The South’s “Cult Classic” ski book Southern Snow is All New for 2019 from the University of NC Press
Southern Snow—The New Guide to Winter Sports from Maryland to the Southern Appalachians
by Randy Johnson (ranjohns@aol.com / 336-508-2178)
446 pp., 107 halftones, 20 maps, index
ISBN 978-1-4696-5420-1 $27.00 paper
Publication date: November 18, 2019
Who knew people were skiing in the South when the sport was new in Vermont? Or that the South’s nineteen ski areas today teach more beginner ski lessons than slopes in any other region, making the “sunbelt” the top feeder market for America’s entire ski industry.
Randy Johnson’s classic regional ski guide reveals all that and more about the surprisingly snowy, increasingly sophisticated winter offerings found atop Eastern America’s highest mountains. The updated, expanded second edition—a remarkable 33 years after the 1986 original—is just in time for the 60th anniversary of skiing at Virginia’s Homestead, the first resort designed to operate exclusively on machine made snow, a “leap of faith” that set the stage for the rest of the South’s slopes and the success of snowmaking itself. Sugar Mountain, NC’s biggest ski area, marks its 50th this winter.
This all-in-one guide to winter recreation in the six-state southern snowbelt includes all the ski and snowboard resorts and cross country ski centers, as well as the snowiest high elevation trails for cross country skiing, winter hiking, and mountaineering. Johnson offers authoritative insider advice on when and how to plan a southern ski trip, why and where to take professional lessons, with insightful recommendations for lodging, dining, nightlife, activities for nonskiers, and more.
Introductory chapters feature the surprising “Climate of the Southern Snowbelt,” the inspiring people behind “The History of Southern Skiing,” and so much more, including how to drive in the snow and what kind of cars to do it with. Spectacular photos showcase the South’s snowiest sites and user-friendly maps depict backcountry ski and hiking spots.
Over four decades, Randy Johnson has explored the lofty, snowy South and ski areas all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. His ski articles and photos have appeared in the country’s top ski and outdoor magazines, including SKI, Skiing, Snow Country, Backpacker, Outside, Cross Country Skier, and major newspapers, including USA Today and city papers in Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond, and beyond. He was for nearly 20 years editor-in-chief of United Airlines magazine Hemispheres (“world’s best inflight magazine,” 2007).
Whether you’re just visiting, new to the region, or a lifelong resident, this is the only book you need to make the most of southern snow.
Advance Praise:
—“Southern Snow is a comprehensive overview of a lifestyle that shouldn’t seem to exist in the South: A southern ski industry? Really? For curious readers, Randy Johnson is only too happy to fill them in.” Joe Miller, author of Adventure Carolinas: Your Go-To Guide for Multi-Sport Outdoor Recreation
—”A fantastic book about winter recreation in a region not commonly associated with snow. Johnson does an excellent job blending extensive knowledge with weather records to explain the snowy Southern Appalachians.” Dr. Baker Perry, 2019 National Geographic Everest Extreme weather station team, Professor of Geography, Appalachian State University
For more information:
https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469654201/southern-snow/
For a selection of publicity materials for media use, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/yy4yq4h4
Media Contact for review books and author interviews: Allison Shay, 919-962-0585 / Email: ashay@uncpress.org
