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, --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." The story telling (based on true events) was fantastic. The unprecedented weather, the inner workings of a dam, and how threatening it was to downstream USA. We are sorry. 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 . 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. This was a book that told the story of an incredible 36 hours by backing up and providing as much context as humanly possible to make it into the length of a novel. By kayaks, definitely! 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. "The Emerald Mile is the rarest of creations-a magical convergence of words and paper, wood and water, rock and sky, human character and cosmic caprice. For the son of a dory boatman from the Golden Age of Guiding it was a joy and vindication to read of the superheroes of my childhood in print. Matt and Ben could intermittently relax their minds because of so much flat water, but not their bodies. No other river on earth has ever cut canyons to rival those of the Colorado. I listened to the audio book on a road trip. Slept under the stars every night and cruised, swam and hiked during the day. Plans were limited to the highest releases that occurred regularly each summer. A great read before or after a run down the CO. First, you cup a hand in the river and run the water over the back of your neck and face to reduce the cold shock of whats coming. Once the book was talking about presen. 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. , 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!! Wow, this was truly amazing. 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. Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2022. If you are lucky, you might even feel some of the magic of the Canyon! According to his obituary he is buried in Flagstaff. Also, I have issues with people taking extreme risks just to set a record but that doesnt affect the quality of the book. I was listening ..and I give thanks to Him for helping me fulfill my desire to pay respect to Kenton Grua. "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko is now on my short list of all-time favorite books, 5 stars plus! So fascinating, was such a great audio book! But, thank God, Crystal Rapid let us through, all thirteen of us, with just big splashes. 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 l. Almost five million people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. One of the best non-fiction books Ive had the privilege of reading. Book has great history lessons as well. Read the book last month. That these came as a bonus and lasted a third of a century was truly unexpected. The Emerald Mile | Book by Kevin Fedarko | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster About The Book About The Author Product Details Related Articles Raves and Reviews Resources and Downloads The Emerald Mile The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon By Kevin Fedarko Trade Paperback LIST PRICE $19.99 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 think this is his first, and only, book. What I didn't expect was the beauty and depth of the writing. 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. 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 plat. Here is an instant classic of adventure literaturea story shot through with bravura but also touched by the rarest kind of grandeur." The epic story of the fastest boat ride in history, on a hand-built dory named the "Emerald Mile," through the heart of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado river. Would you agree based on your speed descents? 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. Book Synopsis 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 . Experience a 3 to 7 day expedition filled with whitewater excitement, spectacular waterfalls waterfalls and starry nights. Click Here : https://clickhere-03.blogspot.com/?book=1439159858 From one of Outside magazine?s ?Literary All-Stars? The flood Let me count the ways I love this book! Author: Kevin Fedarko Genre: Nature, Travel, Sports & Recreation, History Topic: The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko Summary: The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. This past August 2018, I had the great privilege to take a 5 day journey down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. 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. Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2022. 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. It would have been longer for better straight-line speed, and outfitted for a solo run. To add the following enhancements to your purchase, choose a different seller. Wasnt that like comparing apples and oranges, or, as river historian Tom Martin put it in a comment on our website, apples and pasta? If you ever get the chance, ride it through. 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. What are your thoughts? Here is an instant classic of adventure literaturea story shot through with bravura but also touched by the rarest kind of grandeur." 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! This is a fantastic combination of storytelling and research. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named "The Emerald Mile" at the head . "The Emerald Mile is the rarest of creations-a magical convergence of words and paper, wood and water, rock and sky, human character and cosmic caprice. The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the . 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. Best book I've read in a long time. At first it just seems like it's about some dudes trying to break a speed record for running a river, but it turns out to be a history of the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon, the Glen Canyon dam, conservation and then the adventure aspect of running the Colorado in flood stage. But. 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 . The tale of your speed descents has no doubt inspired new generations to take up the challenge presented by the canyon. As a boatman, Fedarko knows this world intimately. 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. Just got off the river last week at mile 225. At normal flows, definitely not. The first few chapters stumble a bit but once you get to the beginning of Powell's adventure, Fedarko has found his stride. 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. This one is, and Fedarko's book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. Impressively well-researched and very well-written. The event I am about to reveal to you CAN NOT be explained away as coincidence. 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. In the midst of all this chaos, three river rafting guides took a dory and . 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. Bens recovery from his Lava experience, solo in the dark in mid-winter, makes his feat infinitely more impressive. 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." WOW, best book I've read this year (Of course, it is only Jan. 12th), Unlike the record-chasing canyon run recounted in. The night sky is so much better than anything I could have imagined. So I asked him if he knew Kenton Grua. 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 . Did you, Kenton and Wren realize that your time could be beaten by kayak at normal flows? Di Bonaventura Pics adds Emerald Mile to its extensive development slate. Fedarko has supplied astonishing facts, lyrical, magical atmosphere, and extreme One of the most enthralling books I have read in a long time. 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. 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. This one is, and Fedarkos book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. Safe and Secure Mailer. This is a story of a super-man deliberately pushing himself physically to his limits, which the Emerald Mile story is not. The climax of the story revolves around a speed run through the Grand Canyon in wooden dory in an attempt to break the record for how fast a boat can go through the canyon. Rudi Petschek on the river. This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. A few key points factor in to making this a good match for me: Absolutely fascinating! The fascinating characters are pretty much universally attached to this river and canyon at the hip. 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. 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! Some of it, like the struggle for protection of the grand canyon itself and how it almost got turned into a reservoir, was very cool and helped provide context for the attitude of the people who were sort of the spiritual forefathers to the rafting guides. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}Enjoy features only possible in digital start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more. Well, it really is about securing the record, but I agree that on both EM runs the experience was profoundly bonding among the participants. The history of Crystal Rapid is detailed and very appropriate to prepare us for the ride ahead. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Among many other things, those dirtbag river runners uphold the virtue of disobedience: the principle that in a free society, defiance for its own sake sometimes carries value and meaning, if only because power in all of its formscommercial, governmental, and moralshould not always and without question be handed what it demands., National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography (2013), PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing Nominee for Shortlist (2014), National Outdoor Book Award winners, selected titles, Girls Who Bite! 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! By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Grand Canyon River Guide Buzz Belknap 1975 Pure Land Annette McGivney Well-told, deeply-researched, engaging to read book. 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. 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 . He spoke to the BBC about an . So you see, the challenges are opposite, except for overall endurance which is common to both. Kevin Fedarko lives in northern New Mexico and works as a part-time river guide in Grand Canyon National Park. For those who are not able to travel the Colorado River through The Grand Canyon, this book will take you there and show you great adventure, some incredible history and the stories of many people who have traveled there before you. The Emerald Mile is a fantastic read, and an instant throw-back for me to those days on the river. For instance, the three of us took turns at the oars, while paddlers are on their own the whole way. 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. 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. Clearly he interviewed everyone from river guides to Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service officials, but he never really seems to take sides. Try again. 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. Some of the information about the specifics of how the dam works I could've done without. Kenton Grua in the Emerald Mile, the dory used on the speed run. Am a water engineer, and know what makes a 20 foot standing wave. He juxtaposes the Glen Canyon Dam engineers' race to avoid catastrophic failures during the huge 1983 spring runoff with what was happen. What I didn't expect was the beauty and depth of the writing. For both runs, their craft was a wooden dory named the Emerald Mile. 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. , 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." 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. The entire first half is more of a history and geology lesson about the Grand Canyon and river rafting. Can an adventure story be as beautiful as it is heart-stopping and exciting? The narrator could not be more annoying if he actually set out to infuriate the listener. "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko . I sent an email to my party promising to find the Emerald Mile and to visit the grave of famous river guide Kenton Grua. If you are interested in the Colorado Rive and the Grand Canyon, then I highly recommend it. As a writer, he'll make you understand it, savor it, and ultimately love it as you never have before. 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. "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." I tried in vain, at that moment, to imagine Powells incredulity about the time we had just set, as I was overcome by a feeling of deep humility that the powerful river looked favorably upon this little boat, slapped it around a bit just to put things in their proper perspective, then allowing it through to complete its mission. 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. 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. 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. I didnt find the narrator annoying at all (neither was he fantastic). Enjoy! Brilliant! This is why you remain in the best website to look the amazing books to have. His 2013 release, The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon, won a NOBA- a National Outdoor Book Award. Almost cancelled the trip as a result. 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. 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. Wed love your help. 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. Well written, one of those kinds of books that I couldn't wait to get back to, and I didn't want to end. I was not roughing it, I was experiencing life!! Not to mention I live next to Glen Canyon Dam and love Lees Ferryso, this book Gripped me hard too! The Emerald Mile is the exhilarating true story of that epic attempt to capture the speed record for the fastest boat ride through the Grand Canyon ever.
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