Glad to hear it is working out for you.

I have personally found through trial and error that I am willing to give up some on the long end to ensure that the wide end is 16mm. There is more of a significant difference between 16mm and 18mm than I would have originally thought. That is why my backpacking lens is a 16-80mm.

It is has taken me quite some time to embrace the use of a tripod, but I now realize how important it is to obtain sharpness and, when necessary, depth of field. If you are using trekking poles, then you may want to consider TrailPix as a low-weight alternative. It is fussier than a regular tripod and I am hesitant to step it up in stronger winds, but the weight is nice.