Dennis, the Lillian brook was one of the nicest herd paths around... pre-Floyd. Now it is one of the worst, and should be avoided at virtually any cost.
I second (or third?) the "bailout" from the Grace col down to the bottom of the slide. It's not a bailout for me because it is one of the nicest descents in the ADKS. Wide open and gentle from the col to the rivers below. I look forward to doing it again.
As for April and May, please keep track of how the spring rains go this year. The lion's share of trail and upper mountain erosion usually occurs during that stretch and most responsible hikers try to contain their spring fever and avoid high, northern, western, and naturally wet areas. The snow pack is very light this year so things could dry up quickly, but we should all start thinking "conservationistically" as spring comes rolling in. I have plans to be in the Dix Wilderness this spring, but my plans are to explore the smaller gems like Ausable #4, Spotted, and Wyman.