It was looking okay as I left Seattle but I could quickly see a buildup in the mountains. It also looked like thunder clouds which at 7am is not likely. YUP, likely alright. Started hiking around 7:30am. Met the ranger lady heading down. I surmised that there would be no hot or ice tea in the lookout. She noted that the weather forecast indicated thunder and lightning and she was leaving early. She also said the wind was up. I was hoping for wind since it was quite muggy although the clouds kept the temps reasonable. She also said she was suggesting that people use the Summer route to avoid possible exposure on the ridge if lightning did develop. As I approached the ""pond"" there was a bit of thunder and the ominous looking clouds looked more so. I took the summer route. It was a combination of muddy, sloppy and running water and snow. The snow was not continuous and I found sections of trail including the the short series of switchbacks just below the lookout. There were some steeper, hard patches of snow in this area. I had my ice axe but it was not bad. But a woman with ski poles was unnerved. More thunder and a tangy, pungent ozone aroma as I got closer to the lookout. I was too close to not go and ignored the thunder and the brief pitter patter of a short lived 5 minute shower. I left my ice axe on the last switchback where I emerged into the open - no need to play lightning rod. It is most unusual to have thunder at 10AM in the morning but there it was. I was signing the register when some guy came up the ridge. He asked if I had seen the woman. About 5 minutes later she appeared but had not liked the route. I basically tagged the lookout and headed down with some additional claps of thunder. Stopped on the switchbacks below the lookout to get out more water and a quick snack. More menacing clouds with ""boiling bottoms"" but not much more action. On the way down the sun made its full heat known altho it still looked somewhat threatening. It was awfully hot and, of course, lots of folks coming up. Flowers - bear grass starts just before you emerge out of the forest. Lupin, paint brush, saw one wild rose below. The huckleberry flowers are discreet but have just a slight taste of the fruit they will later bear. All in all, not bad. The excitement of early morning thunder, views of Rainier clear to the south, a bit of snow, sufficient mud to make things sloppy and home by 1:45pm. Oh, no real bugs - just a few. And folks, I really suggest in the height of summer that you do this early in the morning. The open hillside becomes ungodly hot later in the day. As a matter of fact the ranger said she had to give folks water on Sat when it was very hot and quite a few hikers had run out.

An accurate forecast – on the trail under bluing sky by 7:40. Decided to try the winter route – the diretissima – up the west side of the avalanche gulley, but, by the time I emerged from the growing bushes on to the ridge, regretted it (somewhat). The top is almost free of snow, which is preferable over the awkward bouldering that is now required. I descended, on the usual circuitous route, past mounting groups of hikers, past the largest, all-brown St. Bernard (at least that’s what I first thought until realizing it was a bear who was just exiting from my trail) to the car by 1. An excellent outing!

A perfect day for a hike to a viewpoint. Five of us enjoyed this steep hike to the lookout, and were rewarded with views from Glacier to Adams. Beargrass is just coming into peak bloom, along with Lupine, Penstemon, Paintbrush and Lily. On the way up, we followed the trail into the north bowl, which is still filled with snow. We returned along the ridge, which is snow free and a fun talus hop.

I got my usual late start and payed the price. I left the trailhead at 12:40 with the temps already at least 10 degrees warmer than I expected, and bit muggy to boot. I had to stop a few times in some shady spots to give the dogs some respite from the growing heat. There is a stream crossing at 4100ft and again at 5000ft so the dogs were able to get some water. Once you reach the ridge line there is still quite a bit of snow. I left the Granite Mt trail where it bends to the south for the final push to the summit. I veered north and and a little west reaching the rim above Cad Lake. It is very steep on the southern end of Cad so I angled to the east and caught a stream bed to reach lake level. The lake is still mostly frozen I did not stay long not looking forward to the climb back to rejoin the Granite Mt trail. I mearly retraced my steps until I had climbed the majority of the way back, and had my lunch. The views are stunning of the surrounding peaks. I had little problem with the descent until I caught a toe and went ass over tea kettle ending up on my back with my feet pointing uphill. It was easily the worst I have ever fallen while in the mountains. After taking inventory of all my parts I very gingerly (and thankfully) got up and hobbled to the car.

Got to the trailhead about 9am with about 20 cars already in the lot. Weather was marginal with many clouds, but no rain expected. The trail was in good shape and dry all the way up to about 4000' where there was some snow still on the ridge and on the east side. Snow also covered most of the top, although there were some rocks that were snow free to sit down and eat lunch. Rather than following the trail over the the east side into the snow, most people were working there way right up the ridge line through the bolders. Travling on the snow was easier, but there was some post holing near the rocks and the drop to the east is pretty steep. Someone was in the lookout, but the door was closed. Great views come with this 3800' vertical hike/scramble. This a great alternative to Mt Si, which seemed to get a little boring hiking through the trees. What's nice about this hike is you get out of the trees about halfway up giving views everytime we turned around. We took our time, 3 hours up and 2 hours down. Many people were doing it much faster.