1) Yes, the trail is visible and useable I just missed it because so many before me had been using the snow field 2) I used the newer trail and it depends on your shoes whether you get wet. I wore running shoes so I got wet. The old trail is open. I went up that for fun the day prior. It comes out about 25 yards after the water crossing. The beginning of the Meadows has some water. It's shin high.
