A good story but way too much detail. Just finished it and I am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story. If you are interested in the Colorado Rive and the Grand Canyon, then I highly recommend it. 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. It's a story about how the El Nino event and the inherent wildness of the Colorado River fought against man's attempts to tame the river and almost won, almost causing a huge disaster. The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the man at . 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. Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian history at Oxford in 1990. A must read if going on a white water river rafting trip!! 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. Did you, Kenton and Wren realize that your time could be beaten by kayak at normal flows? Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Almost five million people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually. 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! This one is, and Fedarko's book is as inspiring as a dory itself, flying down a wild river. If you ever get the chance, ride it through. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named "The Emerald Mile" at the head . As a writer, he'll make you understand it, savor it, and ultimately love it as you never have before. For instance, the three of us took turns at the oars, while paddlers are on their own the whole way. I didnt expect it to be so dense looking! I didnt find the narrator annoying at all (neither was he fantastic). And sure enough hanging from the ceilingretired the Emerald Mile!. 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! 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". Dallas Morning News"Crafting a tale as graceful and powerful 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 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. The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko Summary: The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. The first few chapters stumble a bit but once you get to the beginning of Powell's adventure, Fedarko has found his stride. We caught up with Rudi Petschek, the last surviving member of the three-man crew which set the previous speed record. I had wanted to pay my respects to Kenton Grua and had resolved my self that I would not. Theres a rumor that Kenton built another dory specifically for a speed attempt. It was an. May 7th 2013 .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. 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. The people rafting downriver through the Canyon (out of touch with the rest of the world) were receiving warnings about high water levels from park service helicopters. 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. The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022. Emerald Mile : the Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon Item Length: 8.4in. This I would come to appreciate as the novel is propelled to its crescendo. Brilliant memories for us we rafted down the Colorado just around Easter 1989 with Colorado River & Trail. That these came as a bonus and lasted a third of a century was truly unexpected. I reread some passages just to revel in the prose. 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. Highly recommend it. Then in 83, again opportunity, this time to set the record to where the oar-powered record would be near unreachable. Publisher: Scribner Publication Year: 2014 Format: Trade Paperback Language: English Item Height: 1in. Rudi Petschek: I have written congratulatory messages to Matt Klema and Ben Orkin expressing my admiration. It is spiritual and there is no better place to connect with God than the Grand Canyon. "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. Highly recommend. This was a fantastic book! Emerald Mile Oarsman Rudi Petschek on the Breaking of his Grand Canyon Speed Record. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever. Safe and Secure Mailer. As a writer, he'll make you understand it, savor it, and ultimately love it as you never have before. I highly recommend "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko. I told the guide my storyhow Tom had given me the book and how Kit and I had gone to Oars Dories to see the Emerald Mile. The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the . I would have rated it higher if the first part of the book werent so slow. 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. Beautiful writing, simply beautiful. Fedarko has supplied astonishing facts, lyrical, magical atmosphere, and extreme sports all woven into a witty and far-reaching history. . 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. Also, the depth and level of detail that Kevin Fedarko takes us towhile weaving much of the background story of Grand Canyon into this epic tailis fundamentally necessary to help us fully understand those moments surrounding the speed run. Not to mention I live next to Glen Canyon Dam and love Lees Ferryso, this book Gripped me hard too! 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 . 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 . Can an adventure story be as beautiful as it is heart-stopping and exciting? Photo by Rudi Petschek. 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. 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? Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Wed love your help. Three whitewater guides, one wooden dory, and the Colorado River, swollen by record snowmelt and raging with a fury that boatmen hadn't seen since the days of John Wesley Powell. Wow, this was Let me start, I am not a boating person. This book was hard to put down. 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. The story telling (based on true events) was fantastic. 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. I deviated from the book to look up the facts of the events of the time periods. Instead of finding Kenton he found me on the Colorado River in the Redwall Cavern. 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. There was a problem loading your book clubs. As a boatman, Fedarko knows this world intimately. A great read before or after a run down the CO. Please try again. Any of my peeps that are into the outdoors or history -- read this. I had no idea all that was happening in the '80's. When my wife and I arrived in Flagstaff we went to Oars Grand Canyon Dories. We could intermittently relax our bodies because we took turns rowing, but not our minds because of the extreme turbulence. Product Identifiers 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. He loved all the details and the grip as he called it. Most boaters will be familiar with the bare bones of the record-breaking run, immortalized in Kevin Fedarko's 2013 bestseller, The Emerald Mile. The Emerald Mile was the name of a boat, a legendary wooden dory that was once thought dead. Fedarko was a staff writer at Time magazinefrom 1991 to 1997, where his work helped garner an Overseas Press Club Award for a story on the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. No other river on earth has ever cut canyons to rival those of the Colorado. He juxtaposes the Glen Canyon Dam engineers' race to avoid catastrophic failures during the huge 1983 spring runoff with what was happen. 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. Lots of analogies and philosophising that long nights gazing at the night sky from the bottom of the Canyon leads too. Ive read it twice and two days from now, Im setting off on my rafting adventure on the Colorado River. 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." 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. Most of them couldn't conceive of living anywhere else to do what they do. And, you could hear it from town. 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 Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, [{"displayPrice":"$14.19","priceAmount":14.19,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"19","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"DA893m45iemc18M6I8TdWZ9mwzwwj9Bq6SBWJOc3LV%2FSz2A6CkKToDR2RreZING%2BqlZM162%2FSRasqnEAFMZXRRQxsDJNitNtv%2F9907E5SIvUrV7D2pGYjBW6tZ4BI5m%2FLDP5Utv1aKjH9PRT%2F9wI1w%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW"},{"displayPrice":"$12.76","priceAmount":12.76,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"76","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"LP7kqmPcrdBJ15ej990abviJoPYNen4L9ueiI9QVBME0FKVMHlQgLbnszsHwi%2BduYh43pcQ%2B11MPi3dVl3SbhJOGxtqgvYvkmTqVx8LSevvHGS2F9%2FCxDG3nZfwE41H%2FtsR2Njro%2F9iiLJoQ7f2CM6IUv%2FaJWsxBL1uaLvlJB9dM9jd91Ya0S3CK4BtYPsiL","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED"}]. 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 book provided the exploration history of the Grand Canyon, and while interesting, was a struggle to read through. 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. Fedarko was a staff writer at. I have no doubt it will become an instant classic, a timeless chronicle of what can still be legitimately called the American spirit." My expectation based on the title, the cover and the synopsis I read was that it would be an exciting, adventure read. As a boatman, Fedarko knows this world intimately. 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. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. I didnt expect it to be so dense looking! 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. Most of them couldn't conceive of living anywhere else to do what they do. So you see, the challenges are opposite, except for overall endurance which is common to both. , Fedarko has found and rescued a great American tall tale that just happens to be true, . 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. Enjoy! This lost treasure still evokes wonder in what lies in Glen Canyonthe 170-mile natural paradise legendary for its secret grottoes, waterfalls, beautiful ravines and isolated side canyons like Hidden Passage before it was flooded by Lake Powell upon the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963. I knew from a friend's recommendation that this book would be exciting, and it was. The story of this epic run became widely known through Kevin Fedarko's 2013 book also called The Emerald Mile, which relied heavily on interviews conducted with Petschek. 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? The history of The Grand Canyon, the Glen Canyon dam are so interesting. Three days later as we approached the Redwall Cavern . For more information please read our. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. 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. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. Both your 1983 descent and Ben Orkins recent run required overcoming some pretty intense swims to go on and set the record. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt, The book may have minor cosmetic wear like creased spine, cover, scratches, curled corners, folded pages, minor sunburn, minor water damage, minor bent. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! 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). 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. Wow, Fedarko is a superb storyteller. The only reason I didn't rate this book with five stars is because it is LONG. It was an amazing trip that I hope everyone has an opportunity to experience. Lol, just kidding (barely). The night sky is so much better than anything I could have imagined. The two back-to-back speed records set in the Grand Canyon last week sparked off a series of debates across social media and in river runners living rooms: Could racing through such a beautiful place ever be justified? Against that backdrop, three river guides pushed their dory, the Emerald Mile, into the torrent. The story of this epic run became widely known through Kevin Fedarkos 2013 book also called The Emerald Mile, which relied heavily on interviews conducted with Petschek. His writing style was just beautiful! Grua resting in the Emerald Mile. Then you spit into your palms and twirl your oar blades to confirm that theyre rotating smoothly in the locks. This book takes me right back there. So we gave up. Kenton Grua in the 2000s. 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. "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. Here is an instant classic of adventure literaturea story shot through with bravura but also touched by the rarest kind of grandeur." Di Bonaventura Pics adds Emerald Mile to its extensive development slate. 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. 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