Trail Angel

Through-hiking the length of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail is no easy task. Among other things, hikers yearn for food beyond the trail mix, dehydrated apricots and beef jerky that fills their backpacks. Seemingly from heaven, but literally out of the woods, comes “Ponytail Paul,” a trail angel. Cookies, donuts, potato salad and a little peace of mind is what he brings to the symbiotic relationship between hiker and Good Samaritan.