A Road Running Southward : Following John Muir's Journey Through an Endangered Land

"Engaging hybrid - part lyrical travelogue, part investigative journalism and part jeremiad, all shot through with droll humor." -- The Atlanta Journal Constitution In 1867, John Muir set out on foot to explore the botanical wonders of the South, keeping a detailed journal of his adventures as he traipsed from Kentucky southward to Florida. One hundred and fifty years later, on a similar whim, veteran Atlanta reporter Dan Chapman, distressed by sprawl-driven environmental ills in a region he loves, recreated Muir’s journey to see for himself how nature has fared since Muir’s time. Channeling Muir, he uses humor, keen observation, and a deep love of place to celebrate the South’s natural riches. But he laments that a treasured way of life for generations of Southerners is endangered as long-simmering struggles intensify over misused and dwindling resources. Chapman seeks to discover how Southerners might balance surging population growth with protecting the natural beauty Muir found so special. Each chapter touches upon a local ecological problem—at-risk species in Mammoth Cave, coal ash in Kingston, Tennessee, climate change in the Nantahala National Forest, water wars in Georgia, aquifer depletion in Florida—that resonates across the South. Chapman delves into the region’s natural history, moving between John Muir’s vivid descriptions of a lush botanical paradise and the myriad environmental problems facing the South today. Along the way he talks to locals with deep ties to the land—scientists, hunters, politicians, and even a Muir impersonator—who describe the changes they’ve witnessed and what it will take to accommodate a fast-growing population without destroying the natural beauty and a cherished connection to nature. A Road Running Southward is part travelogue, part environmental cri de coeur, and paints a picture of a South under siege. It is a passionate appeal, a call to action to save one of the loveliest and most biodiverse regions of the world by understanding what we have to lose if we do nothing. "Chapman describes this book as a journey he takes through the South, following John Muir's little-known southern trek in 1867, "to highlight the environmental issues bedeviling the South today." He follows Muir's route through Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Each chapter touches upon a local ecological problem-at-risk species at Mammoth Cave, coal ash in Kingston, Tenn., climate change in the Nantahala, water shortages in Georgia, aquifer depletion in Florida-that resonates across the South. He delves into the ecological history of each region and in "reader-friendly fashion" details its environmental problems and possible solutions. He adds lots of local color and talks to real people as well as scientists. He describes it as part travelogue, part environmental cri de coeur. His goal, he says, is to paint a picture of a South under siege whose ecological ills must be addressed. He sees the book not as a polemic but as a call to action to save one of the "loveliest and most biodiverse regions of the world.""-- Provided by publisher In 1867, John Muir Set Out On Foot To Explore The Botanical Wonders Of The South, From Kentucky To Florida. One Hundred And Fifty Years Later, Veteran Atlanta Reporter Dan Chapman Recreated Muir's Journey To See For Himself How Nature Has Fared Since Muir's Time. He Uses Humor, Keen Observation, And A Deep Love Of Place To Celebrate The South's Natural Riches. But He Laments The Long-simmering Struggles Over Misused Resources And Seeks To Discover How Southerners Might Balance Surging Population Growth With Protecting The Natural Beauty Muir Found So Special. A Road Running Southward Is Part Travelogue, Part Environmental Cri De Coeur--a Passionate Appeal To Save One Of The Loveliest And Most Biodiverse Regions Of The World By Understanding What We Have To Lose If We Do Nothing. Front Cover About Island Press Subscribe Title Page Copyright Contents Introduction: Ghosts, Skeeters, and Rye Chapter 1: Who Is John Muir? Chapter 2: A New South Reckoning Chapter 3: The South’s Incredible Biodiversity Is Threatened and Endangered Chapter 4: A Celebration of Muir Turns Toxic Chapter 5: “The Mountains Are Calling”—and They’re Not Happy Chapter 6: More Rain, More Heat, and More Trouble Chapter 7: Water Wars Chapter 8: The Deeper the River, the Greater the Pain Chapter 9: A Coastal Playground Is Disappearing Chapter 10: Where Hogs Rule and Turtles Tremble Chapter 11: Take My Water, Please Chapter 12: The End of the Road Acknowledgments Further Readings About the Author Island Press | Board of Directors Readers join the author on a journey through the natural wonders of the South, framed by John Muir's writings on the region to learn about the dangers posed to this uniquely biodiverse environment.