SierraCascades Route: fires/smoke just doomed my trip.Early Summer any better?

[DMC]

I so wanted to get in this iconic ride, what with our 250th approaching, got the ACA maps/digital version too, but when I look at the fire maps, ugh.  Seems like they track the route lol. I've read about what those little smoke particles do to one's lungs and no thank you. 

But that begs the question: With these ever increasing fires, just when is a good time to do it?  I was hoping to do N to S but one has to consider the snow at Tioga Pass, so you can't start too early.  And by mid-June, are the fires in play, or no? 

Would S to N be more doable? 

BTW, as a retired US History teacher, I'm instead plotting a route though Rev War sites (Ticondoroga, Saratoga, Valley Forge) and throwing in some FDR (Hyde Park/Library, Bretton Woods, NH) before I head back to DC.  But I do really want to get in the Sierra Cascades route in the next few years so any input is appreciated. 

[davidbonn]

Mostly in the PNW here, so your experiences may well be different.

I've found that bicycle travel season is really from Mid-April until about the 4th of July, and after Labor Day until the end of October.  Hot temperatures and wildfire smoke make July and August suboptimal.

You can usually squeak in high-elevation crossings in those time windows.  Usually.