
Hi, I'm Arnold "Bloodhound" Guzman, an avid trail angel. I became connected to the A.T. through my sister, Maria, who owns Standing Bear Farms Hiker Hostel. I like taking my Bloodhounds, Caroline and Beau Diddley, adventuring deep into the backcountry shelters all up and down the A.T, where I surprise hikers with fresh food and drink while looking for stories. When I'm not doing this, I sometimes join my local Smoky Mountains Hiking Club and do trail maintenance.
Posts
They Got Married!
After a year of dating, and a lifetime of waiting, Matthew Odie Norman, author of the Hiker Yearbook series, and hiker Julia Roberts became husband and wife
Standing Bear Trio Recalls Rescue of Family Dog Mauled by Bear on AT
Earlier this year, two people and two dogs went out for a harmless little hike on the Appalachian Trail; a hike that would turn into a scene of horror, and lead to the severe injury of a dog. (note: this story has a happy ending)
Trail Marshall on Thru-Hiking Culture and Hiking the Mountains to Sea Trail in Winter
The Mountains To Sea Trail, one of America’s newer long distance trails, has relatively few hikers on it but is growing in popularity. The story Trail Marshall gives insight into what hiking the MST is like.
Man Hiking the AT with a Leafblower: Mascot Hikers and Why They Do It
Some hikers carry the oddest things on the Appalachian Trail. Here’s a little peek into the lives of two of them.
Painting the AT: How One Artist is Transforming the Trail, One Hostel at a Time
For the last several years, an artist/hiker, Bobbie Drelick, trail name, “Paint Splash”, has been making a splash—a paint splash—on large sections of the Appalachian Trail, transforming drab, ordinary walls at hostels along the way into vibrant works of trail art.
Miss Janet’s 8th Annual Hiker Thanksgiving, 2021
After taking last year off because of the coronavirus, Miss Janet has resumed her annual Hiker Thanksgiving celebration
From Tragedy To Triumph: How the Appalachian Trail Transformed One Woman’s Life
In 2020, many people quit their hikes because of the pandemic. This is a story of one of them who not only handled the challenges hiking during this unique time, but had to do it while dealing with a personal tragedy
Trail Angel Spotlight: Jim “The Spoon Man” Tabor
All along the rock-strewn trails of Pennsylvania, there have been rumors of a man leaving spoons out on the trail for hikers to find. Well, the rumors are true. And what’s most special is that he painstakingly hand-carves each one. Take a few minutes now to learn about Jim “The Spoon Man” Tabor.
Trail Angel Spotlight: The Trekking Twins
While the average age of trail maintainers on the Appalachian Trail keeps getting older, there are two octogenarians who don't let age get in the way
Far, Not Fast: A Hostel Love Story
Of the thousands of former soldiers suffering from PTSD, this is a story about how the Appalachian Trail has helped bring one of them and his family back from the brink