After 2,200 miles, 45 days, and more duct-taped shoes than I care to admit, I finally set the self-supported Appalachian Trail FKT. In this episode, Allison Mercer and I dive into the full story—why I went back to the AT, how it nearly broke me (again), and what it takes to push through when your body is screaming “stop” but you’ve still got 80 miles to cover.

Consider supporting the Trevor Project: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/fundraiser/6530749?

We talk about the shoe disaster (two left shoes, then two right shoes), sleepless nights, eerie solo miles, and the weird little things that kept me going—like listening to Pirates vs. Marlins baseball games at midnight in the green tunnel. We get into the strategy of easing into the miles, then ratcheting up the effort until there’s nothing left to give.

Buy a hoodie and support the Trevor Project: https://www.bonfire.com/fastest-known-tiger/

This wasn’t just about me or a number on a spreadsheet. Thanks to thousands of people, we raised over $30,000 for The Trevor Project, proving that adventure can be about something much bigger than one person chasing a record.

It’s the whole journey—why I started, how I finished, and what it means when the trail teaches you more than you ever expected.

Follow Allison online: https://www.instagram.com/onewomandanceparty

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and First Impressions

02:50 The Journey of the Appalachian Trail

06:08 Motivation Behind the FKT Attempt

08:54 Preparation and Training for the FKT

11:46 Challenges Faced on the Trail

15:03 Social Interactions and Trail Community

17:51 Mental Strategies for Endurance

21:05 Tracking Progress and Staying Motivated

23:49 The Significance of Self-Supported Records

27:05 Gear and Supplies Management

29:56 Communication and Updates During the FKT

32:50 Fundraising for the Trevor Project

35:43 Recognition of Fellow Hikers

39:01 Conclusion and Future Plans

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Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

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While I’m out chasing a self-supported FKT on the Appalachian Trail, we’re throwing it back to one of the weirdest solo episodes yet.

This one’s all about hallucinations—those sleep-deprived visions that show up when the miles get long and the sleep gets short. I break down my top five all-time hallucinations from FKTs and multi-day races like Nolan’s 14, Cocodona, the Arizona Trail, and the Colorado Trail.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Podcast

02:11 Hallucinations from Sleep Deprivation

07:22 First Hallucination: The Safari Guy

11:59 Second Hallucination: Witches in the Woods

19:32 Third Hallucination: The Robot in the Cliff

23:13 Fourth Hallucination: Black Bears and Stumps

27:17 Conclusion and Future Plans

You’ll meet:

The Safari Man who’s been following me for years

Witches in the forest waiting to sweep me up

A three-story robot stuck in a rock wall

A pirate ship in the desert for some reason

And chicken feet sprouting from the Earth

We also touch on why hallucinations happen, what triggers them, and how I’m turning them into AI-generated images—because if I have to see these things, so do you.

Sponsors:

Janji • Garage Grown Gear • CS Coffee • Mount to Coast

Support the Appalachian Trail FKT attempt + the show: Patreon.com/freeoutside

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

In this soul-spilling solo episode, I get honest from a borrowed cabin (and even more borrowed fishing hat) about why I gave up my home, comforts, and stability to chase a 40+ day goal on the Appalachian Trail. This isn’t just about trying to set an FKT—this is about redefining why we go after anything in life. I break down what it means to pursue something uncertain, unplug from the chaos, and find the rawest form of purpose in a world drowning in notifications, optics, and comparison traps.

From unexpected homelessness to deep reflections on fear, failure, self-worth, and the primal joy of moving through wild places, this episode is a deep dive into what motivates me—and maybe what can motivate you too. No pretense. No performance. Just truth, vulnerability, and a reminder that trying is enough.

Plus: gear talk, sponsor love, and why I might be cramping somewhere on the AT as you listen.

Brought to you by:

Janji. (wearing the AFO Ultra Shorts right now)

Garage Grown Gear

CS Instant Coffee

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey

03:14 The Importance of Defining Your Why

06:05 Embracing the Challenge of the Appalachian Trail

08:49 Finding Pride in Personal Goals

12:08 Overcoming Fear and Embracing the Unknown

Support the show: patreon.com/freeoutside

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside