I just realized I never posted a followup for this trip last july.

I ended up Parking in the valley and catching the bus to tuolumne. I hung out there for a day and then did a through hike back to my car starting the next day.

I snagged an off trail permit for the budd creek trailhead (starts on the same trail as the cathedral lakes route but jogs off to follow the creek after a mile or so). Went up to budd lake and dropped down over the shoulder between cathedral peak and echo peak all off trail.

I Camped at echo lake my first night then continued down the creek the next day to catch the sunrise trail and then eventually made my way down to LYV and back to The Valley two days later.

It was an amazing trip, and definitely the best first solo I could've asked for. I'm hooked.

Here are some shots from the trek:

SHOTS FROM MY SOLO TREK IN YOSEMITE (AND ONE FROM MY STOP IN SEQUOIA)

Thanks for all the advice everyone gave.
It's much appreciated.

-C