The Emerald Mile's record stood for 33 years. To float, to drift, savoring the pulse of the river on its odyssey through the canyon, and above all, to postpone the unwelcome and . Kit and I checked both Flagstaff cemeteries and Kenton Grua was not buried in either location. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. I had an 8 day journey that I will never forget. Now, this remarkable, epic feat unfolds here, in The Emerald Mile. In 1983, following a devastating flood that led to one of the most disastrous dam wreckages in history, a trio of rafters launched a small wooden dory named The Emerald Mile just 15 miles from the failed Glen Canyon Dam. 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! The history of The Grand Canyon, the Glen Canyon dam are so interesting. That trip was something I will never forget. With arguments still flying, we decided to get an expert opinion on these questions. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. Enjoy!! So we gave up. Book has great history lessons as well. The author really takes you there with all the details of the history of the Grand Canyon, John Wesley Powell and his explorations, geology of the area, background of all the characters involved, the history of the Glen Canyon Dam and many others and the environmentalist fighting against their construction. 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 . He then said, "I was here for the memorial service and his cremated remains were spread here. . The Emerald Mile is so much more than the epic tale of the 1983 dory speed run through the Grand Canyon, though that adventure is brilliantly told. Your email address will not be published. I noticed a Dory painted in the colors of the Emerald mile. 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. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition. Almost cancelled the trip as a result. After reading The Emerald Mile, I now wish I would have read this book before I went. So much history and info! Until the Marble Canyon Lodge burned down in 2013, they had a large photo of the 1983 flip of Tour West hanging on the wall that was taken by Richard Kocim. The last time I rowed was back in Boy Scouts. Even though the whole thing is very detailed, he wrote it in a lovely, almost kind of sentimental, reverent style. There is a Kindle version on Amazon for The Emerald Mile. This book is full of adventure, chronicling the fastest journey through the Grand Canyon on a watercraft. "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko . The article was originally published on Canoe & Kayak. 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 . And even if your acquaintance with the two is fleeting (as is mine), you may want to read this thorough account of a speed run down the Colorado River in 1983 after one of the biggest water years in the western United State's history. I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! Emerald Mile : the Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon Item Length: 8.4in. His descriptions brought every scene to life for me - even when (or especially when) he goes off on a lyrical tangent - e.g., " And peeking over the cliffs like a Chinese lantern was a swollen, yellow globe that draped the folds of the surrounding plateau in moonbeams" sigh. 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. In the midst of this crisis, beneath the light of a full moon, a trio of river guides secretly launched a small, hand-built wooden boat, a dory named the Emerald Mile, into the Colorado just below the dams base and rocketed toward the dark chasm downstream, where the torrents of water released by the dam engineers had created a rock . 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. 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. 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. It appealed to two of my interests: engineering, with its descriptions of how the personnel at the Glen Canyon Dam dealt with the huge water inflows from the El Nino event and the damage caused to the spillways, and whitewater rafting, with its descriptions of the fastest ride and how rafting companies, their customers, and the river rangers dealt with the danger of the increased water flows and changes to rapids through the Grand Canyon. This was a fantastic book! I didnt find the narrator annoying at all (neither was he fantastic). Reading this book is a great escape to what feels like a simpler time with the high drama of a dam that may fail and river guides who may not survive a stunt that only those who run rivers would ever conceive of undertaking. I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! No doubt the drama of that ride is exciting, but the book also provides a deep look into the discovery of the Grand Canyon, the origins of the Glen Canyon Dam & the Hoover Dam, the graceful wooden dory, and how the famous Colorado river silt changed the landscape of Southern California including the creation of the Salton Sea. The tale of your speed descents has no doubt inspired new generations to take up the challenge presented by the canyon. There was a problem loading your book clubs. He juxtaposes the Glen Canyon Dam engineers' race to avoid catastrophic failures during the huge 1983 spring runoff with what was happen. , Fedarko has found and rescued a great American tall tale that just happens to be true, . I recently went on a Grand Canyon river rafting adventure. So fascinating, was such a great audio book! Still, in this case, I remain super-skeptical. The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon Accessory - June 3, 2015 by Kevin Fedarko(Author) 4.8 out of 5 stars1,985 ratings 4.4 on Goodreads 9,246 ratings Editors' pickBest Nonfiction See all formats and editions Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. I have an ongoing admiration for the Rigg brothers, who in 1951 set their 53-hour record (scouting only Lava Falls; no Crystal then, no night rowing) with a cumulative experience of only three trips total between the two of them. The Emerald Miles 1983 record run was perhaps more risky on account of our scant familiarity with the extreme turbulence of 72,000 cfs, which kept us constantly on edge. 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. Lots of pertinent information. 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. Then you spit into your palms and twirl your oar blades to confirm that theyre rotating smoothly in the locks. Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2022. Learn how your comment data is processed. I picked up this book for my teenage son while my husband and I visited the Grand Canyon. Just barely. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. The author personally knew most of the "characters" that appear in this well researched, beautifully written, appropriately humorous expose on all things Grand Canyon. 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. Wow, this was truly amazing. The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko Summary: The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. One of the most enthralling books I have read in a long time. From Kevin . magazines Literary All-Stars comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever, down the entire length of the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, during the legendary flood of 1983. 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. Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. The last time I rowed was back in Boy Scouts. attempt by three eccentric Colorado river guides to navigate the swollen rapids of the Grand Canyon in 1983 in a tiny dory called the Emerald Mile. Brilliant memories for us we rafted down the Colorado just around Easter 1989 with Colorado River & Trail. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. The boat flipped in a mammoth incarnation of Crystal Rapid, but through combination of luck and honed whitewater skill, the trio was able to climb back aboard the dory in the runout to the swollen rapid, right it, and go onto set the record time. This book announces Fedarko as a major writing talent and at last sets forth the full story of an American legendthe legend of The Emerald Mile. This one is, and Fedarkos book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. Where human history and natural history collide! Kenton Grua, Rudy Petschek, and Steve Reynolds, https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Mile-Fastest-History-Through-ebook/dp/B00ALYY6W8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1613844144&sr=8-1. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. I do remember the thrill it was to stand on the edge of the Canyon as both of Glen Canyon Dams spillways and all 4 jet tubes were roaring down belowTHE WHOLE CANYON SHOOK! 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. Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian history at Oxford in 1990. Your email address will not be published. The story telling (based on true events) was fantastic. Kevin Fedarko lives in northern New Mexico and works as a part-time river guide in Grand Canyon National Park. On the latter trip, the three men took turns on the oars, rowing illegally through day and night on a flood of 72,000 cubic feet per second, the largest the Grand had seen since the construction of Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s. . That is not at all accurate. - NY, USA | October 4, 2021 Dear Friends and family, The event I am about to reveal to you CAN NOT be explained away as coincidence. 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The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon is a 2013 non-fiction book written by Kevin Fedarko. He answered that he had been a good friend of Grua. 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. We were the first raft of the season on the back of high spring rains (but far less than The Emerald Mile had to cope with) and we camped out taking 10 days Holiday of a lifetime! It took me a while to understand the author was painting a broad picture of the background leading up to the main event, and after my initial impatience to get to the adventure, began to really enjoy Just finished it and I am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story. As I sit in my office and stare out at the Jeffrey Pines in my back yard, in late November as we all wait for precipitation patiently, the big winter this story relies on feels ephemeral, like a thing of the past. 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. What are your thoughts? Rapid snowmelt in June of 1983 created the highest water in the Grand Canyon in 25 years, the likes of which hadn't been experienced since before Glen Canyon Dam was built. A steady flow (not in the cards) would be essential. 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 purchased my copy that nightbut it has sit dormant on a shelf until a second friend told me how good it was. Kenton Grua was born and raised in Vernal, Utah. Fedarko has supplied astonishing facts, lyrical, magical atmosphere, and extreme One of the most enthralling books I have read in a long time. Do you think a team in such craft could challenge the Emerald Miles time at normal flows or on a 40,000 cfs pulse flow? 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. The night sky is so much better than anything I could have imagined. Fedarko was a staff writer at. In the latest episode of "The Dirtbag Diaries," Brendan Leonard of Semi-rad.com explores the story of how 'The Emerald Mile' became a book. Still holding the record, even with a recent attempt at breaking it on January 7th, 2015 by Ben Orkin and Harrison Rea in Kayaksof 37 hours and 48 minutes, Kenton Grua, Rudy Petschek, and Steve Reynolds still hold the record of 36 hours and 38 minutes! Click Here : https://clickhere-03.blogspot.com/?book=1439159858 From one of Outside magazine?s ?Literary All-Stars? Orkins Lava flip and recovery has every bit of the drama and suspense of the Emerald Miles Crystal episode in 83. The only reason I didn't rate this book with five stars is because it is LONG. In the tradition of Kon Tiki or Touching the Void, The Emerald Mile is a story of adventure that transcends most writing of extreme exploits. Kenton Grua and Georgie White, first professional river guide. 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. Okay. I almost didn't finish this book. He absolutely devoured this book. Let us know whats wrong with this preview of, Published Worthwhile. The popular highlights below are some of the most common ones Kindle readers have saved. 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. finished it and I am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2017, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2014, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2015, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2014, Reviewed in Canada on November 9, 2020, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Scribner; Reprint edition (July 1, 2014). Smoothly in the locks copy that nightbut it has sit dormant on a watercraft lovely almost! 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