The Emerald Mile

The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon

De: Kevin Fedarko

Narrado por: Kevin Fedarko

From one of Outside magazine’s “Literary All-Stars” comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever through the Grand Canyon, atop the legendary Colorado River flood of 1983.

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. 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 the oars, who intended to use this flood as a kind of hydraulic sling-shot. The goal was to nail the all-time record for the fastest boat ever propelled—by oar, by motor, or by the grace of God himself—through the heart of the Grand Canyon atop the Colorado River from Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead. Did he survive? Just barely. Now, this remarkable, epic feat unfolds here, in The Emerald Mile.

The Canyon and the Colorado River.

A beautifully written series of stories brought together in one book. It brought the Canyon and the River back to me again.

Absolutely Fascinating

An amazing story weaving a boat, a damn, a river and the Grand Canyon together with true elegance and richness. A remarkable book that transcends being pigeon holed into one genre.

The cadence and skillful vocalization and writing

Definitely like historical stories that inform as well as entertain. So the detail and technical information made the book even more powerful.

very good story

kept me interested the whole time with historical framework and context that made the whole story come alive

Amazing pictorial use of the English language

This is a must read if you're going to be traveling anywhere near the Colorado or Greene Rivers or the Grand Canyon. It brought to life so many things as we traveled and lead us to see places and things we would never have noticed. We even made a special trip to Lee's Ferry while staying in Page and watched the batman load their rafts. It's also provides a very thought provoking approach to addressing progress and nature...what is the balance? How do we do it right?
The narration was so clear that you could visualize what the author was describing. Certainly not succinct prose but then neither again is the subject of his description.
I was also impressed that the book was available at all of the National Park stores! Thank you Kevin for enlightening me to the history and wonder.