I love Fedarkos description of what was going on in Glen Canyon Dam and the accident at Crystal Rapid. Impressively well-researched and very well-written. Finally, you settle into silence and begin talking yourself into a mental space where you prepare for the threshold momentthe point where the world drops away, the jitters subside, and a cool resolve seizes the tissues of your chest and belly. Well, it really is about securing the record, but I agree that on both EM runs the experience was profoundly bonding among the participants. 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. Fantastic read, both in terms of the history of the canyon and the record breaking descent. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. 860 likes. The event I am about to reveal to you CAN NOT be explained away as coincidence. 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. This book was hard to put down. Here is an instant classic of adventure literaturea story shot through with bravura but also touched by the rarest kind of grandeur." Where human history and natural history collide! This was a fantastic book! , should only brighten his accolades and helps his non-fiction book read like a fast-paced fiction adventureIt isn't necessary to be a history buff or whitewater expert to enjoy this story With meticulous research, notes and epilogue, Fedarko tells a satisfying story that is quite an entertaining ride." What makes the book so compelling is the broader narrative - this is not so much a book about a rafting trip it is a book about the Grand Canyon and America's relationship to wilderness. 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! .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. 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 Emerald Mile Choose your Destination Choose your Experience Choose your River Book My Expedition Call Us 866.904.1160 The Emerald Mile Douglas A. Thanks for giving me a mention in your review. He brings alive the Canyon, the Colorado River, and the people who are drawn to protect it or dam it. Mens Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Most of them couldn't conceive of living anywhere else to do what they do. Last June, I went and listened as Kevin Fedarko gave us a presentation and overview of the Emerald Mile. Would you agree based on your speed descents? 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. 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 dam's base and rocketed toward the dark chasm downstream, where the torrents of water released by the dam engineers had created a rock-walled . Kevin Fedarkos superb book presents the Grand Canyon in a way most people will never see it from the bottom up, with a strong emphasis on the river that carved the Canyons unique features and which provides the most accessible route for the much smaller number of tourists lucky enough to experience the beautiful natural and geologic features of the lower Canyon. Lots of analogies and philosophising that long nights gazing at the night sky from the bottom of the Canyon leads too. I would have rated it higher except for the fact that the first 100 pages were a struggle. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. 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. But we were only after the oar-powered record, not the non-motorized nor the human-powered records. Fedarko was a staff writer at. Then you spit into your palms and twirl your oar blades to confirm that theyre rotating smoothly in the locks. I knew almost nothing about the Grand Canyon or the Colorado River watershed when I picked up this book, now Im swimming in information and loving it! Safe and Secure Mailer. Long story short, in 1983 Kenton and two friends secretly launched their boat at midnight during a historical 'superstorm' and went on to successfully set a new Grand Canyon speed record. He answered that he had been a good friend of Grua. Start by marking The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon as Want to Read: Error rating book. A great read. The Emerald Mile is the best combination of journalistic reporting and eloquent storytelling. 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 . The author personally knew most of the "characters" that appear in this well researched, beautifully written, appropriately humorous expose on all things Grand Canyon. And on one of the biggest rapids on the river, boats were being torn apart and people were dying. On the other hand, the physical demands on a record-breaking kayaker on a continuous 277 mile run through Grand Canyon are such that they require a top-rated athlete in peak condition performing at 100 percent. There were two equally important factors that determined our attempts. So I asked him if he knew Kenton Grua. I would have rated it higher if the first part of the book werent so slow. Mountain magazine"The book is at its heart an engrossing meditation on the eternal struggle between man and nature." Theres a rumor that Kenton built another dory specifically for a speed attempt. I would have rated it higher except for the fact that the first 100 pages were a struggle. Best book about a true story that I've read in a long time! The challenges faced by kayakers attempting a Grand Canyon speed run are, for the most part, entirely different from those faced by an oar-powered row boat, so much so that it becomes a stretch to compare the two (apples and oranges). - 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. I noticed a Dory painted in the colors of the Emerald mile. Well written, one of those kinds of books that I couldn't wait to get back to, and I didn't want to end. Brilliant memories for us we rafted down the Colorado just around Easter 1989 with Colorado River & Trail. Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian history at Oxford in 1990. Try again. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! There was a problem loading your book clubs. 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." I have no doubt it will become an instant classic, a timeless chronicle of what can still be legitimately called the American spirit." Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. 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. Lol, just kidding (barely). 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. I reread some passages just to revel in the prose. I try to picture myself in the EM during our speed run, in the thrashing turbulence and the monstrous waves which, as the boat approached them, kept changing the direction so we wouldnt know how to point the boat to hit them straight, often requiring a major adjustment at the very last instant. I knew almost nothing about the Grand Canyon or the Colorado River watershed when I picked up this book, now Im swimming in information and loving it! But Reality check: many (though by no means all) of Kentons hair-brained ideas turned out to be not only feasible but also practical. 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. Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022. He then said, "I was here for the memorial service and his cremated remains were spread here. . Read reviews from thousands of our guests on a variety of trips. I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! So much history and info! There is also a lot of information about dams and the environmental aspect of building them. Wow, this was Let me start, I am not a boating person. Refresh and try again. Overall I really enjoyed the book. So I re-engagedand what a story it has to tell. The 135 miles that we experienced, never lost its magic. This is why you remain in the best website to look the amazing books to have. The Emerald Mile's record stood for 33 years. I also told him that I had intended to pay my respects at Grua's grave but could not find it. The book may have some highlights, notes, underlined pages. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named "The Emerald Mile" at the head . Please use a different way to share. I am very impressed that Matt and Ben succeeded on relatively low-volume fluctuating flows in mid-winter, and Im surprised that the new record was set on an average flow of barely 14,500 cfs. The ebook version of The Emerald Mile is epically BAD. Kevin Fedarko lives in northern New Mexico and works as a part-time river guide in Grand Canyon National Park. Enjoy the rides! 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. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. This is terrific narrative nonfiction. I have been hugely privileged enough to do the trip 3 times in my life as a passenger on the big rigs, so it brought me right back there. Photo by Rudi Petschek. Book has great history lessons as well. Let me start, I am not a boating person. Slept under the stars every night and cruised, swam and hiked during the day. Format: Paperback Publisher: Scribner favorite Add to wishlist For me, because I grew up in Page, Arizona and witnessed this great event, the story starts off a little slowbecause I had already lived that part. 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 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. According to his obituary he is buried in Flagstaff. Okay. So we gave up. I have no doubt it will become an instant classic, a timeless chronicle of what can still be legitimately called the American spirit." A good friend of mine suggested I read a book titled the Emerald Mile prior to going to the Grand Canyon I did that. It was truly spectacular! 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 the detail of the lead up to the speed run. 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. For many boaters, Im sure hearing about Orkins swim puts him in a super-human category, but swimming Crystal Rapid at 72,000 cfs sound equally terrifying! -- Bob Shacochis author of Swimming in the Volcano and Easy in the Islands"Fedarko's effortlessly engaging narrative is a labor of passion from an adventurous journalist who still calls the Grand Canyon home." That spring, a massive snowmelt sent runoff racing down the Colorado River toward the Glen Canyon Dam. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. Wasnt that like comparing apples and oranges, or, as river historian Tom Martin put it in a comment on our website, apples and pasta? Not everyone will want to invest the time necessary to fully appreciate this exquisite work of narrative nonfiction. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. In the spring of 1983, massive flooding along the l This one is, and Fedarko's book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. 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." The unprecedented weather, the inner workings of a dam, and how threatening it was to downstream USA. Their aim was to set a speed record for the 277-mile passage, a record that could never be beaten. 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. I was further interested when the group pulled up on the beach. Then in 83, again opportunity, this time to set the record to where the oar-powered record would be near unreachable. I have no doubt it will . We small talked for a while and I learned he was working for Oars Grand Canyon Dorys. 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 . I wondered if he knew where Gruas grave was. No other river on earth has ever cut canyons to rival those of the Colorado. On the engineering side, the rapid and uncontrolled rise of Lake Powell put the Dam at risk of catastrophic failure. But once I started reading I was enamored by the stories of the history of the canyon and those that experienced and changed it over the years. Fedarko is a great writer (I've enjoyed his pieces in Outside for years), and he puts the speed run in context with the Grand Canyon's history, geology and hydrology, river-running culture, and the dam-building era. Kevins book should be required reading for anyone taking a Colorado River trip. 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. I find this impressive beyond words, especially compared to us with our 200+ trips of combined Grand Canyon experience at the time of our record run. Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian history at Oxford in 1990. , rarest of creationsa magical convergence of words and paper, wood and water, rock and sky, human character and cosmic caprice, . Required fields are marked *. And sure enough hanging from the ceilingretired the Emerald Mile!. C&K: Its been a wild week. The Emerald Mile is a fantastic read, and an instant throw-back for me to those days on the river. In the spring of 1983, massive flooding along the length of the Colorado River confronted a team of engineers at the Glen Canyon Dam with an unprecedented emergency that may have resulted in the most catastrophic dam failure in history. The narrator could not be more annoying if he actually set out to infuriate the listener. if there is a point to being in the canyon, it is not to rush but to linger, suspended in a blue-and-amber haze of in-between-ness, for as long as one possibly can. To see our price, add these items to your cart. Probably more information and history behind the great dams of the west, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and river running than most people want/need, but I ended up really liking this and the narrator was great! 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. 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. After reading The Emerald Mile, I now wish I would have read this book before I went. Now a resident of. Please try again. FWIW, ebook is not the same as an audio book. 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! Whats one of the best memories from your speed runs? An epic-sized true-life adventure tale that appeals to both the heart and the head. This is almost a perfect book it combines the story of an event (a speed-run through the Grand Canyon in a dory) and backstory, both near and old in an extremely readable way. 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. Still, in this case, I remain super-skeptical. He loved all the details and the grip as he called it. 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. 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! Your email address will not be published. Welcome back. Firstly, such a project would require sponsorship (which Kenton recognized) and long-term planning. However, an understanding of the political context behind the significance of what Kenton Grua and those other guys did on that boat, especially right after a fatality occured on the water, was a wild and entertaining read. Product Identifiers . 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