
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've been fascinated by the Appalachian Trail for decades. Wouldn't it be great to walk the Appalachian Trail, I thought when I first heard of it. Part of me would still like to give it a try.
Alas, life frequently gets in the way of our dreams, including (yup!) walking the trail.
Thank goodness for books about walking the Appalachian Trail. When I stumbled across Just Passin' Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters by Winton Porter, I had to read it.
Winton Porter had worked in outdoor retail businesses for much of his adult life. But somehow, his dream of something different kept drifting into his consciousness. So, in 2001, he and family moved to Mountain Crossings, a "little outfitter shop that sits astride the Appalachian Trail...in Blairsville, Georgia." In Just Passin' Thru:..., Winton tells of his family's new lifestyle, running the shop, supplying those "just passin' through" at the beginning of their north-bound trek on the Appalachian Trail. He introduces us to so many interesting characters who, for whatever reason, have decided to walk the A.T. Early on, he mentioned Grandma Gatewood (from Ben Montgomery's Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail), as well as recognizing a couple show up who was mentioned in A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. Then, there are many other interesting characters: Billy Bumblefoot, Brain Storm, Lego, and so many others who keep life on the trail interesting.
While I had been hoping for another book about one person's trek on the A.T., this was every bit as engaging, as any Appalachian Trail book, maybe even better. If you're looking for a good book that will put a smile on your face, as well as the need to tell anyone nearby, "Wait, you have to hear this!" before reading them a passage, Winton Porter's Just Passin' Thru by Porter, Winton (2010) Paperback is a must read.
View all my reviews