The Emerald Mile

Features

This book has been chosen by Doug Read for the 2024 Community Book Initiative as a reflection of the theme, stewardship. All profits from the purchases of this book during the 2024 Community Book Initiative event (running from 5/13/24-6/10/24) benefits local nonprofit Clean Up the Lake. 

About the Book:

About Doug Read:

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, but wanted to live in the mountains and so moved to North Tahoe in 1970. Here, I learned all of the different types of cross-country and backcountry skiing and got grounded in the community. My efforts at stewardship have had to do with getting people outside in group settings to experience the mountains athletically. In 1976 after the death of a friend I helped start the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team and was its president for 10 years; I was involved in continuing to run the The Great Ski Race an annual Nordic ski race that has been going for more than 45 years and was originally started by my friend Skip Reedy; I was a North Tahoe High School Nordic ski coach for five years and with Doug McNair took ten kids to Norway for a ski trip and educational tour of that Scandinavian country. I also helped start the Tour de Manure, an annual supported bicycle ride in Sierraville modeled on The Great Ski Race. Now it's in its 13th year.

The books I’ve chosen, The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko and The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Experience, by Caroline Alexander, are both well written and fun to read. They are stories about people venturing into the wilds of nature and the weather to not only test their own mettle, but also connect to the environment and learn more about it.

Why Doug Chose This Book:

The Fedarko book was published just before a dozen friends and I (and Laura) went on my third multi-week trip down the Grand Canyon. This one was guided, while the previous two had been private with just friends. Almost every paddler was reading The Emerald Mile. Plus, three of our guides had been on the river at the same time when the waters were historically high and rapid. This story examines the points of view of both the engineers and the river conservationists. It is a great read.