High Sierra Topix

Looking for some advice on an upcoming trip. Im fairly comfortable with cross-country travel. Ill be solo on this trip so anything up to some class 3 is fine.

My permit is out of Tuolumne Meadows. The current plan is TM>GCT>Ten Lakes>Tuolumne Peak ridge to Hoffman>Maylake Trailhead exit.

I have read a few trip reports on here which have been very helpful. Looking for the following:

-Any advice or spots along this route that are worthy stops/side quests.
-I was thinking of trying to go up Tuolumne Peak from the WSW at the headwaters of South Fork Catherdral Creek. Looking at Caltopo, it looks plausible. Anyone done this?
-Tuolumne Shuttle is not running this year. Hows it hitching along Tioga Road? To get from May Lake Trailhead back to TM. or should I just plan on turning this into a full loop and finishing back at TM?

Thank you thank you.

You likely already went. But if you haven't, Tuolumne Peak has excellent vistas, comparable to Hoffman. I recall it being relatively easy class 2 from the trail bulge ENE of the summit and well worth the side trip.