Oh, yeah: hooking up w/bretts g/f may be a better thing.
& if that furry-faced bird (sorry, can't bring myself to hugging him just yet) knows the trails, then this may be irrelevant; he's well qualified to do the leading. We wouldn't mind doing some of the tougher sections w/him, tho.
Either way, there's plenty of options 4 U (hugs aside, lol).
Here’s what I’d recommend if you stay @ Troy Mdws camp; we did these loops last year based on prior discussions w/some of the more seasoned riders we met in the campground & talked to (U will need a map to follow; get one @ the Kennedy Meadows General Store on your way in or @ Blackrock Information Station, 2.5 mi. beyond Troy Mdws):
When exiting camp, turn left @ the stop sign onto the paved road, then after ~15-20 feet take an immediate right off of the road and another right onto 34E03 & go by the edge of the Troy Mdws overflow (camping). There will be a dirt road which U will come upon, which goes to the overflow & beyond (21S97).
(The reason for zigzagging in this manner is if the rangers see you on the pavement any more than the ~20’ they will write tickets, so said one of the old timers, who watched them do so.)
Turn left onto 21S97, stay on for a short ~100 feet, then turn right onto 34E27, which will take U quite a ways, to 35E06 - turn left there, then straight onto 34E02; this last one will take U to where brett r & co. R staying (Osa Msws); follow the dirt road that crosses this trail off to your left to visit his camp if so inclined.
To go back, take 34E01, left on 35E06, right on 34E27 to camp. This loop is just over 30 miles ‘round trip, so U’d B fine w/the MX tank.
Going out, there is a tough switchback near Beach Mdw.; other than that it’s do-able 4 U. Just enough of a challenge but not over your head. Take a camera; the meadows are spectacular. It was on this loop where I followed the bear.
My oldest & I will likely be doing the same loop out of Troy (we wouldn't mind basing in Osa but would rather use the time riding the trails up), but once @ Osa Mdws we will hookup w/brett & continue on east to Monache Mdws, then back to Troy via Jackass Trail. I haven’t been that way in decades but it looks like it’s a bit longer, perhaps 45 miles total. Feel free to join us, however, big tanks R recommended.
As an alternate route on our 2nd time up last summer (we went 2x; once in July, then again in August), instead of turning around & heading back @ Osa we continued on w/ 34E26, 35E02, 35E06, then 34E27 back to Troy for 35 miles total. It was a good addition but not nearly as fun nor as picturesque as the other loops described herein.
For a second loop I recommend continued straight out (south) of Troy on 21S97, which turns into 34E25, 34E07, left on 34E01, then veer off to the right onto 33E24, left on 33E28, 34E10, then back to camp on 34E01, 34E07, 34E25; I remember it being between 30-35 miles ‘round trip & a bit more demanding in the closer to camp section. 34E24 has a narrow rocky section – take your time thru there. 34E01 is very whooped out, so much that’s tiring whether U go slow or fast; didn’t matter. 34E01 has a short but scary stepped rock climb, & there’s another similar tough section on 34E10. It’s best to let someone else take your bike over the few sections. May I suggest you truck in your bike to Bonita Meadows, thereby avoiding all but one tough section. Other than that, it’s an outrageously beautiful loop, especially Bonita Mdws. In early July the flowers were spectacular; they were all but gone in August.
Troy Meadows campground has some spots w/running tap water & pit toilets; the overflow is primitive camping. No burn permit is needed within the campgrounds, only outside of them.