A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
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Web ID: 203122274 reviews
A 750-Mile Trek Through Awe-Inspiring Country
Anything but a leisurely stroll, Fedarko's end-to-end hike of the Grand Canyon with his friend Pete McBride pushed them both to the limits of human ability (no exaggeration). But his narrative is nonetheless full of humor, vivid descriptions of the Canyon's austere beauty, fascinating perspectives from Native inhabitants, and offers hard-won lessons on humility and the awesome power of nature.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
ABeautiful Book About America's Greatest Park
Great book and a must read if you're going to visit the park or have ever visited. Even with in all its grandeur, the Grand Canyon remains a sorely underappreciated and little understood natural wonder of the world. In recounting his foolish attempt at crossing it lengthwise, Fedarko's narrative manages to capture the history and magic of America's greatest national park. I strongly recommend a listen on the drive over to the park, and a purchase to read in leisure when back home.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
You think you know the Grand Canyon? Think again!
Perhaps you've hiked some of the Grand Canyon trails or taken a multi-day river trip. You've watched many sunrises and sunsets, and you know the names of all the rock formations. You start to feel "at home" in the Canyon--a wonderful feeling of familiarity. But once you get into Kevin's book, you realize how much you haven't seen and how much of the vastness is hidden from the casual explorer. Kevin's descriptions of the land, the weather, the light, the sounds, the smells, the flora and fauna are truly poetic. He doesn't just describe what he and Pete are doing and seeing; he puts you on the trail with them, and you feel their pain, feel their awe, and delight in their successes as they work their way west. If you read The Emerald Mile, you know that it is about a lot more than three river guides in a dory trying to set the speed record for rowing through the Canyon. In a similar way, A Walk In The Park is about much more than two guys punishing themselves for 750 hiking miles. Kevin's discussion of the political, social and environmental issues facing (and often threatening) the Grand Canyon are both thorough and fair. He speaks with authority, doing extensive research and interviewing a broad range of people. For me, this book is a five-star-plus for anyone who is interested in, and who shares a passion for, the Grand Canyon. It is the perfect companion read for The Emerald Mile and Pete's book, The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim. Disclaimer: Kevin and Pete are friends of mine. In 2005, Kevin spent 16 days in my boat when he did his story about Martin Litton for Outside Magazine. In addition, he wrote an essay for my book, The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey. Kevin is a great friend, a great writer, and a great person.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fascinating
Fascinating! I’ve always been fascinated by the Grand Canyon – it’s one of my favorite places – so this was a nice, long visit, seeing it from a different point of view. This book has everything – it’s part travel guide, part memoir, part history book – it covers it all and does so in such a way to keep you engrossed in the story. There is a slow start with a lot of history thrown at you but once the adventure begins, it gets really interesting and you feel like you’re in the Grand Canyon with them, trekking around and learning about the canyon, the different cultures of the area, and the natural world as a whole.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com