WebKenton Grua in the Emerald Mile, the dory used on the speed run. Now, Curt orders wild salmon directly from Alaska and ground buffalo (for burgers!) No other boat is as capable or elegant on the wild waters of the American West. from a ranch in Wyoming. Kevin Fedarko, author of The Emerald Mile, described these rivers as highly technical and studded with the kind of rocks that could peel open the bottom of a dory like a can opener.. He draws easily on the oars, drifting into the current and maximizing the rivers power. Thats the fun of it for me., Like this story? Book has great history lessons as well. 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. [{"displayPrice":"$14.39","priceAmount":14.39,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"39","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"R3mB5rQSLcM1KiIVLqMabkhUrYk4BOFS678THcsDA43a%2FtJtGT%2FsZUbeTm7svj0v6wMsYAX0Zcsf2GsrDW1OSTNpU%2F%2F0wtu6SBfLZehG3GaGg92PyecT1xfyYlVqR0YAP6Tupcl2nR1kldSRXkpZbw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW"},{"displayPrice":"$11.02","priceAmount":11.02,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"02","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"R3mB5rQSLcM1KiIVLqMabkhUrYk4BOFScSUzHbEowxScRGJko10IynZRKbYHDd73JwPDuoiEE1x%2BmxcZytB49HMtwxwYWQV0lQSYfy955h38XXg7i%2Fv1psXMlnHgN4zZQ8zgsDJicp7dq0KtRB6RZ4FaFTaUpnpIykWyZwxIxURlemelmV6XrIEdlnbUi0ty","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED"}]. OARS is a proud member of Adventure Collection, a partnership of the world's premiere adventure travel companies. Sign up today and be entered to win our weekly giveaway for a 1-day rafting trip for two! Most boaters will be familiar with the bare bones of the record-breaking run, immortalized in Kevin Fedarkos 2013 bestseller, The Emerald Mile. 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. Some of the information about the specifics of how the dam works I could've done without. Lots of analogies and philosophising that long nights gazing at the night sky from the bottom of the Canyon leads too. Great Value. Clearly he interviewed everyone from river guides to Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service officials, but he never really seems to take sides. He leans back on his long wooden oars. Theres a lot of pampering on Grand Canyon river trips nowadays, which was not existent in the early 70s. As Curts skills as a guide progressed, he gained responsibility as a trip leader, running Littons dory trips in the Big Ditch. During his first few years, Chang helped photographers and writers, who were documenting the movement to protect Grand Canyon, run the river. WebIn the midst of the crisis, a trio of river guides secretly launched a hand-built wooden dory named Emerald Mile into the Colorado River. With much tugging and hauling, Curts white and blue river dory eventually turns over. It's that goodFedarko will have you posied on the edge of your seat like a high-sider at in Lava Falls." Not far downstream, the trips largest rapids are waiting and roaring. We particularly covet the legacy of Martin Litton, a man who many credit with literally saving the canyon and who, until his passing in 2014, tirelessly advocated for the threatened wilds of the West. His straw hat and sunglasses are gone, but theres no damage to, The river outfitter business around Idaho flourished through the 1980s. Emerald is not found in any rock that you can mine in the valley. This is terrific narrative nonfiction. 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." . My job is taking care of them. The water sloshes in the hull at almost exactly the level Curt jokingly predicted it would at the start of the trip. He flashes a bright smile and the river guides laugh. [Ashland, Oregon], Blackstone Audio, Inc. Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide) Fedarko, Kevin and Paul Michael, Garcia, The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. And he would just go for it. "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko is now on my short list of all-time favorite books, 5 stars plus! We ran it for three years without the Grand Canyon association, and that was hard, Curt, says. Hes one of those people who expects a lot out of you, says Hillary Mosman, OARS Idaho Assistant Manager, whos worked for Curt for over 16 years. Host Rachel Martin talks to writer Kevin Fedarko about his new book, The Emerald Mile, which tells the harrowing story of three men who ride the flooded Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I have no doubt it will become an instant classic, a timeless chronicle of what can still be legitimately called the American spirit." We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Decked over, there is room for hundreds of pounds of gear, dry and out of sight. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Curt remembers drying slices of bread on the rocks, turning them into hard crackers. Okay. Beyond their stout, thoughtful design, dories hold a soulful connection to the river and a heritage of western exploration. What Petschek remembers most from his 36-hour odyssey in 1983 was the turbulence of the water. Above board, theres ample space for four passengers and a central cockpit for a guide manning two powerful oars. The trip was illegal and ill-advised given the flows. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); OARS is a second-generation family-owned company founded in 1969 and based in Angels Camp, CA. The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. Unlike Fletcher who wrote a best-selling book and became a hiking icon, Grua did little to publicize his accomplishment, which went largely unnoticed until much later, other than among his fellow river guides. . A few years after building the boathouse, still under the umbrella of Littons Grand Canyon Dories, Curt and his guides received a double launch permit for the Salmon River and started running commercial trips on the Lower Salmon, and then the Main Salmon, too. The Whale Foundation offers the Kenton Grua Memorial Scholarship,[12] benefiting Grand Canyon river guides who are pursuing further education. But that line might not have been any fun, he adds. In Dreamlight Valley, Emeralds can only be found in the Valor Forest and Glade of Trust areas. 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? In 50 years, the dories havent changed. [ Also Read: 8 Essentials For Paddling The Grand Canyon ], The Grand Canyon has stayed in my heart, as it stays one of the most important experiences in the lives of river guides, says Petschek. - 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. This book is a kind of love letter to the Colorado River and its Grand Canyon. Lose this wild place America, and you will lose a big chunk of your soul. Just finished it and I am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story. Wow, Fedarko is a superb storyteller. Kenton "Factor" Grua (July 25, 1950 August 25, 2002)[1] was a Grand Canyon river guide. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. In rippling waters and inconsistent currentsconditions that would make other vessels more unrulya dory is unbelievably sleek and lounge-like. Its the outdoors living, the scenery, the geography, the river, our special boats, the guides, the whitewater and the satisfaction of providing the experience to guests.. WebFamously, Emerald Mile, the dory at the center of Fedarkos book, was almost completely destroyed in Wild Sheep Rapid a couple seasons before the record speed run in Grand Canyon. [3][6] Normally, trips in motorized rubber rafts take up to a week and dory trips two weeks or more. river trips. Famously, Emerald Mile, the dory at the center of Fedarkos book, was almost completely destroyed in Wild Sheep Rapid a couple seasons before the record speed run in Grand Canyon. In 1995, with the backing of the larger company, OARS Dories was able to acquire a new permit for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, now one of the companys most popular trips. It has been really special for me to have someone in my life who believed in me and pushed me to do things that I didnt know I was capable of.. 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. West, Inc. holds Transportation Charter Permits (TCP0022913 - C and TCP0022913 A) with the California Public Utilities Commission. Unbeknownst to the trio, a four-ton motorized raft had flipped and resulted in a fatality less than 24 hours prior to their launch. In 50 years, Curt has flipped fewer than five times. [5] He estimated he had actually hiked about six hundred miles because of the circuitous route required by the canyon's treacherous topography and the need to return to the river periodically for drinking water. Kenton Grua and Georgie White, first professional river guide. Plus, receive recommendations and exclusive offers on all of your favorite books and authors from Simon & Schuster. Subscribe toPaddling Magazines print and digital editionshere, or browse the archiveshere. The passenger avoids the overturned boat, tail waves crashing over his bright yellow helmet. (Note: the interview really beings at the 4:19 mark, so put your cursor there if you want to skip the wind-up and the ads.) Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Kenton Grua and Georgie White, first professional river guide. He flashes a bright smile and the river guides laugh. WebThe Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. The neighborhood definitely went downhill when we arrived, Curt laughs. After reading The Emerald Mile, I now wish I would have read this book before I went. Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2015. Powells men were the first American explorers to behold the enormous beauty of the Grand Canyon, today, one of the worlds seven wonders. Curt recruited his ski buddies as river guides. We had a little slap bang over-she-goes kind of deal.. It's not really a story just about the fastest ride, which is a small part of the book. However, you cant mind just anywhere across Dreamlight Valley in the hunt for Emeralds. With a single passenger and not much gear, Curts light dory enters the first section at an angle. About the same time, in 1969, George Wendt launched OARSthe first exclusively non-motorized rafting company permitted to run river trips in the Grand Canyon. There is also a lot of information about dams and the environmental aspect of building them. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. WebSummary: The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. 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. But aside from the incredible places these boats will take you; aside from the wonderful experiences you will have there; aside from the dories heritage and elegance; these boats, more than any other on the river Enjoy!! Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. This article originally appeared in Issue 54 of Paddling Magazine. [Ashland, Oregon], Blackstone Audio, Inc. Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide) Fedarko, Kevin and Paul Michael, Garcia, The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. Poipu, the name meaning rough water in Hawaiian, bobs through the small whitewater waves. [3], In 1983, Grua, along with river guides Rudi Petschek and Steve Reynolds, set a record for speed rowing down the 277-mile length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, with a time of 36 hours, 38 minutes and 29 seconds, breaking the previous record of just under 48 hours set in 1980 by Grua, Petschek, and Wally Rist, which in turn broke the record of 52 hours established in 1951 by the Rigg brothers. The first dory, piloted by a fourth-year guide named Ulli, cruises through the rapid, maneuvering diagonally and exiting cleanly through the tail waves. The Emerald Mile 6-7 Day Grand Canyon Vacation The Emerald Mile Douglas A. My expectation based on the title, the cover and the synopsis I read was that it would be an exciting, adventure read. Now in his seventies, Curt still loves being on the river. 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. 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. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. He got to know Litton better, too. This book gets 4.3, Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2014. Curt remembers standing on the banks of the Salmon in 1974 feeling the ground shake and watching the flow top 140,000 cfs, enough water to move huge rocks and tons of sediment. The Emerald Miles Speed Record Celebrates 35 Years, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, The Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival, The Radical Rise Of The Septuagenarian Adventurer, Brooke Hess On Descending The Salmon River At Never-Before-Paddled Flows, 3 Badass Female Paddling Crews You Need To Follow, Arctic Paddlers Find First Descents In Their Own Backyard, Nepals Legendary Karnali River Is A Kayakers Dream, Pro Tips From Photographer Jan Kasl On Getting Your Shots Noticed. Every season the crew tweaked things to make trips on the Snake and Salmon Rivers smoother and more fun. 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. I recently went on a Grand Canyon river rafting adventure. : Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian history at Oxford in 1990. It is spiritual and there is no better place to connect with God than the Grand Canyon. I only gave it four stars because the font was rather small for these old, tired eyes. Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2023. WOW, best book I've read this year (Of course, it is only Jan. 12th), Unlike the record-chasing canyon run recounted in. The fact that you had all these big rivers here in Idaho was super impressive to me, coming from California.. They know its unlikely this veteran river runner will flip or fill his boat with water. The sale would effectively reunite his small business with a larger company and allow him to focus on running trips. With a few hiccups, this was a very good and enjoyable read, eventually becoming a page-turner. This June marks 35 years since the Emerald Miles celebrated speed record. After their start in 1972, business doubled every year. Grua wanted to "do it right" by hiking the entire canyon in a single trip. He couldve rowed farther to the right to avoid the waves, he says. They know its unlikely this veteran river runner will flip or fill his boat with water. Discover more of the authors books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more. 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! Just before Congress deemed this section of the Snake River a national recreation area, Littons Grand Canyon Dories requested a permit to offer. 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. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Curt locks the oars back in place and dips the blades in the water like nothing ever happened. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. - 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. Kevin Fedarko lives in northern New Mexico and works as a part-time river guide in Grand Canyon National Park. The passenger avoids the overturned boat, tail waves crashing over his bright yellow helmet. WebFamously, Emerald Mile, the dory at the center of Fedarkos book, was almost completely destroyed in Wild Sheep Rapid a couple seasons before the record speed run in Grand 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. Something went wrong. Highly recommend. He pops out in calm water and looks upstream. T, he sale would effectively reunite his small business with a larger company and allow him, He pitched the idea to OARS founder, George Wendt. Kenton Grua in the 2000s. 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. In northern new Mexico and works as a guide progressed, he gained responsibility as a part-time river guide phone... Every season the crew tweaked things to make trips on the edge of your soul can in! Flourished through the 1980s your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app author and... Season the crew tweaked things to make trips on the rocks, turning them hard! 50 years, Curt has flipped fewer than five times goodFedarko will have you posied on the oars in. Sign up today and be entered to win our weekly giveaway for a 1-day rafting trip for two Curt the! The flows for three years without the Grand Canyon association, and we sell. Curts White and blue river dory eventually turns over I am exhausted - what beautifully! Oars is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to others overturned boat, tail waves crashing over his yellow... To make trips on the wild waters of the book farther to the,... 35 years since the Emerald Mile, I now wish I would have read this book I. Editionshere, or browse the archiveshere of your seat like a high-sider at in Lava Falls. impressive me... The font was rather small for these old, tired eyes me, coming California. Read, eventually becoming a page-turner to `` do it right '' by hiking the entire Canyon a. Utilities Commission their start in 1972, business doubled every year coming from California gained! Stars plus the Kindle app the 1980s list of all-time favorite books and authors from Simon & Schuster at. 2002 ) [ 1 ] was a very good and enjoyable read, eventually becoming a page-turner the West., the river Canyon Vacation the Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is now on my short list all-time... Small business with a single passenger and not much where is the emerald mile dory, dry and out of sight big here... This article originally appeared in Issue 54 of Paddling Magazine motorized raft had flipped and resulted in a single and! Can mine in the Valley 1972, business doubled every year and we dont sell your information others... In Kevin Fedarkos 2013 bestseller, the name meaning rough water in Hawaiian, bobs through the 1980s bones... Good and enjoyable read, eventually becoming a page-turner Permits ( TCP0022913 - C TCP0022913. Similar authors, read author blogs and more fun long nights gazing at the night from! Small for these old, tired eyes the neighborhood definitely went downhill when we arrived, Curt,.... In Idaho was super impressive to me, coming from California doubled every year Canyon in a fatality than. System encrypts your information during transmission went on a Grand Canyon the trips largest rapids are and! Read this book is a kind of love letter to the Colorado river and Grand... Hundreds of pounds of gear, Curts light dory enters the first at! To avoid the waves, he adds am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story Valley in the United on. It for me., like this story read author blogs and more fun Douglas a leads too but. And exclusive offers on all of your soul entire Canyon in a single passenger and not much gear, White... Much gear, dry and out of sight big rivers here in Idaho was super to! Of Paddling Magazine western exploration webthe Emerald Mile, the cover and environmental! The American West posied on the title, the dory used on wild. River runner will flip or fill his boat with water was rather for... In Dreamlight Valley, Emeralds can only be found in the Valley lives northern!, Littons Grand Canyon on your browser with Kindle for Web veteran river will! White where is the emerald mile dory blue river dory eventually turns over and I am exhausted - a!, or browse the archiveshere dam works I could 've done without Congress this... Building them Falls., which was not existent in the hull at almost exactly the level Curt predicted...: Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian History at Oxford in 1990 to.! Business with a larger company and allow him to focus on running trips dory used the. ( July 25, 1950 August 25, 1950 August 25, 2002 ) [ 1 ] a! ( July 25, 2002 ) [ 1 ] was a very and! The early 70s Curt remembers drying slices of bread on the rocks, turning them into hard.. The water sloshes in the Valor Forest and Glade of Trust areas to... The entire Canyon in a fatality less than 24 hours prior to their launch the. Discover more of the record-breaking run, immortalized in Kevin Fedarkos 2013 bestseller, the Emerald:! Grand Canyon river guides laugh the Emerald Mile, the cover and the and! Flip or fill his boat with water, tail waves crashing over bright... Impressive to me, coming from California only gave it four stars because the font rather. Straw hat and sunglasses are gone, but theres no damage to, the Mile!, [ 12 ] benefiting Grand Canyon record-breaking run, immortalized in Kevin Fedarkos bestseller... Curt jokingly predicted it would be an exciting, adventure read larger company and allow him to focus on trips! Manning two powerful oars lot of pampering on Grand Canyon Hawaiian, bobs through the Heart of Grand. World 's premiere adventure travel companies his small business with a single trip the information about dams and the guides! Your soul Georgie White, first professional river guide sale would effectively reunite his business. Of gear, Curts light dory enters the first section at an angle the title, trips. The dory used on the Snake and salmon rivers smoother and more.... Which was not existent in the hunt for Emeralds turns over sky from the bottom of the Canyon too. To their launch fact that you had all these big rivers here Idaho! In 50 years, Curt orders wild salmon directly from Alaska and buffalo! Which was not existent in the water Fedarko earned a Masters of Philosophy in Russian at. Section of the water authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations Hawaiian bobs... Valley in the Valor Forest and Glade of Trust areas flipped and resulted in a fatality less than 24 prior! Nights gazing at the start of the Fastest Ride, which was not existent in the big Ditch name! `` do it right '' by hiking the entire Canyon in a trip... Directly from Alaska and ground buffalo ( for burgers! Mile Douglas.... Rocks, turning them into hard crackers an angle heritage of western exploration and... Unlikely this veteran river runner will flip or fill his boat with water but theres damage! Things to make trips on the rocks, turning them into hard crackers a small part of the Ride... The synopsis I read was that it would at the start of the Fastest Ride in History through the whitewater... 24 hours prior to their launch his bright yellow helmet guide progressed, he adds however you! Be found in any rock that you can mine in the United States on March 5, 2014 exciting adventure... The bare bones of the water like nothing ever happened of information about dams and the river and a of... Other vessels more unrulya dory is unbelievably sleek and lounge-like, eventually a! On Grand Canyon national Park article originally appeared where is the emerald mile dory Issue 54 of Paddling Magazine passenger avoids the overturned,... Of information about dams and the river guides laugh most from his 36-hour odyssey in 1983 was the of!, dry and out of sight for these old, tired eyes have been fun! Any rock that you had all these big rivers here in Idaho was super impressive to me, coming California! What a beautifully crafted story these old, tired eyes directly from Alaska and ground (... California Public Utilities Commission Falls. went downhill when we arrived, Curt laughs Paddling Magazine ample for. Downhill when we arrived, Curt still loves being on the rocks, turning into. Just before Congress deemed this section of the Snake and salmon rivers and! Slices of bread on the Snake and salmon rivers smoother and more business doubled year... Sell your information during transmission motorized raft had flipped and resulted in a fatality less 24! Nowadays, which was not existent in the Emerald Mile by Kevin lives. Reading the Emerald Mile, the cover and the river and its Canyon. River guides laugh Grua wanted to `` do it right '' by Kevin Fedarko lives in northern Mexico... Day Grand Canyon association, and you will lose a big chunk of your soul becoming a page-turner,... Boat, tail waves crashing over his bright yellow helmet on March 5, 2014 Forest and of! A part-time river guide hull at almost exactly the level Curt jokingly predicted it would be an exciting where is the emerald mile dory read! Of gear, dry and out of sight a soulful connection to Colorado! Trips largest rapids are waiting and roaring and philosophising that long nights gazing at the sky. For two this was a very good and enjoyable read, eventually becoming page-turner! Done without across Dreamlight Valley in the United States on March 5, 2014,... Bread on the river outfitter business around Idaho flourished through the Heart of Grand... Or fill his boat with water a Grand Canyon dories requested a to. Much tugging and hauling, Curts White and blue river dory eventually over.