Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Even if you, or someone you know, is just slightly curious about what it would be like to hike the Appalachian Trail or spend time backpacking in the woods, this is a must read! Even if you are an experienced hiker, buy this great book! The funny, true stories about life dealing with all the "characters" that come into Mountain Crossings, Just Passin' Thru leaves you thinking about how you would behave and act in the backcountry. The book offers much advice/suggestions? about the "dos/don't" while hiking in the woods, although staying within the hiker motto: "hike your own hike". Only 1 negative as I finished the book, more stories please! I hope there will be a volume II.

My husband and I both enjoyed this book very much. We are very drawn to stories of personal experience on the Appalachian Trail. The author includes a couple of references to Bill Bryson's "A walk in the Woods," which is a favorite of ours. We loved this author's writing style -- very easy to relate to, and a great sense of humor. We were both disappointed, though, in the ending. While the vast majority of the book centers around all of the various types of people who use the Trail, a large part of the final few chapters deals with one employee's personal troubles; not in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the book at all. Would have preferred more stories of the travellers' experiences rather than this "gossippy" ending.

I loved "Just Passin' Through..." Although I am not a thru hiker, I have hiked portions of the AT many times and share Mr. Porter's great love for the outdoors, quiet spaces and the quirky folks you meet on the trail. I especially enjoyed reading about his love for and commitment to his family and his appreciation for the little pleasures that make up the beauty of our natural world. All hikers will enjoy this book. Wherever you hike around the country, you will understand Mr. Porter's observations, stories, sense of humor and sense of wonder.

Just completed this entertaining book. After getting bogged down with Bill Bryson's "a walk in the woods", I found Just Passin' thru refreshing. Not only funny, I enjoyed the characters, (real and fictional). I can identify with the hardships encountered on this first section of the AT and am inspired by this book.

I read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson on my son's recommendation. I became enthralled with the Appalachian Trail and inspired to start hiking, beginning with the mountains of North Georgia, especially the sections that include the AT. While hiking Amicalola Falls (near the starting point for the AT), I saw this book and started reading a random section. I was hooked, so I when I got home I bought it on Kindle. The stories are great, I learned more about the AT and hikin, but the pages flew by too quickly. For anyone who appreciated Bill Bryson, you must read this book. I had the pleasure of meeting the author today when we went to hike Blood Mountain (it happened to be on the 10 year anniversary of his purchase of Mountain Crossings). We chatted for a while and I asked (pleaded?) for him to write a sequel, I'm hoping I won't have to wait too long. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys hiking or even reading about it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book of real life characters and stories. If you have read Bill Bryson's "Walk in the Woods", I'm guessing you would most likely love reading this as well. Instead of being another story of one long journey from Georgia to Maine, this is a humorous account of many hiker's attempts at a thru hike. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished and left me wanting to hear more! I highly suggest reading this one just for the simple "dream" of getting away from the corporate world and raising a family outside the city.

Porter's book is interesting, humorous, and well-written. Please write a sequel! I want to read more!