Day 2Mount Laguna, California

The 2nd day, but my 1st full day of hiking. The scenery remains stunning and some sections already feel familiar after seeing them so often in videos. My main problem is the weight of my pack. With as much as 6 liters of water, it pulls hard on my shoulders and forces me to adjust it constantly to make it bearable.

The heat is intense and the terrain is very arid. I see many lizards, squirrels and several snakes. One of them nearly ends up under my foot. I notice it at the last moment. The day ends near Mount Laguna, in an area where camping is regulated. The designated spots are occupied, but I eventually find a suitable place to pitch my tent and dry my gear.

I also think back to a cut from the day before, when I was trying to attach the PCT badge to my pack. The wound was deep and bleeding heavily. It scared me at the time, but a bandage was enough. The nights are also much colder than I had imagined. After the heat of the day, the temperature drops to around 5°C.