It was truly spectacular! He writes so vividly that your favorite reading chair becomes a spray-soaked perch on a bucking boat hit hard by a river running high and fast." We small talked for a while and I learned he was working for Oars Grand Canyon Dorys. Book has great history lessons as well. Some of it, like the struggle for protection of the grand canyon itself and how it almost got turned into a reservoir, was v. This is my first book ever listening to, and I think listening to some of the names rather than being able to see them on paper might have helped keep track of some of the names, but that's largely unimportant. I also would like to rate this higher. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named "The Emerald Mile" at the head of the Grand Canyon, just fifteen miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam, seemed not just odd, but downright suicidal. I have no doubt it will become an instant classic, a timeless chronicle of what can still be legitimately called the American spirit." I wondered if he knew where Gruas grave was. In the spring of 1983, massive flooding along the l Pub Date: May 7, 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4391-5985-9 Page Count: 432 Publisher: Scribner Would you agree based on your speed descents? The narrator could not be more annoying if he actually set out to infuriate the listener. He brings alive the Canyon, the Colorado River, and the people who are drawn to protect it or dam it. That these came as a bonus and lasted a third of a century was truly unexpected. Overall I really enjoyed the book. The event I am about to reveal to you CAN NOT be explained away as coincidence. The story telling (based on true events) was fantastic. On the engineering side, the rapid and uncontrolled rise of Lake Powell put the Dam at risk of catastrophic failure. I was a little put out at the beginning with just a hint of what ultimately would follow, and it was quite a while befor he braided that intro into all the other backstories--sort of like adding ingredients to a fine recipe before it is cooked, with wafting aromas leading you up to, at last, that longed-for bite. This is a fantastic combination of storytelling and research. The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon Paperback - July 1, 2014 by Kevin Fedarko (Author) 1,998 ratings 4.4 on Goodreads 9,369 ratings Editors' pick Best Nonfiction See all formats and editions Kindle $14.99 Read with Our Free App Hardcover He juxtaposes the Glen Canyon Dam engineers' race to avoid catastrophic failures during the huge 1983 spring runoff with what was happening on the river with the many commercial trips caught in big water. Having (met many of the characters as a part of my river family and) grown up hearing these legends and histories told while gathered around the Dories at cocktail hour, I enjoyed reliving this in my imagination. Author: Kevin Fedarko Genre: Nature, Travel, Sports & Recreation, History Topic: The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the man at the oars, who intended to use this flood as a kind of hydraulic sling-shot. Not to mention I live next to Glen Canyon Dam and love Lees Ferryso, this book Gripped me hard too! We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. But Kenton Grua, the captain of that dory, was determined to use the flood as a hydraulic slingshot that would hurl him and his companions through 277 miles of some of the most ferocious white water in North America and, if everything went as planned, catapult the Emerald Mile into legend as the fastest boat ever propelled - by oar, by motor . Wed love your help. Bens recovery from his Lava experience, solo in the dark in mid-winter, makes his feat infinitely more impressive. There was a problem loading your book clubs. re-creates an incredible voyage through the flood-swollen Grand Canyon in such heart-pounding detail that you need to pause every few pages to catch your breath that your favorite reading chair becomes a spray-soaked perch on a bucking boat hit hard by a river running high and fast." This book started out slowly, and I found some of the flowery prose to be ponderous, but the second half was much better than the first. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! Best book about a true story that I've read in a long time! The book provided the exploration history of the Grand Canyon, and while interesting, was a struggle to read through. There is a section of the book toward the end that is, but the majority of it is quite the opposite. The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the . Crystal scares the living hell out of me after reading the book but life should be filled with adventure, right? I argued that if he were to follow this plan it would be more realistic for him to set 30 hours as a goal, but he remained adamant about a sub-24 hour run. "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko is now on my short list of all-time favorite books, 5 stars plus! I have no doubt it will . In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named the Emerald Mile at the head of the Grand Canyon, just fifteen miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam, seemed not just odd but downright suicidal.The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the man at . Grand Canyon River Guide Buzz Belknap 1975 Pure Land Annette McGivney And I had no idea we narrowly missed what would have been probably the greatest national disaster of the almost failing of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1983. If you ever get the chance, ride it through. So much history and info! At age 12, Grua was enthralled by a whitewater rafting trip taken with his father on the Green River, a tributary of the Colorado River. The Emerald Mile Choose your Destination Choose your Experience Choose your River Book My Expedition Call Us 866.904.1160 The Emerald Mile Douglas A. Highly recommend it. This is a story of a super-man deliberately pushing himself physically to his limits, which the Emerald Mile story is not. Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon, There's This River Grand Canyon Boatman Stories. The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the . Slept under the stars every night and cruised, swam and hiked during the day. by Scribner. An epic-sized true-life adventure tale that appeals to both the heart and the head. Most of them couldn't conceive of living anywhere else to do what they do. Once the book was talking about presen. The authors writing style was very cumbersome and he seemed to take two or three sentences to say what could have been said more simply with one. This was a trip of a lifetime for this decidedly no camping, I need to sleep in a bed at night, no discomfort, but adventurous soul, middle-aged lady. It's not really a story just about the fastest ride, which is a small part of the book. This past August 2018, I had the great privilege to take a 5 day journey down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. I sensed he was welling up under is sunglasses. The only reason I didn't rate this book with five stars is because it is LONG. So it is a great boon of Fedarko's book that he tells the story of the dam, and of the engineers and techinicians who built it with as much respect and homage as he gives to the dorymen." Grua resting in the Emerald Mile. This one is, and Fedarkos book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. Then you spit into your palms and twirl your oar blades to confirm that theyre rotating smoothly in the locks. Kenton Grua in the Emerald Mile, the dory used on the speed run. Fedarko seems to be well-read in many genres, and is able to seamlessly pull up references to other literature to add dimensions to an already 3-D book. I didnt expect it to be so dense looking! By kayaks, definitely! Cleveland Plain-Dealer"Grua's wild ride on the Colorado, how it mirrored his mercurial personality, is just on part of Fedarko's story; however, the rive, which runs through seven states, and the canyon, rich in both geological and political history, prove to be the real protagonists." I had an 8 day journey that I will never forget. I also told him that I had intended to pay my respects at Grua's grave but could not find it. Expecting a mild adventure read, I ordered this book based on some comments in the Outside book club Facebook group. -- Hampton Sides editor-at-large at Outside magazine and author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers. The goal was to nail the all-time record for the fastest boat ever propelledby oar, by motor, or by the grace of God himselfdown the entire length of the Colorado River from Lees Ferry to Lake Mead. Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian history at Oxford in 1990. He really went deep on those. Specifically, this book is about the 1983 flood that washed down the Colorado Basin into Lake Powell, forcing a massive, unprecedented flood down the Colorado River and through Grand Canyon. Can an adventure story be as beautiful as it is heart-stopping and exciting? As a writer, he'll make you understand it, savor it, and ultimately love it as you never have before. I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! His writing style was just beautiful! , as the natural wonder of which he writes the books goes beyond your typical river porn, offering a wide appeal to everyone from history buffs and the Popular Mechanics set to environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts. This book announces Fedarko as a major writing talent and at last sets forth the full story of an American legend--the legend of The Emerald Mile . While some visitors undertake back-country hikes, most people are content to enjoy the views from the South Rim, and do not venture much below the rim. In 1983, as we turned the last corner into the open Lake Mead, I remember, as I sat on the EMs stern seat, tears coming to my eyes as a lump lodged in my throat. The saga of The Emerald Mile is a thrilling adventure, as well as a magisterial portrait of the hidden kingdom of white water at the bottom of the greatest river canyon on earth. Did he survive? We see Dorys all the time here in Flagstaff, but this one is special, it's the Emerald Mile, the boat used by Kenton Grua (who was also the first person to walk the entire length of Grand Canyon), Rudi Petschek and Steve Reynolds in 1983 to make the historic "speed run" through the Grand Canyon. With arguments still flying, we decided to get an expert opinion on these questions. In fact, it would not be overblown to say The Emerald Mile deserved a spot on the bookshelf alongside such enduring classics as Cadillac Desert, Desert Solitaire and Encounters with the Archdruid. This is a great story interrupted for most of the book by endless meandering. Granted, the waters were coming out of the dam at 94,000 cfs rather than 6-8,000 cfs but can't you drown in a bathtub? A superbly written, well-researched and wonderful book. So much history and info! It takes almost 3/4 of the way into the book to actually get to The Emerald Mile water run, but it is so worth the wait! I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022. A good friend of mine suggested I read a book titled the Emerald Mile prior to going to the Grand Canyon I did that. One thing Team Beer emphasized was how, for them, making the speed attempt wasnt so much about getting the record as it was about bonding with good friends under very demanding circumstances. Please try again. Did you, Kenton and Wren realize that your time could be beaten by kayak at normal flows? Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. From dam technology and politics, to wooden dory building, to reading rapids - you name it - all tied together and culminating in the most amazing feat by an unlikely crew of 3 fascinating and very different individuals. I had wanted to pay my respects to Kenton Grua and had resolved my self that I would not. In addition to his travel narratives in Outside, where he worked as a senior editor, Fedarkos work has appeared in Esquire, National Geographic Adventure, and other publications, and has been anthologized in The Best American Travel Writing in 2004 and 2006. But. But, thank God, Crystal Rapid let us through, all thirteen of us, with just big splashes. The Emerald Mile was the name of a boat, a legendary wooden dory that was once thought dead. The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story Of The Fastest Ride In History Through The Heart Of The Grand Canyon ISBN: 1439159866 EAN13: 9781439159866 Language: English Release Date: Jul 1, 2014 Pages: 448 Dimensions: 1.5" H x 8.35" L x 5.51" W Weight: 0.79 lbs. Okay. Beautiful writing, simply beautiful. Highly recommend. I want to rate this book higher - the subject matter is exactly what I want to be reading all the time, but I had a couple issues with the book. Read the book last month. FWIW, ebook is not the same as an audio book. Okay. Most boaters will be familiar with the bare bones of the record-breaking run, immortalized in Kevin Fedarko's 2013 bestseller, The Emerald Mile. Kenton Grua and Georgie White, first professional river guide. 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