Day 2 on Vermont’s Long Trail was my hardest day yet — not because the miles were crazy, but because the climbing just kept stacking up. I’m talking about a full-on grind with roughly 2000 feet of elevation gain, and my pack felt heavier with every step. I was getting short of breath fast, the terrain was rocky, and even when the views were there, I honestly didn’t have the energy to care. This is one of those days where you learn that elevation hits different than distance, and you either slow down or you blow up. On top of the climbs, we ran into another late-summer problem: dry water sources. The “maybe there’s water up ahead” game got old real quick, and carrying extra water turned into its own kind of pain—especially on my back. I talk through how I approach questionable sources, what I do when water is warm or stagnant, and why I’d rather keep moving than risk sketchy bacteria. The best moment of the day was hearing running water near the shelter—dropping my pack, filtering cold river water, and finally feeling human again. It was exhausting, messy, and weirdly rewarding… which is pretty much the whole point out here.