Touring - first 'tour' coming around the corner

I have a 'family' reunion upcoming in May in nearby Yosemite National Park. After lots and lots of dreaming, this seems like the perfect opportunity to go on my first bike tour.
Depending on what part of the park we meet, it will be a 2-3 day ride, averaging approx 60 miles a day. I average over 100 miles a week commuting to and from work/school, and feel that i'm a pretty strong rider. I'd have to hit some passes, none higher than 6000 ft, most of the grades at a reasonable 4-5%.

I'd be doing it on my Surly Cross-Check, which isn't a 'touring' bike but i think it'll suffice. I dont have a whole lot of money to make the neccesary modifications, but here's what i'm thinking:
- a nashbar front rack (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_167593_-1___). looks janky, but i'd only be strapping a tent and sleeping bag to it, probably less than 10lbs.
- I run an 8 speed rear, because I have bad luck with 9s. This leaves me with limited options on changing the cassette. I currently have a 12-25 or something like that, so obviously i need to get bigger. All 8spd cassettes that have a 34 tooth don't have very good gear spacing, and i'm not sure i'd like that. a 11-32 seems reasonable. should that be sufficient with a 24 tooth granny ring in front??
- also related to the rear end, besides the tiagra der that's on there now, I have a old 80's 'deerhead' Deore XT sitting around. It appears to be in fine working order, and I run friction shifting anyways, so that should be OK right? will a 32 tooth cog fit under it?

I'd be doing this fairly light. I dont need to carry loads of food or water as there will be services all along the way. I only have a single commuting pannier, but it should work. I figure as a worst case scenario, I call a friend back home to pick me up if it turns out i forgot some super neccesary item (not likely)

let me know what you all think!

Sounds I've got a great opportunity. I've got a Nashbar front rack I got used for a few bucks from the co-op on my bike now. I haven't toured with it yet, but I've loaded it pretty good several times in commuting duty and it's done well. I plan to use it, at least initially on my new LHT build, which will finally be happening next week (knock on wood). I realize now you probably mean the little platform that connects to brake bosses. I have Nashbar's Blackburn

knock-off, which is different, so scratch all of that.

I have 7 spd cassette and find the spacing adequate w/ a 32 tooth low gear. Personally I'd be fine with a 34 on an 8 spd cassette, but preferences are what they are. Given it sounds like you ride a lot already, I think that a 32 w/ a 24 up front would be fine for the climbing you're talking about. Worst case scenario you can get off and walk.

Can't speak to your RD "?"

Pannier question depends on how much you plan on carrying. I'd probably want at least two panniers, but I assume it could work with one with so many services available.

Good luck!

Sounds good to me. A seat post rack for a trunk bag maybe if no rear rack. Handle bar bag?? The gearing idea oughta work. You're right about the spacing with an 8 sp 34. I found it very irritating, but love the 9 speed cassette that replaced the 8 speed.

What will your route be? I'm interested because someday I'd like to take a tour starting from my house (by Morro Bay) and heading up into the Sierras, then up to Mount Lassen, over to the coast and back home - a completely fossil-fuel-free tour. So far all of my tours have involved long drives or train rides to get to and from - hardly green.

If it's only a 3-day ride I'd say gut it out with what you have before spending more money than you need to. It sounds like you'll be covering plenty of miles over varied terrain which will give you a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't.

If you were headed out for 2-3 weeks you'd be right in making all those changes but if you're fit from commuting you'll have no problem cranking over a few passes for a couple days. Just set your expectations with that in mind and go have a blast!

Save your extra money for a cold beverage and hot meal--or two--at the end of the day!

For 2 overnights and a ride home at the end I would blow off the camping, put a pair of shorts and a t-shirt in your one pannier and stay in a hotel.

Blow off the camping? Lame.

Might want to think about getting something on the other side of your rear rack to balance your load some - though you can get your front rack and go for a test run before you do that. Just seems to me that adding a high front load on a Crosscheck + somewhat loaded on one side in the back might be annoying for handling, especially at the end of 60+ miles with some climbing. I could be very, very wrong, or just like to have excuses to buy more gear. If you do want something cheap on the other side you can get something at the Army surplus, make a kitty litter bucket pannier, Wald folding basket, something else that costs somewhere between $1 and $20.

Tent + sleeping bag seems like it would be tough to fit on one of those little Nashbar racks, though again, I could be wrong. Strapping one of them to your rear rack or your seat rails may be easier - or you could get a Pletscher or Blackburn front for $20-30 that gives you a little more platform area. Or any cheap front rack, just installed up front instead. You have a lot of options, and that ride sounds great.

I did the changes to the drivetrain, so now i've got a wide front double with a 40x24 and a 11-32 rear 8 spd with the XT 'deerhead' derailleur. I'm sure I would have been fine with a smaller rearend, but i really wanted an excuse to put on the XT, it looks so rad compared to any modern derailleur that looks like it belongs on a spaceship!
thanks for all the advice, my trip is still about 7 weeks away, but i can't wait!