Been there, got chased off the Bechler by a storm that wasn't in the forecast and had to walk out 11 miles in one push. What saved me on later trips was planning every day at like 70 percent of what I know I can do, so a blown afternoon just eats the cushion instead of the whole plan. Seems slow on paper but it's the only thing that kept my last long route from falling apart.

My color sorted shelf was just a fancy way to lose books.

Honestly the cracking is usually from the paste drying too stiff, not the price tag. Even the cheap stuff will split at the spine if you lay it on too thick before folding.