On a hike this month, I faced a creek on the Colorado Trail that was much higher than expected. The current was strong and crossing seemed too risky. I had used an old guidebook for my plan. To fix this, I turned back and met other hikers. These hikers showed me a safer spot upstream. Now I always check recent trail reports online. What steps do you take for water crossings?
I almost skipped it because it looked messy, but pushing through was worth it. Now I'm wondering if there are more hidden gems like that on old maps.
It's crowded even in the off-season now.