The trail is being re-routed at one point on the Cedar Brook portion to avoid having to cross the stream twice by keeping the trail to the right of the brook, if that makes any sense. In other words, currently, one currently should be crossing the stream and almost immediately crossing back. Frankly, I don't ever remember doing that in the past, but whatever.
Point is, there is a point where you are hiking right next to the brook (which will be on your left), where you are supposed to cross, and then cross back. A new trail is being built, and one can see where it is being laid out (indicated with pink tape), but it is not fully finished. However, there is nothing across the new portion indicating it is not yet fully ready for use.
It's just a short stretch, either way, and since the water level is quite low at the moment, it doesn't matter what you do, but just be aware that you might find yourself heading down a new-looking path that just ends. If you do, keep going and it will shortly reconnect with the old path.
Tremendous erosion farther down, and deeply in need of either work done at the crossings, which are ecological disasters at this point with wide, wide swaths of mud where people continuously hike to the sides of the muddy trails, making even wider muddy trails, or walking up the middle through mud and water (during normal times) that are well above boot height.
There are some nice new foot bridges along the ridge line!
In short, avoid the Hancocks if it's very wet, and sooner or later the professional trail maintenance crews are going to have to come in and do some very significant work here.
Brian
Point is, there is a point where you are hiking right next to the brook (which will be on your left), where you are supposed to cross, and then cross back. A new trail is being built, and one can see where it is being laid out (indicated with pink tape), but it is not fully finished. However, there is nothing across the new portion indicating it is not yet fully ready for use.
It's just a short stretch, either way, and since the water level is quite low at the moment, it doesn't matter what you do, but just be aware that you might find yourself heading down a new-looking path that just ends. If you do, keep going and it will shortly reconnect with the old path.
Tremendous erosion farther down, and deeply in need of either work done at the crossings, which are ecological disasters at this point with wide, wide swaths of mud where people continuously hike to the sides of the muddy trails, making even wider muddy trails, or walking up the middle through mud and water (during normal times) that are well above boot height.
There are some nice new foot bridges along the ridge line!
In short, avoid the Hancocks if it's very wet, and sooner or later the professional trail maintenance crews are going to have to come in and do some very significant work here.
Brian
