But hes kept working for other reasons. 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. Thats the thing thats kept me going. Just finished it and I am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story. [8], Kenton Grua was the first person in recorded history to walk the entire length of the Grand Canyon. And I mourn that. There were some really, interesting moments when he would say oh yeah, were going to do this. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Improving the food on trips was a priority. "The Emerald Mile" by Kevin Fedarko is now on my short list of all-time favorite books, 5 stars plus! As Poipu drifted upside down in the calm pool after Wild Sheep Rapid, Curt grabbed the dorys flip line and hauled on it with all his weight. Clearly he interviewed everyone from river guides to Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service officials, but he never really seems to take sides. Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018. Hand-crafted using fiberglass and closed-cell foam, dories are hardwood-hulled and ultra-buoyant. Sign up today and be entered to win our weekly giveaway for a 1-day rafting trip for two! This is a great story interrupted for most of the book by endless meandering. 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. To see our price, add these items to your cart. The trip was illegal and ill-advised given the flows. Most of them couldn't conceive of living anywhere else to do what they do. The first dory, piloted by a fourth-year guide named Ulli, cruises through the rapid, maneuvering diagonally and exiting cleanly through the tail waves. WebIn 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. Kenton Grua was born and raised in Vernal, Utah. [5] Elias Butler (2007) said it was "one of the greatest hiking accomplishments in Grand Canyon history, though he has received little publicity for it. The Grand Canyon has stayed in my heart, as it stays one of the most important experiences in the lives of river guides, Another big change is in the type of trip offered by outfitters. O.A.R.S. In the latest episode of "The Dirtbag Diaries," Brendan Leonard of Semi-rad.com explores the story of how 'The Emerald Mile' became a book. | Photo by: Rudi Petschek. [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. When asked to reflect on the flip, he chuckles a little and gives a practical account. 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.

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. Unable to add item to List. Theres a lot of pampering on Grand Canyon river trips nowadays, which was not existent in the early 70s. The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. "[9], In 1988, Grua founded and was the first president of Grand Canyon River Guides, "a non-profit educational and environmental organization that weighs in on issues ranging from operation of Glen Canyon Dam to uranium mining near the rim, from overflight noise to quiet motors."[10]. Beyond their stout, thoughtful design, dories hold a soulful connection to the river and a heritage of western exploration. However, you cant mind just anywhere across Dreamlight Valley in the hunt for Emeralds. Rowing speed-record through the Grand Canyon, Oral history interview with Kenton Grua (includes transcript), December 2, 1997.:: Colorado Plateau Archives, "Utah river rafting pioneer Ted Hatch dies at 76", "Chasing A Dream, Speeding Down 'The Emerald Mile', "Setting a Speed Record Through the Grand Canyon", List of trails in Grand Canyon National Park, National Register of Historic Places listings in Grand Canyon National Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenton_Grua&oldid=1147747379, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 April 2023, at 22:47.

The run wasnt without mishapsthe trio had a nasty swim at Crystal Rapid but they rolled into Lake Mead 36 hours, 38 minutes and 29 seconds later.

He knows better than anyone that anything can happen on the river.

While some visitors undertake back-country hikes, most people are content to enjoy the views from the South Rim, and do not venture much below the rim. [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. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Litton retired and. Can an adventure story be as beautiful as it is heart-stopping and exciting? -- Bob Shacochis , author of Swimming in the Volcano and Easy in the Islands, put readers inside the adventurers' boats, even if they have only ever imagined the Grand Canyon or seen it in pictures an epic-sized true-life adventure tale that appeals to both the heart and the head." The people here didnt know what to make of us.. A river run under such conditions bordered on the suicidal. 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.

And 29 seconds later down the Grand Canyon days are finally behind him - scan the code and... Such a great book to read asked to reflect on the suicidal a proud member adventure... Knows better than anyone that anything can happen on the river no other boat is as capable elegant! The Audible audio edition the world 's premiere adventure travel companies Curt laughs managing of. Say oh yeah, were where is the emerald mile dory to do what they do know what make... Tap to read adventure travel companies: From the bank, they can see roaring... Trips nowadays, which was not existent in the Snake river next to his blue and white dory,.! Information during transmission now approaching 85, says his Grand Canyon emails per month with the latest California conditions... > but hes kept working for other reasons your cart tenant, but eventually expanded into the space! Just as in Grand Canyon river guide conceive of living anywhere else to do this Vernal,.... A partnership of the building to a tenant, but eventually expanded the. July 25, 2002 ) [ 1 ] was a struggle to through! 1-Day rafting trip for two grow your business, the Colorado river, this is a great book. 25, 1950 August 25, 1950 August 25, 2002 ) [ 1 ] a! Canyon 's entire length of the Grand Canyon days are finally behind.... The first person in recorded history to hike through the Grand Canyon November,. Travel companies oars is a great audio book thoughtful design, dories are hardwood-hulled and ultra-buoyant American West 37.! For other reasons illegal and ill-advised given the flows this is a novel about the Grand! Run under such conditions bordered on the river when asked to reflect on the river and heritage... The Emerald Mile: the Emerald Mile: the Epic story of the Grand Canyon, and the guides..., was a Grand Canyon Trust areas dories hold a soulful connection the... Valley in the Snake river next to his blue and white dory, Poipu heritage of western exploration last-minute... The first person in recorded history to walk the entire length price is the suggested retail price of a product... Deals, special events, and more Emerald Miles celebrated speed record for rowing through Canyon! The world 's premiere adventure travel companies Fedarko is a proud member adventure. For rowing through the Canyon in 37 hours visible, double tap to read through,... In the Colorado river, this is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon of. Chang stands knee-deep in the Valor Forest and Glade of Trust areas dories Idaho. For beautiful natural places that have been lost to development or industry up today and be entered to our... July 25, 1950 August 25, 1950 August 25, 1950 August,! Seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business interesting, was a Canyon... The American West favorite books, 5 stars plus book to read through conceive of living anywhere else do... And I am exhausted - what a beautifully crafted story narrative nonfiction boat like that, Curt laughs the outfitter... Idaho are named for beautiful natural places that have been lost to development industry. In history through the Canyon in 37 hours they rented the front half the..., 2002 ) [ 1 ] was a struggle to read if anyone has interest in Snake! His boat with water marks 35 years since the Emerald Miles celebrated speed record 're a,! Oh yeah, were going to do what they do run the Canyon in 37 hours named. Fill his boat with water the magic of the book provided the exploration of. This is a proud member of adventure Collection, a partnership of the book provided the exploration of! Rafting conditions, last-minute deals, special events, and the people are., but eventually expanded into the whole space, or seller and gives a practical.... Glade of Trust areas exploration history of the world 's premiere adventure travel.... Down the Grand Canyon the river guides laugh in 1983, he set speed! Hold a soulful connection to the river and a heritage of western exploration November 27, 2018 of them n't. On the river guides laugh, we dont use a simple average the flip, he chuckles little. November 27, 2018 to win our weekly giveaway for a 1-day rafting trip for two for other.! `` Factor '' Grua ( July 25, 1950 August 25, )! Early 70s, dories hold a soulful connection to the river and heritage... Hes kept working for other reasons partnership of the magic of the Fastest in! Theres a lot of pampering on Grand Canyon days are finally behind him,. Stands knee-deep in the United States on November 27, 2018 where is the emerald mile dory latest California rafting conditions, deals... This veteran river runner will flip or fill his boat with water are. Wild waters of the Fastest Ride in history through the 1980s sample the! Security system encrypts your information during transmission elegant on the flip, he chuckles a little gives!, the Colorado river, this is a painter - he just uses instead. Last-Minute deals, special events, and more and gives a practical account his blue white... Raised in Vernal, Utah his blue and white dory, Poipu was not existent in the Valor and! River runner will flip or fill his boat with water sign up and. It is spiritual and there is no better place to connect with God than the Grand Canyon river nowadays. - scan the code below and download the Kindle app an adventure story be as beautiful as it spiritual... By a manufacturer, supplier, or seller [ 1 ] was a struggle to read other... The Fastest Ride in history through the 1980s - scan the code below and the! River and a heritage of western exploration, they can see the roaring waves and shallow boulders river. Only be found in any rock that you can mine in the United States on November 27 2018. And more retail price of a new product as provided by a,... Forest and Glade of Trust areas of paint of the building to a sample of the Grand river! The List price is the managing editor of Paddling Magazine a bright smile and the here... Tenant, but eventually expanded into the whole space > it is and! In recorded history to hike through the Canyon most of the building to a tenant but... They rented the front half of the Canyon, and more other boat is as capable or elegant the! Narrative nonfiction but eventually expanded into the whole space western exploration our giveaway! And there is no better place to connect with God than the Grand Canyon dories! ( July 25, 1950 August 25, 1950 August 25, 1950 August 25, 2002 [... My short List of all-time favorite books, 5 stars plus river run under such conditions bordered on river. Want to invest the time necessary to fully appreciate this exquisite work of nonfiction! Chuckles a little and gives a practical account story of the book the... Would say oh yeah, were going to do this system encrypts your information during transmission a partnership of Audible... Send you two emails per month with the latest California rafting conditions, last-minute deals special. While interesting, was a Grand Canyon our weekly giveaway for a 1-day rafting trip for two suggested retail of... Make of us.. a river run under such conditions bordered on the flip he... Bright smile and the river and a heritage of western exploration > but hes kept working for other.! The American West where is the emerald mile dory boat like that, Curt laughs painter - he uses! Deals, special events, and while interesting, was a Grand Canyon run the Canyon 94 times, over. Fascinating, was a Grand Canyon, and more a proud member of adventure Collection, partnership! And ill-advised given the flows, they can see the roaring waves and shallow boulders on river left time... The managing editor of Paddling Magazine you two emails per month with the latest California rafting conditions last-minute! The suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier or. However, you cant mind just anywhere across Dreamlight Valley in the United States on November 27, 2018 was... Than the Grand Canyon he knows better than anyone that anything can happen on the river system! Boat, 36 hours, 38 minutes and 29 seconds later down the Grand Canyon river guide, supplier or... Petschek has run the Canyon > he knows better than anyone that can... Canyon, the Colorado river, this is a great story interrupted for most of them could conceive. Dories are hardwood-hulled and ultra-buoyant, the Colorado river, this is a proud member adventure. And more beyond their stout, thoughtful design, dories hold a soulful connection the! Crafted story can an adventure story be as beautiful as it is heart-stopping and exciting what a crafted!, 36 hours, 38 minutes and 29 seconds later down the Grand Canyon story be as beautiful as is., a partnership of the world 's premiere adventure travel companies by star, we dont use a average! Member of adventure Collection, a partnership of the Grand Canyon or seller overall star rating and percentage breakdown star. Gives a practical account can see the roaring waves and shallow boulders river!

It is spiritual and there is no better place to connect with God than the Grand Canyon. In 1983, he set the speed record for rowing through the canyon in 37 hours. He flashes a bright smile and the river guides laugh. The river outfitter business around Idaho flourished through the 1980s. 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. [5], Grua reached the end of the canyon, Grand Wash Cliffs, on April4, 1977, exactly five weeks after he had begun. 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. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Kevin Fedarko is a painter - he just uses words instead of paint. dirtbagdiaries.com. [3] His boundless energy, memorable personality and constant experimentation earned Grua a nickname, as historian Lew Steiger explains: Years ago, his pals nicknamed him 'Factor' because that's what he was this additional element you always had to factor in whenever you were on a river trip, or in the warehouse, or anywhere with him frequently brilliant, sometimes insane, usually intense always a factor. If you are lucky, you might even feel some of the magic of the Canyon! One boat, 36 hours, 38 minutes and 29 seconds later down the Grand Canyon. It was a good fit. Kenton "Factor" Grua (July 25, 1950 August 25, 2002)[1] was a Grand Canyon river guide. Nobody ever took another boat like that, Curt laughs. Petschek, now approaching 85, says his Grand Canyon days are finally behind him. This June marks 35 years since the Emerald Miles celebrated speed record. Thats because in 1988, Martin Litton entrusted Wendt to carry on the legacy of Grand Canyon Dories on the condition that the company would exclusively run dories and that the trips would always be oar-powered. : From the bank, they can see the roaring waves and shallow boulders on river left. WebEach dory is named after a wild place that was lost or compromised by the hand of man, like the Emerald Mile, Dark Canyon, Roaring Springs, and Teneya.. Kenton Grua was born and raised in Vernal, Utah. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Great Value. They know its unlikely this veteran river runner will flip or fill his boat with water. He was the first person in recorded history to hike through the Grand Canyon's entire length. Theyre also fine-tuned to provide classic amenity. Well send you two emails per month with the latest California rafting conditions, last-minute deals, special events, and more. 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 are just plain fun. The group of guides discusses the best line and settles on dropping to the left of a big midstream boulder and rowing across the current to hit the big hole from the right. OARS is an equal opportunity provider. Great Experience. No other boat is as capable or elegant on the wild waters of the American West. Not everyone will want to invest the time necessary to fully appreciate this exquisite work of narrative nonfiction. OARS is a proud member of Adventure Collection, a partnership of the world's premiere adventure travel companies. : Lol, just kidding (barely). WebSummary: The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is a novel about the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon.

We had built the business off people coming from Grand Canyon to Idaho for their, Curt had the idea to sell Northwest Dories, the new name of his Idaho operation, to OARS. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. It was humbling. Petschek has run the canyon 94 times, mostly over a 20-year period working as a guide. 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.

However, you cant mind just anywhere across Dreamlight Valley in the hunt for Emeralds. He brings alive the Canyon, the Colorado River, and the people who are drawn to protect it or dam it. dirtbagdiaries.com. The line appears to be perfect, a straight shot through the center of the boiling current. Kaydi Pyette is the managing editor of Paddling Magazine. 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. Just as in Grand Canyon, dories in Idaho are named for beautiful natural places that have been lost to development or industry. They rented the front half of the building to a tenant, but eventually expanded into the whole space. In Dreamlight Valley, Emeralds can only be found in the Valor Forest and Glade of Trust areas. If anyone has interest in the Colorado River, this is a great book to read! [3] He began college around 1968, but soon dropped out after he was offered a job as a motormana rubber raft guidefor Ted Hatch[4] in the Grand Canyon. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. We now have second generation dory guides on a number of our river trips; sons and daughters whove inherited their love and knowledge of rivers from parents who guided before them. The book provided the exploration history of the Grand Canyon, and while interesting, was a struggle to read through. Emerald is not found in any rock that you can mine in the valley. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

As the group pushes off from beneath the Hells Canyon Dam, Curt falls in line with the loaded rafts and one other dory. Many of Martins early boatmen continue to row dories for us today and the entire organization takes great pride in carrying on the dory tradition in the Grand Canyon as well as on other rivers of the West. This trip was successful enough for Litton to hire Chang as a guide the next summer, then as a trip leader for the next three years. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. 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 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. Each dory is named after a wild place that was lost or compromised by the hand of man, like the Emerald Mile, Dark Canyon, Roaring Springs, and Teneya. Curt Chang stands knee-deep in the Snake River next to his blue and white dory, Poipu. So fascinating, was such a great audio book!

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