If the winter is anything like the last one the roads in the eastern Sierra will not be open in May.
The acclimation to altitude is an individual thing. Some people are more bothered by it than others. If you're going up to 9 or 10K (Horseshoe Meadows) the sheer amount of climbing is more problematic than the altitude, at least for me and my friends. Can't speak to 14K.
Never had an issue with goat heads in the Sierra.
Last edited by big john; 10-13-23 at 07:50 AM.