Erwin

Hot Springs NC (mile marker 275.1) to Cookie Lady stealth spot at Log Cabin Drive (#291.3).
Daily mileage: 16.2

The nice weather continues as I make my way over the French Broad River and out of Hot Springs. The next 10 miles will see an increase in elevation from 1,300 ft to a max of 3,600 ft.

Everyone heading out of Hot Springs this week knows that miles 280.0 to 287.0 are closed to sheltering and tenting due to recent aggressive bear activity. So…. we know we either need to do a short day and camp at mile 275, or head up and over Spring Mountain and push at least to Allen Gap (mile 289). Feeling restless after almost 48 hrs of fun downtime, it’s time to hoof it to the Cookie Lady before nightfall.

The “Cookie Lady” (Peggy) is famous. (See attached pics of her and her place). She ( and her husband) are in their late 60’s and own a cute log cabin in the middle of nowhere at a dirt road crossing at mile 291. All hikers know that you can see her cabin from the trail and she has homemade cookies, big coolers of spring water, antibacterial wipes, and a few other items for hikers from 9am to 8pm each day. She is very sweet and loves providing her special brand of trail magic. I got to her house at 7:15 pm and was hoping I wasn’t too late. She and her husband had just had dinner and she was waiting on the porch. I was more hungry for my upcoming dinner and filling my empty water bottles than for cookies, but I spent 20 minutes having a great conversation with her. She has given out more than 1,500 cookies since mid January and still going strong. I gave her $20 for future ingredients for the cookies and thanked her for all she does for everyone. She had been a beacon of light for a few of my friends who had continued with their thru hikes when I had to stop back in early March. She was so appreciative and I told her to keep doing was she does!!

I ended the day about 0.2 miles up the hill from Peggy’s place and was happy to quickly set up camp by myself and eat dinner just before dark came. A long, hilly day, but a lot of fun meeting a true Appalachian Trail icon!Read more