shruti, welcome!
The
thread with pictures of the old trail is here.
You really shouldn't carry all your water from the start. For many people, that could be a primary factor in causing them to not make the summit. Take a filter, and stop along the way and refill. You should only need to carry a half liter from the trail head, since there are so many water access points along the way. ...maybe a liter, since you might be stopping to filter more often than you want otherwise.
I myself wouldn't even filter the last water at the 25th switchback above Trail Camp, or at the inlet to the Trail Camp pond.
For water crossings, I carry "garden clog shoes" (find them on Amazon
here). They weigh about 8 ounces for a pair. They're so cheap, and you could actually hide them after that water crossing and pick them up on the way down.
Weather: watch it closely the several days before your hike. In September, the monsoonal daily thunderstorms often taper back, so you might be treated to a perfect day. If not, start early as planned, and try to beat any storminess. Hit
this NOAA link for the best forecasts (in my opinion).
