Mountain Crossings an Appalachian Trail icon

Travel

Mountain Crossings in Blairsville, Ga. offers Appalachian Trail hikers a chance to rest, eat and stock up on supplies.

A used hiker's boot hangs in a tree along the Appalachian Trail that passes through Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi in Neels Gap near Blairsville, Ga. The hostel and outfitter's store is a busy place this spring as hikers begin their Appalachian Trail adventure, ending in the fall in Maine. This store is the only man-made structure that the Appalachian Trail passes through. The historic store sells hiking gear, and accommodates and feeds hungry hikers.

A white blaze marks the Appalachian Trail on a tree near the breeze way of Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi at Neels Gap in Blairsville, Ga.

Winton Porter walks outside from his store as a large Appalachian Trail sign is shown next to his store, Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi. Porter has written a book, "Just Passin Thru'" about his experiences in this unique and historic place.

Shoes from past hikers of the Appalachian trail decorate the outside and the inside of Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi at Neels Gap in Blairsville, Ga. The bottom shoe has written on it, 9-29-08, 55 days, 2175 miles. Winton Porter, owner of Mountain Crossings, says he has aspirations of collecting 2178 pairs of old shoes, marking every mile of the trail. Currently he has around 800 shoes to start the museum.

A hiker walks into the hostel at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi on the Appalachian Trail.

Staff member Ryan "Squirrel" Davis, left, gives hiker Alex Linton of San Diego his information for a room at the hostel at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi. Winton Porter, the owner of the hostel/store, has written a book about his experiences learning trail stories from characters such as Baltimore Jack, Lumpy, Dartman and Squirrel, called "Just Passin Thru'".

A humorous sign displays the rules of the hostel along the Appalachian Trail at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi in Neels Gap. Even though this sign says alcohol is permitted, that has since changed and now no alcohol drinking is allowed in the hostel.

Mike Kaufman, 25, of Cleveland, Ohio reads a book as he relaxes in his bunk inside the hostel along the Appalachian Trail at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi.

Mountain Crossings Walasi-Yi owner Winton Porter sits with his daughter Alli, 8, and their dog Patches, an Australian Shepard, at the overlook of the North Georgia Mountains at Neels Gap. This overlook is directly behind the outfitters shop.

Ryan "Squirrel" Davis walks with his mountain bike after cleaning it at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi overlooking the North Georgia mountains. Squirrel is a staff member at Mountain Crossings.

The breeze way of Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi is the only man-made structure that the Appalachian Trail passes through at Neels Gap.

Hiker Traci Toombs of Washington walks down the steps of Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi after hiking north on the Appalachian Trail at Neels Gap. Toombs, who is only hiking a portion of the A.T., stayed the night in the hostel at Mountain Crossings.

Don "Mom" Johnson, 73, of North Dakota, puts on his backpack as he makes his way to the hostel along the Appalachian Trail at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi.

Donna Ward, of Suchess, Ga. talks on the phone as she walks along the Appalachian Trail as she crosss Neels Gap and Gainesville Highway across the street from Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi. Ward just hiked up and back on the trail for the afternoon.

Staff member Georganna Mortan walks with her dog, Boone, back to her apartment above the hostel at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi in the breeze way where the Appalachian Trail passes through the store.

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A used hiker's boot hangs in a tree along the Appalachian Trail that passes through Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi in Neels Gap near Blairsville, Ga. The hostel and outfitter's store is a busy place this spring as hikers begin their Appalachian Trail adventure, ending in the fall in Maine. This store is the only man-made structure that the Appalachian Trail passes through. The historic store sells hiking gear, and accommodates and feeds hungry hikers.

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