Awww SUE,
Don't Despair...not when its so close!!
1) The day we did Gunsight, it was cool (Mike thinks not over 70). So all that moisture in the foliage was cool and shaded....that made for great hiking conditions. When I know I've got 14 miles to put in....I'm not looking for 80's or 90's.
2) Several of the photos I've posted with jewel-like blue skies....resulted after very "iffy" looking mornings. Staying up at Granite, so close to the continental divide, there was a morning and separate evening where the clouds moved so fast as to spill over the mountaintops....I started to assume the worst. Later that morning by 11 a.m., we had the great pictures that you saw from PL's post up at Grinnell Glacier Overlook. The evening where a similar cloud event occurred, a few hours later it was a stunningly clear/calm night, one of the best nights for stars.
3) Our day up to Grinnell Glacier was completely overcast, a heavy gray blanket hung over Mt. Gould. Honestly, it had that elusive, smokey, mysteriousness that offered surreal views. It surprised me, I loved it.
4) Out of a 4 day backpack in the Belly, 2 of the days had weather issues, rainstorms went from afternoon to late in the night. Mike had to get up at midnight to dig a trench away from the tent, the water was accumulating nearly to the point of seeping in! We hardly remember that part now & you saw our pics of Mokowanis, Margaret and Cosley.
5) The day we hiked out to Chief Mtn, I was carrying about 36 lbs, Mike over 40 with his camera equipment. It was 53 degrees, drizzling and breezy the whole time. It was SOOoo helpful to do the 10 miles in those conditions....the three of us commented numerous times about how lucky we were to have such cool!
When I got out there, I resolved not to look at the forecast, knowing how quickly things change in the mountains. Atleast hold off thinking seriously about the forecast until you're within a day or two. Glacier always offers up its magic in ways that surprise and amaze!!!
Hang in there now...and get packin'!!!!! Tam