We’re on a mission to deliver something up north, but nothing as important as this dory that got here back in 1983. The Emerald Mile is the very dory on which, during an extraordinary highwater moment on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Kenton Grua and two other river guides, Rudi Petschek, and Steve “Wren” Reynolds, ran 277 miles of the river in just 36 hours, 38 minutes, and 29 seconds, a world record that holds to this day.

We, on the other hand, are here at the Oars warehouse in Flagstaff to hand off this knitted Viking hat Caroline handmade for Steve Kenney to compliment the colorful garb he drags down the Colorado River when he’s guiding river trips.

This is the off-season for Oars when they spend time repairing boats, dry bags, and other equipment to get ready for the quickly approaching spring. Once you’ve had the opportunity to run the Colorado in one of these agile dories, you will forever be enamored by their incredible countenance and remember the days you were so fortunate to experience them.

After hanging out a bit and enjoying our immersive tour of the facility, the three of us went for lunch at a nearby burger and brew pub before Caroline and I made our way, albeit slowly, back home. Steve’s license plate offered us a nice chuckle, as he certainly plays that role well.