A review by writerwendywag
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko

5.0

This is a book about the Grand Canyon, and like the river that carved the canyon, it's a big, complicated, thrilling read. It starts with the first European discovery of the canyon, explores the canyon's relation to the massive dam projects that bookend it, and follows a cast of remarkable characters through the summer of 1983, when the first big El Nino event threatened to destroy the Glen Canyon Dam--and provided three men the chance to row through the canyon at unrivaled speed.

It's not just a sport book, it's an ode to the human spirit, the power of wilderness, and the complicated relationship America has with its landscape. I'd give it a 6th star if I could!