There is significant elevation gain between LYV and the first legal camping for the pass through permit which is between the Half Dome and Clouds Rest junctions. The entry quotas for the trailheads control the number of hikers camping in various spots and aren¡¯t changing, from what I am reading. The change is that one can no longer attach a Donohue exit permit to the HI¡ª>LYV permit. This doesn¡¯t make much sense and definitely penalizes older hikers or just those who want to take it easy the first few days. I don¡¯t see how it results in any benefits.
ravi_jmt2013