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“Kevin Fedarko’s The Emerald Mile is one of my all-time favorite books. When I was ordering from Scribner’s spring titles and saw a new book by Fedarko on the list, my heart rate went up and I could hardly contain my excitement. It’s been 10+ years since The Emerald Mile and this book was well worth the wait! This story of Fedarko’s and McBride’s multiple attempts at the canyon that “will kill you” (and there are many books on this subject, including Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon by Myers and Ghiglieri), as people like to say, is like sitting down in camp after a long day hiking, or on the river, and listening to one of the best raconteurs ever. Fedarko just writes that way….like you could be right next to him while he tells you about his bleeding feet that he decided duct tape would be a good fix for, or the searing heat, or hiking in and out of the hundreds of side canyons that made their hike at least twice as many miles as the river’s path. All of it…his descriptions of the flora, the sandstone ledges, the shale poking through his deflated air mattress into his back, hiking until he throws up…you’re right there for it. Kenton Grua from The Emerald Mile shows up in this book, too, as his barefoot through-hike of the Grand Canyon was the inspiration for Fedarko’s and McBride’s endeavor. As an added bonus, the book is sprinkled with McBride’s photos that just make you stop reading and stare, and maps….yes, maps! Put this on your reading list for spring. You won’t be disappointed. If you are inspired to hike the canyon through, please do your homework first. Lots of it!” - Marya Johnston, Owner of Out West Books
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