I'm also older - 57. I've followed a very similar path over the last couple of years. I started with a cold-weather, gear and consumables, 4-night weight of about 25 pounds. I got that down to 20, but found the gear to be less simple to use and less comfortable. Oddly enough, the "less simple" bothered me most. With my original gear, using it was almost second nature. That let the gear fade into the background of the trip, leaving me free to enjoy the area I was walking through. With the ultralight stuff, it seemed like I spent a lot more time fussing with the gear, and less time enjoying the flow of the trip. I'm now back at my original weight (and using mostly the same gear, with the exception that I now wear trail shoes, my bag is now Western Mountaineering, and I now take down pants and jacket instead of fleece.)

It was fun, educational, eye-opening trip but I've learned that my "sweet spot" isn't ultralight.