Another option: don't go as far with the packs, stop
here, and camp. In the morning, do Clouds Rest, descend the west side trail, and hop on over to Half Dome. Then take the lower trail back up to your camp site. Less distance and elevation to carry the packs.
Several years ago, I took an off-trail shortcut from the trail coming down from Clouds Rest, leaving the trail at that obvious western-most switchback at elevation 8050. It was an easy westward - downward traverse to the saddle between CR and HD. Once I got to the saddle, I angled a little more left and started climbing slightly, and easily hit the trail.
Use the Satellite View on the map, zoom in, and you can see how open the terrain is through that route.
For the return, I'd stay on the trails, passing the Sunrise Creek spot where you proposed camping.
