Many people look to the outdoors to find peace of mind. For Paul Stiffler, better known as Ponytail Paul, the Appalachian Trail and its thru-hikers have been the therapeutic force needed to turn his life around. Paul has taken on a role as “Trail Angel” to help thru-hikers on their 2,186-mile journey and help himself find a new sense of purpose in the process.

This is one of a series of three short films featuring the stories of people connected to three trails: The Appalachian Trail, Arizona Trail and Bay Area Ridge Trail. Learn more about how Every Trail Connects at rei.com/trails