The weekend was full of warmth and sunshine, but we are paying for it now with cold and grey and rain on the way. The good thing is that is will keep slow the bursting of the cherries down and allow them to linger longer before turning to snowdrifts of petals.
A good tent, along with a good sleeping bag, are your best friends in the back country. You might not always need or want the tent - sleeping under just a fly in the summer is sweet - but when the weather takes a turn towards the nasty end of the spectrum, a bomb-proof shelter is your top priority.
And btw- I'd be less concerned about snakes than bears. Snakes will avoid you as much as they can. Bears will come looking for your food. Part of the wilderness experience though.