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310 reviews for:
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
Kevin Fedarko
4.35 AVERAGE
310 reviews for:
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
Kevin Fedarko
4.35 AVERAGE
Very interesting euro-centric history of the Grand Canyon. I listened to the book, and it definitely kept my interest. On the surface, the book is about a speed run down the Colorado in a dory. But there is so much more information about the dams, the rivers, the politics, and the shaping of the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon. One thing I didn't like was the way the narrative jumped around in time. Usually that doesn't bother me, but for some reason, it felt jarring in this reading. But great nonetheless.
A fascinating and epic read. A sweeping history of the Grand Canyon and the history of (mostly modern) human interaction with the area. This book covers geology, river recreation, the Glen Canyon Dam, and political fights over the purpose of nature.
The lynchpin of the book is the bumper snowmelt in the year 1983 and the effect it had on both the river guides and the dam engineers as they grappled with the unstoppable force of the water.
The lynchpin of the book is the bumper snowmelt in the year 1983 and the effect it had on both the river guides and the dam engineers as they grappled with the unstoppable force of the water.
This is a great book both about an incredible physical, mental and emotional feat as well as incredible history about the Grand Canyon and its evolution through the damns built over the Colorado river. It also provides strong reflexions on the impact of damns, the (sometimes broken) relationships between governing bodies and the power of natural elements.
Unfortunately I was reading this as audio with Ryan and I struggled to keep my attention as the story sometimes drifted into longer details on some characters. As we were only listening to the book while on longer car rides, the flow of the story was interrupted, sometimes by long periods of time.
Unfortunately I was reading this as audio with Ryan and I struggled to keep my attention as the story sometimes drifted into longer details on some characters. As we were only listening to the book while on longer car rides, the flow of the story was interrupted, sometimes by long periods of time.
"Thou shalt not" is soon forgotten, but "Once upon a time" lasts forever.
Fedarko wraps this epic tale with those words of Phillip Pullman, to illuminate the importance of the record shattering speed run through the Grand Canyon by Kenton Grua, Steve Reynolds, and Rudi Petschek at the peak of the legendary 1983 flood waters. To tell the story of this manic sprint Fedarko has to tell also the story of river running on the Colorado, starting with John Wesley Powell in 1869, and covering the building of Glen Canyon dam and the fierce fights over preserving wild western rivers and landscapes. The book is a masterpiece that reads like a thriller. Highly recommended.
Fedarko wraps this epic tale with those words of Phillip Pullman, to illuminate the importance of the record shattering speed run through the Grand Canyon by Kenton Grua, Steve Reynolds, and Rudi Petschek at the peak of the legendary 1983 flood waters. To tell the story of this manic sprint Fedarko has to tell also the story of river running on the Colorado, starting with John Wesley Powell in 1869, and covering the building of Glen Canyon dam and the fierce fights over preserving wild western rivers and landscapes. The book is a masterpiece that reads like a thriller. Highly recommended.
At times this book provided an adrenaline rush, at times a history lesson, there was even some trouble -shooting with engineers, all while pondering the rich conflict between environmental freedom and civilization. You could not ask for more in a non-fiction book. Fedarko did so much research from first hand interviews to historical documentation. He left his opinions out and gave us a rich commentary of all the varied opinions related to the vast beauty of wild rivers (the Colorado specifically) and all they provide.
Extremely well researched and exquisitely written. A slow read that I thought I wouldn’t enjoy in the beginning (borderline too many details) but came more and more to appreciate by the end. I became quite spellbound and started researching river trips afterwards …
Outstanding book! Not only is it exhaustively researched and a thrilling adventure, but it’s also just plain beautiful writing. Such a joy to read, truly one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Whether or not you think engineers are the villians or the heroes of this book, this is an excellent history of the river, the dams, and the canyon! Rafting 277 miles is officially on my to-do list.
Enjoyed the book and the included history of the canyon from it’s earliest days.