The Catalina Mountains don’t mess around. What starts as a scenic hike quickly turns into exposed sun, dry air, and elevation that sneaks up on you. I knew better than to underestimate it.

So I planned for the worst. I preloaded my body with hydration the day before, packed two liters in bottles, plus a collapsible water bladder, and stashed purification tablets just in case.

Midway through the climb, temps pushed past 95°F and the trail offered no shade. By mile five, I saw another hiker struggling with heat exhaustion—carrying a single half-full bottle.

I gave him a spare and pointed him back down.

The only reason I wasn’t in the same position? I took water seriously.