From “Someday” to “Now”: Jeffs of the Appalachian Trail

The Month of Jeff keeps rolling, and today we are giving the thru-hiking world some love. I tracked down a Jeff who just finished the Appalachian Trail in 2025, Jeff Coull, the guy behind the coullbean.com blog.

Jeffreys Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/FiW9ZKNpiXoWb8MJ8

Follow Jeff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coullbean/

Jeff wanted to hike the AT for almost a decade, but in 2024 it stopped being a “someday” goal and became a “need to.” We talk about the scariest part of committing to a long trail, the conversation with his girlfriend Robin, and how doing something huge does not have to come from tragedy or running away from your life.

We get into the details that make a thru hike real: early mistakes (starting too fast, an ankle ligament barking, a sleeping pad that died for two straight weeks), figuring out resupplies when you are basically learning in public, and the constant debate between pop tarts and protein. There is also a strong case made for frozen burritos thawing on the outside of your pack, plus the harsh reality of FarOut water comments when Maine is dry.

Jeff carried a “Robin Rock” most of the trail, hid it in plant photos to see if she would notice, and accidentally created a recurring side quest by leaving it behind and coordinating a rescue mission. He also carried a sealed ICE letter from Robin all the way to Katahdin and only opened it on top, which is where the emotions finally caught up.

We also talk about trail friendships, why it is so easy to connect with people out there, and how Jeff’s view of the “trail family” idea changed once he got confident enough to make his own plan. Then there is the moment in Tennessee when a “power hiking song” conversation turned into an unexpected hour of Freebird on repeat, and a big lesson about forgiveness and leaving old baggage behind.

To wrap it up, we hit quick hitters: favorite trail town, best meal, best trail name he heard, what the whole thing cost, and the lesson that kept coming back over and over, be gentle with yourself.

Sponsors: Janji, Garage Grown Gear, CS Coffee.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: Aspirations and Realizations

05:22 Navigating Relationships: Conversations with Loved Ones

08:25 Symbolic Connections: The Robin Rock

11:25 The Learning Curve: First Experiences on the Trail

14:13 Dreams and Goals: The Call of the AT

17:28 Life Changes: Quitting the Job for Adventure

20:21 Challenges of Thru-Hiking: The Reality vs. Expectations

23:29 Building Confidence: Finding Your Own Path

26:17 Nutrition on the Trail: The Food Dilemma

29:21 The Importance of Gut Health: Eating Fresh on the Trail

30:53 Trail Nutrition: Creative Food Choices

34:24 Adversity on the Trail: Overcoming Challenges

39:13 Building Connections: The Social Aspect of Hiking

45:32 Moments of Transformation: Personal Growth on the Trail

58:41 The Challenge of Water Scarcity

01:01:15 Emotional Reflections on Completing the Trail

01:03:27 Slowing Down to Savor the Experience

01:06:21 The Emotional Climax at Katahdin

01:12:18 Trail Towns and Memorable Meals

01:15:27 Lessons Learned and Future Adventures

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