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

What a great book. Only complaint it wasn't longer, and that Porter has not written more books. He's really good, in a raconteur bar-tender way. The AT is a place of escape. It is also a test of one's endurance, and self-sufficiency - and it's no joke, most hikers fail to reach Maine. Porter is like a sports coach keeping people from "killing themselves" by replacing cotton socks and Walmart sleeping bags with lightweight gear. Now, some hikers have made the AT a lifestyle, who Porter mostly focuses on. They are kindly criminals, mentally unstable, war vets, homeless or just plain strange in an entertaining way. This is classic Gen X literature (Porter 1966). Grungy, cynical, nomadic and free. Loved every bit. The audiobook version read show more by Jones Allen significantly adds, taking it from 4 to 4.5 stars. show less

Not only have I also 'passed thru' Mountain Crossings (2001) I also had the privilege of reading some of the advanced stories as Porter was writing them. Now that I see the finished product I am happy to say it is top notch. The stories are engaging and funny; serious and winsome. Can't wait for volume II.

Really interesting stories and people, but the author can be an insensitive and condescending jerk at times.

Not only have I also 'passed thru' Mountain Crossings (2001) I also had the privilege of reading some of the advanced stories as Porter was writing them. Now that I see the finished product I am happy to say it is top notch. The stories are engaging and funny; serious and winsome. Can't wait for volume II.

Not only have I also 'passed thru' Mountain Crossings (2001) I also had the privilege of reading some of the advanced stories as Porter was writing them. Now that I see the finished product I am happy to say it is top notch. The stories are engaging and funny; serious and winsome. Can't wait for volume II.

This is a memoir by a hiking store owner, of the interesting people he met and came to know. It is centered on the thru-hikers he met at his store on the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. Some of the characters stayed over for a week or more and several even worked at the store. Stories are interesting and characters mostly very likeable.

For those reading the book, my favorite story is about "Carol", starting on page 90. Her story actually comes and goes through a few subsequent stories, ending page 99. It is listed in the table of contents under the woman's trail name, Lorac and given page 87 for a start although it realy starts around page 90 as I stated.

The first story "Dream Big is a personal introduction to how and why the show more author got into owning a store on the trail. The last story is a wrap-up of the book titled "Living in the Breezeway Life". All is very well done.

There are a few black and white photos of memorable people, including the author's family, some of the long-time staff of the store, and some of the repeat visitors who become close friends.

Of the books on long-distance hiking, this one is one of the best because the reader gets to know the nature of that kind of hiking through the hikers and staff in the stories, and also learns the nature of the people drawn to that type hiking.. show less