High Sierra in mid July

[wilder1]

I've been to Yosemite once a couple of years ago in early June. Spent most of my time backpacking in Hetch-Hetchy and dayhiking from the Valley. I had to defer going to Tuolumne because Tioga Road was under late spring snowpack. Well, I'm planning to return next summer because I've won the High Sierra Camp lottery, and managed to reserve a full HSC loop (counterclockwise from Tuolumne to Vogelsang) from July 10-16. I thought I was good to go, but then I learned that the HSC doesn't always open by July due to snowpack. I'm told that it's an El Nino year and snowfall is expected to be heavy. It's not too late for me to get Travel Guard Insurance, according to the reservation office, but now I'm wondering if I'm just plain screwed on timing.

So, my question is: What are my best B-plan options if some or all of HSC is under snow in mid July?

[hotrod4x5]

The road opens before the HScamps, and the campgrounds along the tioga road usually open a bit earlier than the camps as well, so you can probably get a spot there as an alternate.

[JFK1965]

We're heading in the day after you come out (7/17). While the snowpack is certainly heavy, the latest Tioga Road has opened in recent history is July 1st. That would seem to give them time to get the supply routes up and running a couple of weeks later.

Directly responding to your question tough - make a reservation at Tuolumne Meadows campground - they will be taking reservations for arrivals from July 15 on. That's at least close to your dates. The reservation window opens on March 15 at 7AM. The reservation window for arrivals through July 14 opened (and filled up!) very quickly yesterday morning. If you get in a bind let me know and I can see if we might have an extra slot at one of our campsites. Good luck!