I was further interested when the group pulled up on the beach. 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. It was fun reading it after the trip too. First, high praise for Kevin Fedarko! 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. Was there story that inspired you in the early 80s? 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 was truly spectacular! The big stumbling block was fluctuation, which would cause a speed run begun on the high to stall out as it rowed itself into the preceding low. But. Enjoy! The guide, his back to the river, looked me in the eye. From one of Outside magazine's "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. That spring, a massive snowmelt sent runoff racing down the Colorado River toward the Glen Canyon Dam. This book. We could intermittently relax our bodies because we took turns rowing, but not our minds because of the extreme turbulence. I had an 8 day journey that I will never forget. 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. That these came as a bonus and lasted a third of a century was truly unexpected. The 135 miles that we experienced, never lost its magic. Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022. Discover why The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is such a great book to read. It details the setting of the rowing speed record through the Grand Canyon during the 1983 flood at Glen Canyon Dam by river guides Kenton Grua, Rudi Petschek, and Steve "Wren" Reynolds. Mountain magazine"The book is at its heart an engrossing meditation on the eternal struggle between man and nature." This one is, and Fedarko's book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. 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. Refresh and try again. 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. 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. In his new book The Emerald Mile - the name of the wooden dory that made the trip - Kevin Ferdarko chronicles their record-breaking and illegal run though the canyon. 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. I mused about the majestic Colorado on steroids taking pity on this little nutshell of a boat audaciously zooming through Grand Canyon in a day and a half. Then you spit into your palms and twirl your oar blades to confirm that theyre rotating smoothly in the locks. in the tradition of the perfect storm and seabiscuit, the engrossing tale of the fastest boat ride ever down the colorado river through the grand canyon in the 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! I deviated from the book to look up the facts of the events of the time periods. FWIW, ebook is not the same as an audio book. I sent an email to my party promising to find the Emerald Mile and to visit the grave of famous river guide Kenton Grua. That is not at all accurate. I would have rated it higher except for the fact that the first 100 pages were a struggle. Kevin Fedarkolives in northern New Mexico and works as a part-time river guide in Grand Canyon National Park. May 7th 2013 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 . Whats one of the best memories from your speed runs? 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. it was in a wooden dory, with the legendary boatman Kenton Grua, "The Factor" as he was known, and the character at the center of this book. After reading The Emerald Mile, I now wish I would have read this book before I went. The book may have some highlights, notes, underlined pages. I purposefully avoided reading much about the trip and didn't look at videos or pictures before I went because I wanted everything to be a surprise. Author: Kevin Fedarko Genre: Nature, Travel, Sports & Recreation, History Topic: 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. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. At first it just intrigued me with its promise of crazy adventure, but once started, I was hooked on the whole, incredible story. Please try again. The author personally knew most of the "characters" that appear in this well researched, beautifully written, appropriately humorous expose on all things Grand Canyon. -- Hampton Sides editor-at-large at Outside magazine and author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers. So much history and info! Wow, this was Let me start, I am not a boating person. 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. The first few chapters stumble a bit but once you get to the beginning of Powell's adventure, Fedarko has found his stride. The last time I rowed was back in Boy Scouts. 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. I knew from a friend's recommendation that this book would be exciting, and it was. 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. One of the most enthralling books I have read in a long time. Now a resident of. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 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 . 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. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever. This resulted in a temporary steady release of 37,000 cfs, which brings us to factor number two: OPPORTUNITY! Kit and I checked both Flagstaff cemeteries and Kenton Grua was not buried in either location. Instead of finding Kenton he found me on the Colorado River in the Redwall Cavern. The Emerald Mile $19.99 Qty: Quantity in Cart: None Required reading for 12th grade English elective, River and Rock In the winter of 1983, the largest El Nino event on record, a series of superstorms, battered the West. The unprecedented weather, the inner workings of a dam, and how threatening it was to downstream USA. 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. It is spiritual and there is no better place to connect with God than the Grand Canyon. From Kevin . A great read before or after a run down the CO. "Kevin Fedarko's new brilliant work is the story about wilderness and the American mind, albeit an American mind juiced on Class V adrenaline Perhaps because we sympathize so strongly with the characters of The Emerald Mile--thanks in no small part to Fedarko's flowing prose--you'll feel yourself lurching along with them on wooden boats, in ocher-hued canyons, beneath cobalt skies, into the frenzied thrashings of the Colorado river as the very lanscape of the West attempts to choke it." But the author truly loves the Canyon and manages to invoke the magic and captivating essence of that wondrous place, something only a boatman with many years of living in it can do. Fedarko was a staff writer at Time magazine from 1991 to 1997, where his work helped garner an Overseas Press Club Award for a story on the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. The history of Crystal Rapid is detailed and very appropriate to prepare us for the ride ahead. Was it possible to compare the kayakers who made the 277-mile speed run to the previous record which was set in a wooden dory? This one is, and Fedarkos book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. Di Bonaventura Pics adds Emerald Mile to its extensive development slate. Well-told, deeply-researched, engaging to read book. The Emerald Mile ties together a clear line through the tumult of the high water 1983 flood on the Colorado River of a dorys speed run through the Grand Canyon. The author violates the Chekhov rule (if you put a gun on the mantelpiece, it should go off by the second act) vs giving us the action (or at least a summary of it) before launching into the back story. Can an adventure story be as beautiful as it is heart-stopping and exciting? And then God gave me a sign. The book provided the exploration history of the Grand Canyon, and while interesting, was a struggle to read through. It was there, less than fifty miles southwest of the present-day city of Gallup, that the explorers stumbled upon Hwikuh, a pueblo of the Zuis, whose adobe abutments Coronado immediately prepared to storm in the belief that he was about to pillage the first of Cbola's great cities. This book takes me right back there. 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. Grand Canyon River Guide Buzz Belknap 1975 Pure Land Annette McGivney The ebook version of The Emerald Mile is epically BAD. In the midst of all this chaos, three river rafting guides took a dory and . A great read. It's also a rare and fascinating glimpse into what could have been one of our nation's biggest environmental disasters everthe failure of the Glen Canyon Dam. 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 one is, and Fedarko's book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. Wasnt that like comparing apples and oranges, or, as river historian Tom Martin put it in a comment on our website, apples and pasta? , Fedarko has found and rescued a great American tall tale that just happens to be true, . I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! Durango Telegraph"His poetic and descriptive writing 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." Click Here : https://clickhere-03.blogspot.com/?book=1439159858 From one of Outside magazine?s ?Literary All-Stars? 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. Once the book was talking about present day activities the pace picked up and the writing style became more casual. He juxtaposes the Glen Canyon Dam engineers' race to avoid catastrophic failures during the huge 1983 spring runoff with what was happen. Publisher's Weekly"From the bottom of our planet's most awesome landscape, Kevin Fedarko has found and rescued a great American tall tale that just happens to be true. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named "The Emerald Mile" at the head . Experience a 3 to 7 day expedition filled with whitewater excitement, spectacular waterfalls waterfalls and starry nights. The Emerald Mile. Not everyone will want to invest the time necessary to fully appreciate this exquisite work of narrative nonfiction. *Unsubscribe Anytime See Our Privacy Policy. But as readers will discover, it's much, much more! Did you, Kenton and Wren realize that your time could be beaten by kayak at normal flows? I almost didn't finish this book. And read the book first. 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. I noticed a Dory painted in the colors of the Emerald mile. 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." I could picture the landscape, the rapids, the boats and remember the feeling of being free from the outside world for just a little bit, as I read. 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. Do yourself a favor and check out this exciting literary adventure! This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! 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! 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 . 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. A few key points factor in to making this a good match for me: Absolutely fascinating! Impressively well-researched and very well-written. A really brilliant work that encompasses both the natural and man-made history on the Colorado river. And I had no id. I was listening ..and I give thanks to Him for helping me fulfill my desire to pay respect to Kenton Grua. So I re-engagedand what a story it has to tell. Photo by Kenly Weills. As soon as fluctuations gave way to a steady flow, Kenton called Wally and told him the time had come to do it. This I would come to appreciate as the novel is propelled to its crescendo. Here is an instant classic of adventure literaturea story shot through with bravura but also touched by the rarest kind of grandeur." I sensed he was welling up under is sunglasses. It is a dramatized documentary of the personalities among the renegade dory-drivers, the law-abiding dam-builders and the adventurers along the Grand Canyon. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! Slept under the stars every night and cruised, swam and hiked during the day. I picked up this book for my teenage son while my husband and I visited the Grand Canyon. Holly Black is theauthor of more than 30 fantasy novels, including Tithe, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, and her 2022 adult debut,Book of To see what your friends thought of this book, The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. 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. - 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. 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 . Your non-motorized record, which lasted more than 30 years, has been broken twice in three days. 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. I didnt expect it to be so dense looking! Most of them couldn't conceive of living anywhere else to do what they do. 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. Brilliant! This was a fantastic book! So much history and info! Yet, I found myself learning details or stories that I had not heard as the flood was taking place. Then in 1980 the Bureau achieved its ill-timed goal of filling both reservoirs.
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