Colts Neck Resident Hikes from
Georgia to Maine on Appalachian Trail
F-
tions, a sense of longing for those late college nights, and overall
relief when you realize submitting your essay on time is no longer a
worry. But for Colts Neck resident James Lowell, post-grad life involved
mother nature, living off the land and searching for a signal.
After graduating from Rutgers Business School, Lowell took a leap
of faith and set out on a solo trip hiking along the Appalachian Trail,
a trek that took him nearly six months and about 2,193 miles. Lowell
kicked off his trip on March 1, 2021 at Springer Mountain in Georgia
where he set off with the clothes on his back, some basic survival gear
and a ton of determination.
“I’ve always loved hiking, but before the trip, I never slept in the
woods for more than two nights,” he said. “Starting in March was tough
because I had to have some winter gear, and I hit snow. My shoes would
freeze when it rained which was pretty rough, and my sleeping pad
popped twice so I ended up sleeping on the actual ground for two weeks.
It was a lot of walking, a lot of thinking, and it got boring at times.”
Lowell eventually got the hang of it and began embracing life on
the trail, which often meant frequent hitchhiking and a diverse cast of
characters.
“You basically rely on hitchhiking to get re-supplied,” Lowell said.
“My faith in humanity is restored because I got a bunch of help from a
bunch of people.”
Lowell detailed his experience with “Trail Angels,” a group of Appalachian
Trail fans who often supplied hikers with food and water.
“One time, I was walking down the street because I couldn’t get
a hitch and it would be seven miles back to the trail. Some guy came
running out of a Denny’s and yelled at me across the highway so I ran to
him and he sat down with me, doubled his order, and I ended up eating
with this random stranger,” he said. “Those were the kind of interactions
that were the most fun, meeting these people who cared so much just
because we had the same interests.”
12 OCTOBER 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY LAUREN LAVELLE
To pass the time during his trek, Lowell listened to audio books and
playlists he created based on which state he was passing through. Surprisingly,
he had a cell phone signal for the majority of his trip.
“I actually had connection for most of the trail,” he said. “To
charge my portable charger, I would hang out outside of Walmart and
sit near a vending machine to charge for a few hours or wherever I could
As for the weather, Lowell said the trip was pretty rain-free, but certain
states brought along more challenges than others.
“It's been pretty dry on this whole coast, so I’ve heard it wasn’t as bad
as previous years,” Lowell said. “Once I got to Maine, it was pretty wet. I
think Vermont is known for their mud. It was very muddy up there as well.
The worst part about the rain was that if it rained for a few days straight,
all my gear was wet. It seeps through everything.”
Another aspect that took some getting used to, according to Lowell,
was the smell of his fellow hikers.
“No one uses deodorant,” he said. “No one brings deodorant because
of the weight and you can’t hide the smell. It's really gross and
you’ll notice, when you go to restaurants, they’ll seat you outside or in the
corner away from the other customers.”
As his journey came to an end and Lowell hiked into Baxter State
Park in Maine, the trail’s northernmost location, on Aug. 6, 2021, he re-
Now, after arriving home, reuniting with family and securing a job
life. For those wishing to tackle the trail themselves, Lowell has some
helpful advice.
“Go for it,” he said. “You don’t need to train; you can train on trail. If
weeks because you’ll hurt yourself. Honestly, anyone can hike this trail.”
/TheJournalNJ.com