We knew it was a forecast of rain and cool temperatures – when we left Vermont we were looking at 60-degree forecasts in our local area. As we started our hike the air temperature was 43, and steady rain. When we were within a mile of the summit of Bear the rain turned to snow as the temperature dipped to 32. We enjoyed the May weather with a cool sensation that we had no bugs, almost no other hikers on the trail (we met 3 hikers). The trail was in good condition despite the steady rain, then snow. The summit was windy with thick clouds – we had no visibility at the summit but enjoyed the steady noise of snowfall and the silence of the trials.