ever appears useful.
HJ
