The Emerald Mile Audiobook By Kevin Fedarko cover art

The Emerald Mile

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

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The Emerald Mile

By: Kevin Fedarko
Narrated by: Kevin Fedarko
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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.

©2013 Kevin Fedarko (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Americas Sports History State & Local United States
Captivating Storytelling • Rich Historical Context • Excellent Narration • Vivid Descriptions • Soothing Voice
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Fantastic high suspense story with great characters and a wonderful end. Super interesting history as well.

History lessons abounding

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Loved the history all the way to the run down the river to the haul out

Wahoo

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With a love of wooden boats, and adventure this book captured me! The tale is incredible as it intertwines the history of the Colorado River, it sheer force and the will and determination of so many to conquer and control it! What a fantastic story!

Amazing story about the canyon, a wooden boat and a dam

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Some digressions were not needed but this was not a significant problem most the time.

The writing was very vivid and descriptive. The story is so captivating that kept you engaged.

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A well researched, insightful and interesting story about man’s relationship to this wild water, one man’s dream to face the river at its wildest moment and run the river.

The wild Colorado River and the men took it on

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

The Canyon and the Colorado River.

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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.

Absolutely Fascinating

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

The cadence and skillful vocalization and writing

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Kevin Fedarko’s “Emerald Mile” joins the rare pantheon of my listens of hundreds of audiobooks over the last 20+ years in which the author is an incredibly talented writer & narrator. My wife recommended it after reading the book, &, as usual, she was right. An intriguing story written in a way that draws you in with characters you learn to care about accomplishing heroic feats of amazing grit, strength & determination. The writing is genius, weaving an interesting historical foundation with an incredibly action-packed story told in tantalizing bits woven together & spiced with a wry sense of humor.
I somtetimes drag out listening to excellent titles to prolong the experience & delay gratification. “The Emerald Mile” is the first book I was so enraptured by that I stopped listening with 2 hours to go & shifted to another book. I bought the hardcover book to appreciate the photos, & started alternating reading & then listening.
How is this not a hit movie?
My other favorite author/narrators are:
Steven King- “Fairy Tale.”
Neil Gaiman- “Fragile Things” & many others as part of a cast.
Robin Wall Kimmerer- “Braiding Sweetgrass...”
Ed Yong’s- “An Immense World...”
Merlin Sheldrake’s- “Entangled Life…”
Once again, I am so grateful for my Audible membership.

How is this not a hit thriller film?!

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Excellent narration, expansive history of the Grand Canyon, wonderful character studies. The story of the damage to Glan Canyon dam is fascinating.

history that reads like fiction

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