Glacier in June?

Depends on how you define chancy. In a slightly lower than average year, most stuff will be accessible with minimal slogging and an ice axe. In a big snow year, good loops could entail continuous snow above 5500'. The other, and more relevant concern, is that late June weather tends to be unstable. It can be fantastic, or said snow slogging can be in 12-24 hours of constant rain.

In short, if you're an intermediate or above backpacker and can handle a gamble with the weather, go for it.

I'm asking for one of my co-workers, and I'm not sure how advanced her hiking skills are. I'd be surprised if she had ice axe skills, but she's a new co-worker and we haven't discussed her hiking in depth. She was mostly concerned about the snow, but hiking in non-stop rain probably wouldn't be on her list of Type I fun.

The weather is a roll of the dice. The later in June, the better. Far, far fewer people are a huge reason to put up with that ambiguity. The concern is that rangers will try to shuttle people to low elevation, snow free hikes in June, most of which quite frankly are not very good. If your co-worker is an "average backpacker" September would be a far better alternative, if possible.

Well, if she's nice to me, she might be able to get time off in September, but that's when I like to be in the mountains myself!;-)

I've been reading your blog, by the way, and your mom rocks! I wouldn't be there rapelling down into canyons, especially not with a fear of heights!

I feel like Dave is overstating his case. June is the month with the most precipitation by average of the whole year. For a place as gray year-round as Glacier (especially the west side), that's pretty rough. We, for example, always squeeze all of our summer travel in June. I'd push his statements a little farther. It takes intermediate to advanced backpacking skills (read backpacking, not climbing or mountaneering) skills to really enjoy the high country in June. Add to that, I've also seen some wicked avalanches in that month as well.

That said, some of my favorite days in the mountains have been in June. The clouds can be fantastic, and offer a real complement to the still somewhat-snowy mountains. Of course, I usually have the option of staying at home if I don't want to deal with crappy weather. That's not so available on an expensive vacation.

Thanks Diane, my mom is pretty awesome.

Clayton hit the nail on the head; June is great for locals but hard to recommend for someone planning months in advance and traveling a ways.