New age wellness trend" is just the latest name for stuff people have been selling hope about since forever.

Yeah I was the same way, thought that "this too shall pass" stuff was just something people said to make themselves feel better. But then my dog died and a buddy sent me a text with a quote about how grief is just love with nowhere to go. Sounds cheesy as hell but it hit me right in the gut, actually helped me stop fighting the sad feeling and just let it be there for a bit. Kinda changed my whole view on those things after that.

@abbycraig that orange streak sounds like a chemical stain from light hitting the emulsion, not just a lid leak.

Buddy of mine wrecked a whole slab learning that the hard way.

Man, that older hiker did you a solid. Had the same wake-up call about two years ago on the Wonderland Trail. I was hauling a 45-pound pack full of extra layers and a tent I barely used. A ranger just looked at me and said "You're not backpacking, you're doing a workout." Switched to a tarp and a smaller stove kit, now I'm at like 22 pounds and I actually enjoy the hike instead of just surviving it.