The tough part of those big passes is carrying 1/3 to 1/2 of that 65 pound pack all day long climbing for so long. Climbing at altitude with that weight really slows you down.
If you want to do a classic hike, do the High Sierra Trail out of Crescent Meadow in Sequoia N.P., then maybe resupply at Whitney Portal, and return via the JMT and Bubbs Cr. to Roads End. I think you would need to hitch hike part way back to your car, but Roads End is a heavily used area, so hitching should be easy.
If you want to road-trip all over Calif, we can give you favorite places to see.
