Permit ?'s Devils Postpile, Minaret L , Thousand Island Lake loop or into YNP

We were awarded an “overnight permit” for entering Rush Creek (Inyo N.F.) and exiting an another trailhead further south in Inyo, even though we plan some amount of off-trail travel. Here’s a link to the Inyo permit page (Inyo has some good trailheads entering your area). Other trailheads you are interested my be outside of Inyo coverned by other agencies:
http://www.recreation.gov/marketing.do?goto=/permitgeneralrules_72203.html&backLink

And here’s a page showing entry trailheads for Inyo and quotas:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5143453.pdf

Last I heard, you can enter Yosemite over Donahue without quota restrictions if you have a valid overnight permit from another agency. Because the rules have changed a lot in 2015, you will want to confirm this with Yosemite N.P. to be sure.

For the backpackers campgrounds in Yosemite, the following page will answer your questions:
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bpcamp.htm

Responses to questions:
1.  You’ll need a wilderness permit.  Obtain one at the Inyo Ranger Station in Mammoth Lakes.  Call ahead to go over the process and your trip to confirm what’s required and the waiting period.

2.  Have the ranger define the trip on the permit.  The quota’s aren’t in effect if you’re entering YNP from the east or if you’re entering from outside the park and heading south bound.  But ensure the permit says “crossing over Donahue Pass northbound” so there’s no questions asked later on.

3.  You’ll have no problem staying at the campsite.

For asking questions regarding rules in Yosemite National Park, well, all I can say is good luck.  I was there in March in the valley at the permit station asking questions regarding exit quotas over Donahue Pass.  The person behind the desk didn’t know where Donahue Pass was nor did he know anything about the exit quotas.  Neither did the other ranger working alongside him.  They both grab their iPads and said they thought the information was on the internet but weren’t quite sure where.  My recommendation would be to email them, I think it’ll give them more time to research or forward the email to someone who can provide the correct answer.