Kevin Oliver hikes the Appalachian Trail – all 2,200 miles of it

Kevin Oliver ends his hike at Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

By Wendy Lamond

Looking for a challenge to tackle before starting law school, St. Marys native Kevin Oliver made the decision to undertake the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail that stretches between Georgia and Maine passing through 14 states in the U.S.

Starting on June 14 and ending on Nov. 16, it took Oliver 155 days to walk from Maine to Georgia, though not every day was spent hiking as he would take some days off just to hang out in the woods or spend time in a nearby town.

The best part of the hike, according to Oliver, was the liberty and freedom found out on the trail. The worst part of the hike was its inevitable end. Oliver said it can be pretty tough to find satisfaction in other activities after completing something of this magnitude.

The cost of hiking the trail was approximately $7,000 to $8,000 over 155 days and Oliver managed an average distance of 20 miles per day after the first month.

Since he was only able to carry so much, every five to 10 days, he would hitchhike into town and stock up on supplies and food. Hiking the trail required 3,000-4,000 calories per day, but having to keep his cargo light, Oliver kept to items like ramen, Knorr Sidekicks, a lot of clarified butter and beer.

Many nights, Oliver slept on the ground under a polyester tarp. There are also basic, three-walled wooden shelters along the trail that range from condemned shacks to “veritable cathedrals of the woods.”

The most common direction that many hike the trail is northbound from Georgia to Maine, however, Oliver hiked it southbound due to a later start in June and his relative proximity to Maine.

Even though there are some physical demands on the trail, the hardest part was the mental aspect.

“You’re on your own and living outside for half a year. Tomorrow’s going to look like today and the finish line is still a long, long way away,” said Oliver on keeping in a good headspace throughout the trek.

As far as wildlife, while there is potential to encounter some dangerous wildlife, Oliver said the biggest concerns were ticks and rodents, but those can be mitigated or tolerated. He did, however, see eight moose in Maine. He also saw many bears, deer and eagles. Rodents like squirrels, rats and mice were ever present on the trail, as well.

Cell service was available sometimes, especially in the mid-Atlantic states, but it couldn’t be counted on most days.

“I’d love to join the Continental Divide Trail and the Great Divide Trail together and walk the span of the Rocky Mountains,” Oliver said when asked if he has any plans for another trek. “In reality, however, I would need a sponsor or benefactor to support this kind of endeavor. Had I resources, I don’t think I’d ever sit still again.”

According to Oliver, the Appalachian Trail is for anyone and everyone who loves nature. Along his journey, he met hikers as old as 92 and as young as five. He encourages anyone reading this to give it a shot.

“It’s nonsense to count on long-term plans in a world this turbulent, especially if you are young. There may not be a later, so get out there, take risks for new experiences. Everything else is just filling time,” Oliver said.

Oliver is the son of Mark and Janet Oliver of St. Marys.

“We were naturally concerned about his welfare, especially at times when the remote nature of where he was made it impossible for us to communicate with him,” Mark Oliver said of his son’s trek. “That said, we are very proud of him for completing such an epic challenge.”