The Emerald Mile

Great book for River people.

The first time our family went to Lake Powell was in May of 1983. We rented one of the largest houseboats available and were there for a week. My wife and I, friends and family have gone back time and time again. In 2003 we bought into a house boat called the ‘Escalante Escape’. And traveled Lake Powell during the last 2 weeks of September for 5 years in a row. What a pleasure! What a centering experience it was staying in the wilderness with all the comforts of home! But slowly, day after day, the wilderness unwound you. Our first trip in 1983 was the most eye opening however. The size and expanse of the lake was astonishing. Every late afternoon we would find an area to camp. Place the retractable walkway from the boat to shore and anchor the boat for the evening. Next morning the level of water had come up overnight and the boat’s pontoons were no longer touching the shore and the ramp would be under an inch or two under water. I remember thinking to myself “ … how much water does it take to raise a Goliath like this a couple inches???” This book explains all those wonders and brings me back to a place and time of such beauty and awe. I will read this again and again. Age may take its toll on my ability to remember, but the trip back to the Southwestern wilderness is but a few pages away.

Having done the Colorado for two weeks during the late ‘70s, in hair raising high water through Crystal and Lava Falls, I was anxious to revisit one of my life’s most breathtaking adventures; riding the rapids in a 5-man raft. And, along with that familiarity came a wealth of knowledge about the Canyon, the dams, the geology, politics and the history of this uniquely American treasure, including its discovery and exploration. All I can say is that it’s a helluva great read. I enjoyed every moment of this journey that I’ve urged so many others to take.

Ive spent every year on the lake and I never tire of its majesty. The author described the beauty of the river and put words to his it makes me feel. Thank You

Maybe the best adventure book I’ve ever read.

One of those adventure books that you can't put down

Loved it. Makes me want to do something significant outside. Great book. Thought of during a long trail run yesterday and it motivated me and I ran an extra five miles.

We rafted down the Colorado a few years ago and had an amazing experience. We also toured and rafted Glen Canyon with the AICF. With this background, this book is truly an amazing read as we "know " where the events are taking plane and can only imagine the power with a water level of this magnitude. We love this book and have so much respect for the "river people" and their passion for the canyon!

Simply one of the best books I've ever read. Gives great history of Gand Canyon, but not too much. The way author describes moving water is amazing.

Amazing book blending beautiful writing with masterful story telling. A must read

The author did a great job informing you and creating the scene perfectly. The story keeps you wanting more and making it harder to put the book down. Very good story and having grown up in Salt Lake City and visited lake Powell many times, this book hits home, I really enjoyed learning the history of the Colorado river, and the Grand Canyon. If your looking for a good book don't let this one pass you by. Well done.

History,science,and crisis woven seamlessly.

I heard about "The Emerald Mile" through OAR's Facebook page. I downloaded the sample on IBooks and quickly realized that I would devour this book. In some ways, I feel like I piloted through the book like Grua, Petschek and Wren piloted that legendary Dory down the swollen Colorado in 1984. Now more than ever, I am committed to one day, take that trip from Lee's Ferry. This is the best book I have read in quite some time.

What to say, I read the sample of this book expecting it to be a decent outdoor. Adventure book about river running, but instead was hooked by end of sample finding book to be so much more than just that. It covers the history of the canyon going back to its first sighting by Spanish explorers, it covers the first exploratory trip down the river in the 1800's, it covers in amazing details the building of dams I. This country, not Just the 2 big ones along the Grand Canyon, but all throughout the country, it covers the personality and mindset of river guides in general, it goes into politics and environmentalism, it goes into engineering of the worlds largest "machines", dams.... You get the idea, this book is amazingly well researched and written and keeps moving through so much! I highly recommend it!!

Written in the vein of many educational adventure stories such as "The Mapmakers Wife" and Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods". The story tells not the just main adventure of the storyline regarding a group of renegades tackling the Colorado at the highest flow possible, but also the stories of the many adventures of history it took to get to that point. Educational and interesting. I wish all adventure stories were like this!