Just Passin' Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters [Paperback]

Winton Porter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2009

Like a well-crafted stage play, Just Passin' Thru delivers one suspenseful scene after another. But in this historic setting — a store on the Appalachian Trail called Mountain Crossings — the characters who show up are no fictional creations. They are the real-life stars of the author’s new life as a backpack-purging, canteen-selling, hostel-running, bandage-taping, lost-child finding, argument-settling, romance-fixing, chili-making man of many faces. Like any good drama, there are the good guys (and gals) and the weirdos, too. Some show up once (and that’s enough), and some appear again and again. Some are friends, and some dangerous. But all are united by two things: the author’s story-capturing talent, and whatever it is that lures them to attempt (or conquer) a 2,200-mile path that climbs and plummets from Georgia to Maine.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For a guy whose job has him posted in the middle of nowhere, Winton Porter certainly draws a crowd." -Bo Emerson, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


"'Just Passin’ Thru is a work of genius."-Former assistant secretary of state for the State of Iowa, Scott Ourth

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press; Original edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897328493
• ISBN-13: 978-0897328494
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #163,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where the AT is long...this book falls short., December 1, 2010

By 

Yankee Clipper - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Just Passin' Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters (Paperback)

I'll admit I haven't hiked the AT but that's one reason why I bought this book. I've read Bryson, AWOL, and others and thoroughly enjoyed their writing and stories. Considering the vast number of through hikers that pass through Mountain Crossings, and the fact Porter decided to write a book on the characters and adventures he's experienced while there, I would have thought this book would be chock full of fabulous passages providing insight into the "crazy life" of owning a store directly on the AT. Instead, although the stories are OK, they are not particularly extraordinary and there are so few of them the reader gets the feeling this is more a diary of one or two months on the trail. It's a shame too because Winton Porter writes well and this book is easy to read. If you want a book you can read in 2 or 3 sittings this might be for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All books about the AT are the same...right? WRONG!, March 23, 2011

By 

Texas Lizard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Passin' Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters (Paperback)

A few years ago I was planning on emigrating from London to Australia. Having read a number of Bill Bryson books in the past I got a copy of his book 'Down Under', which by pure coincidence, came with a copy of 'A Walk in the Woods'. To be honest, I preferred the latter and, having neither camped nor hiked anywhere in my life I found the idea of the adventure somewhat gripping. It stayed with my right up until I came back to the UK from Australia (the emigration not quite having gone as planned!). I read it again and then started researching as much as I could about the Appalachian Trail.

It appears that Bryson's book divides opinion amongst the AT community (based on postings on various web boards). I must confess that this surprised me but I guess I was just used to his style and decided that I really should read a bit more...especially if I was considering a thru-hike! Having now read a number of books written by various authors I can see why. Bryson has a style that we Brits like...he pokes fun (albeit harmlessly) at the places he finds himself and particularly the people he meets. The people he describes in A Walk in the Woods suit that genre and allows him to portray his usual somewhat denigrating style. I'm not sure this is entirely representative of the AT or those that enjoy it and particularly those that earn a living from it supporting those who wish to spend some time enjoying the beauty and experience on offer.

That is where this book comes in. Many books I read on the subject were effectively diaries of individuals completing the Trail and can become a little repetitive in nature (how many other ways can you describe `what am I going to eat?', `when am I going to eat?', `where can I find water?', `where am I going to sleep?' and how many miles should I do/have done?'. I guess that explains why many of us over here in the UK are reticent to buy any book other than Bryson's as at least his has humour and once you've read one of the others you've read them all...right? Wrong. Buy Winton Porter's Just Passin' thru'.

This is a touching and emotional book not just about Winton but also his family and staff in the Outfitters they run near the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. There are numerous and varied interesting characters, some of which are `just passing through' and others that have adopted the AT as their home with Mountain Crossings being one of their regular stopping points and are as much part of the fabric of the place as Winton and his family are.
By the time I reached the end I wanted to know more. What happened to some of the characters? Did some of the thru-hikers that turned up at Mountain Crossings hopelessly over equipped and under prepared make it in the end after having one of Winton's famous `shake downs?' There really is room for a further book or two. By the sounds of it Winton appears to have a never ending stream of people passing through with different stories and events to portray. I'd certainly like to hear about them.

Winton starts by mentioning the source of the book were the many notes he had made of the people he met after buying Mountain Crossings. After a while he felt it was appropriate to share them and the book was born. It's clear that Bryson's book was a commercial venture from the get go. That's not a problem as he's a commercial writer. Just Passin' Thru' is clearly different. Winton makes it clear that most of the stories are not about him but instead the characters he encounters and form part of his life and work. He acknowledges and thanks them right from the start.

This is a book promoting the `real' Appalachian Trail and the people who love it. I have decided to become one of them...and leave in a week to begin my thru-hike adventure. One of the many highlights I am now looking forward to is the prospect of meeting Winton, his family and team at Mountain Crossings and becoming part of the history and emotion of the place.
I encourage anyone and everyone to read this book and I urge Winton to write and publish more stories.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Passin' Thru, April 28, 2010

By 

Charles C. Zapp "Piece of Work" (St. Leonard, Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Just Passin' Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters (Paperback)

I passed thru Mountain Crossings in 2006 and again with my wife in 2008. The book speaks especially to those of us who have hiked large portions of the trail. It brought back memories of some really great times and people that are part of the AT. It is a fairly quick read providing some recognizable names and memorable occurrences. This is a worthwhile part of any collection of Trail Stories that any AT hiker would enjoy. As I read 'Just Passin Thru' I was taken back to places and could see the folks I was with as when I read my own journal after a hike. Great job Winton, Thanks.