Many will be aware that descending the path from the crag bottom to the stream is currently a nightmare. Exceedingly slippery, damp, smooth, hard to see. A friend of mine slipped and nose-dived into a boulder and was only saved from serious head injury by the two-inch coating of moss on the boulder he head-butted.
It is likely more people will suffer serious falls and injury on this path, particularly older climbers with knee or ankle trouble etc. The risk of death from a fall is quite high.
When Mac, who we all knew and loved, built the path, it used to get plenty of sun and would dry out OK. But now it is shrouded by trees, bracken, briars and other vegetation, permanently damp and slippery. Sequences of cool, damp summers are having an adverse effect. It really is a death trap in descent.
Possible ways to improve:
1. Spray the path and kill the vegetation near the path.
2. Cut down trees within 30 feet of the path.
3. Lift the stones and return to a well-drained gravel path.
4. Make a new gravel path through the trees looping down easy ground in the Greatend Crag direction.
Preferable to avoid intervention if possible and leave nature as is, but in this case it is an artificial manufactured path, and I see things getting worse with some serious unintended consequences.
DC