I did the Panorama Trail last Friday. Came down the JMT from the top of Nevada Falls to Clarke point then over to the Mist Trail. The JMT was not closed from Clark Point to Happy Isle. (BTW, we had our lunch at the top of Nevada Falls where the kid went over the Falls on Saturday). And we took the "stock only" trail from the foot bridge by finding our way behind the restroom about 20 yards as described by Steve. The people in my group thought this was way cool.