I actually slept well last night—surprisingly well, considering I set an alarm to stretch every two hours. It sounds excessive, but each time I woke up, I was incredibly stiff. Those stretch breaks made all the difference when it came time to crawl out of the tent this morning for Day 2 on the Lone Star Trail.

Worth it.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lone Star Trail Day 1: Starting Strong on a Dream Two Years in the Making

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First mission of the day: water. I headed back over to Kelly’s Pond, only to realize it was more of a frog swamp than a real pond. The narrow access path was a mosquito war zone. I walked away with at least ten bites just trying to fill my Sawyer bag. Not a great start. Nonetheless, I was happy to have some water to put a Salud hydration packet in this morning.

I didn’t have enough water to cook breakfast, and with the heat already rising, I decided to hit the trail early. I downed a protein bar, stretched out again, packed up, used the pit toilet, and stepped back onto the trail at 7:40 a.m.

While I loved the tent camping area, I wouldn’t recommend Kelly’s Pond as an overnight stop for thru-hikers. It’s 1.1 miles off-trail, and the water source just isn’t worth the detour.

Still, I left camp in good spirits. The road walk back to the trail was quiet and peaceful, filled with bird calls and a slow sense of stillness. It’s mornings like this I remember why I’m out here and am filled with true joy. By the time I made it back to the trail, I was already dripping in sweat.

Within the first mile, I threw on my bug net—spider webs were everywhere. I used my trekking poles to wave in front of me, but still managed to crash through several webs. While the mosquitoes weren’t too bad, the bug net saved me from constant face webs, and that alone made it a win.

Passing Trailhead #6 felt like a mini milestone. I remembered driving past it when we were dropping off my car and thinking, “Soon, I’ll be here.” And there I was.

The trail itself was noticeably better maintained today. Less overgrowth, fewer obstacles. But that didn’t mean it was uneventful. At one point, I walked past a downed tree with a small hole in the trunk, face-height. Just as I passed it, something darted out. My heart stopped. I jumped back, convinced it was a snake. After a few shaky moments, I realized it was actually a lizard, just as startled as I was. It ducked back into the hole and stared at me like I was the problem. If it had been a snake? I wouldn’t have stood a chance to react.

I passed raspberry bushes again—most berries were still too small to eat, but I managed to snag a few. Between miles 16 and 18, I stumbled upon a peaceful spot near Stubblefield Lake. It was stunning. I filled up water and had a snack. If I hadn’t been so focused on getting in my miles, I could’ve stayed there all day. It was quiet, shaded, and serene.

Around miles 18 and 19, the trail changed completely—first soft, sandy patches that felt like walking through beach dunes, then sections of thick mud. Thankfully, water sources were abundant here, which helped keep my energy up. Water (or the lack of it) can make or break a trail day for me.

As I approached Stubblefield Recreation Area, I was practically fantasizing about a swim. But the dream was crushed almost immediately. A park ranger informed me there was no swimming allowed because of recent alligator sightings in the lake. Talk about a buzzkill.

I used the bathrooms to rinse off, brush my teeth, and cool off in front of a fan they had running (bliss). Seeing myself in the mirror was a bit of a shock—my clothes were completely soaked through. I’ve never sweat so much in my life. My shirt, my shorts, everything. I looked like I’d jumped in a lake fully clothed.

Leaving the rec area, I spotted the Mile 20 marker. It was the perfect place to break for lunch. I took off my shoes, dipped my feet in the lake (still thinking about those gators), and dug into a tuna packet, beef jerky stick, and Nerds Clusters—trail food luxury. The view was the best I’d seen all day.

And then it happened. While my feet were still in the water and I was texting my mom, a water snake swam across my toes. I yelped, launched myself out of the lake, and onto sharp rocks without hesitation. The snake froze too, then took off like a bullet. My heart didn’t slow down for a while after that, nor did my feet return to the water.

That was my second jump-scare of the day.

Back at my pack, I noticed one of the load-lifter straps had come completely undone. No wonder my shoulders and traps were in agony—it was pulling all the weight backward. I reattached it, tightened it up, and the relief was instant. Lesson learned: check your gear regularly.

Miles 20–26 were smooth. The trail was in great condition, spider webs were minimal, and I was making solid progress. The heat, though, was absolutely relentless. Sweat kept dripping into my eyes despite my headband. Around mile 24, my body finally hit a wall. My knees started swelling, which I know from experience means I’m entering the red zone of exhaustion. I found some shade, took off my shoes, and rested until I felt okay to keep going.

At mile 28, I saw a sign for West Huntsville Camp—just 2.3 miles ahead. That gave me the push I needed.

But those last 2.3 miles? Brutal. Road walk. No shade. Sun blazing. My feet ached with every step. It felt like the longest stretch of the day.

And then—finally—I made it.

West Huntsville Camp was adorable. Just one tent pad, tucked near a small pond, with a welcome box full of trail goodies: bug spray, fire starter, even some dried food. There were camp chairs and pre-cut firewood waiting, and the water—while not the cleanest—was clear enough to filter.

I set up camp, cooked a real meal (finally!), and appreciated the peace of having the entire place to myself. I saw only one other hiker all day.

*I forgot to get pictures at this campsite, only video so sorry for the poor video screenshots!

Since it was warm, clear, and still, I left my rain fly off to catch the breeze and stargaze. I stretched, cleaned up with my wipes, and did a thorough tick check—thankfully, because I found three on my lower legs. Thankfully, they were easy to remove, but gave me the heebie jeebies thinking maybe they were in my hair or on the back of my neck or somewhere I couldn’t reach. My legs were pretty beat up again today.

With full cell service, I checked in with my boyfriend and my mom before bed. I felt safe. I felt proud. I listened to the frogs—so loud they could’ve been on microphones—and drifted off to sleep under the stars.

Lone Star Trail Day 2 Complete.

If you prefer to watch vs. read – Here’s my Youtube Recap