That's such a bummer, sorry that happened to you @phoenix246! I've had a digital probe let me down before too, now I always keep a cheap analog one as backup just for that reason.

That 4.5 pH is definitely acidic but I'd check if it was just a one-time thing from the rain before getting too worried. Lots of creeks in that area hit low pH after storms without it being a long-term problem.

Let the rope dry first, @parkerbrown, otherwise the stain just sits on top and gets tacky.

Had the opposite reaction at first, honestly thought paper was a gimmick. But after trying it on my last cook I totally get it now, the bark difference is night and day. Gonna mess around with lower temps like you mentioned and see if that helps the moisture issue.

Oh man, I've been there. It took me a while to figure out that the ugly parts are usually the ones that actually matter the most. For me, I started small by sticking with one uncomfortable conversation or task all the way through, even when every part of me wanted to quit. Turns out, dealing with the mess head on made everything else way easier to handle. Now I try to remind myself that if it feels ugly and I want to run, that's probably the exact spot where I need to stay put.