Kenton Grua facts for kids
Kenton "Factor" Grua (born July 25, 1950 – died August 25, 2002) was a famous Grand Canyon river guide. He was the first person known to walk the entire length of the Grand Canyon. In 1983, he also set a speed record for rowing through the canyon in just 37 hours.
Contents
About Kenton Grua
Kenton Grua grew up in Vernal, Utah. When he was 12, he went on a whitewater rafting trip with his dad on the Green River. This trip, on a river that flows into the Colorado River, really excited him.
Around 1968, Kenton started college. But he soon left to work as a rubber raft guide in the Grand Canyon for Ted Hatch. Later, he joined Grand Canyon Dories, a company started by environmentalist Martin Litton. Litton used special wooden boats called dories for trips on the Colorado River.
Kenton was known for his amazing energy and unique personality. His friends nicknamed him 'Factor'. This was because he was always an important "factor" or element in any river trip or activity. He was often brilliant, sometimes a bit wild, but always intense.
Setting a Speed Record in the Grand Canyon
In 1983, Kenton Grua and fellow guides Rudi Petschek and Steve Reynolds set an amazing speed record. They rowed down the 277-mile length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Their time was 36 hours, 38 minutes, and 29 seconds.
This broke their own previous record from 1980, which was just under 48 hours. Normally, a trip in a motorized raft takes about a week. A dory trip usually takes two weeks or more.
The Emerald Mile Dory
Kenton's 1983 trip was super fast because of huge flood waters that year. These strong currents helped push their specially changed wooden dory, named the Emerald Mile, along the river.
This famous journey has been written about in many books. One well-known book is The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko.
Kenton's record lasted until 2016. Then, a team of kayakers finished the trip in 35 hours and 5 minutes. Just two days later, solo kayaker Ben Orkin broke that record, completing the trip in 34 hours and 2 minutes.
First to Walk the Grand Canyon's Length
Kenton Grua was the first person ever recorded to walk the entire length of the Grand Canyon. He walked along or near the Colorado River, which runs at the bottom of the canyon. He started near Lee's Ferry and finished at the Grand Wash Cliffs.
Kenton got the idea after reading a book by Colin Fletcher called The Man Who Walked Through Time. Fletcher had hiked the length of the canyon inside Grand Canyon National Park. But this was only about half the canyon's total length. Kenton wanted to hike the whole canyon in one trip.
Planning and Challenges
As a river guide, Kenton spent years exploring possible routes. He made his first attempt in 1971 but had to stop because of an infection from stepping on a cactus.
He tried again in 1977. He hid food at different spots along the way. During this hike, he stayed on the south side of the Colorado River. He found many ancient signs left by the Anasazi people, who lived there over a thousand years ago. These included pits used for preparing food and rooms for storing grain. This showed that parts of his route had been used long ago. Some sections of his path were very dangerous, like narrow goat trails high up on steep cliffs.
Kenton reached the end of the canyon, Grand Wash Cliffs, on April 4, 1977. It took him exactly five weeks. He thought he had walked about 600 miles. This was because the canyon's tough landscape made him take many winding paths. He also had to go back to the river often for drinking water.
Unlike Colin Fletcher, who wrote a best-selling book, Kenton didn't tell many people about his amazing hike. It wasn't widely known until much later, mostly among other river guides. People now see it as one of the greatest hiking achievements in Grand Canyon history.
Kenton Grua's Legacy
In 1988, Kenton Grua started and became the first president of Grand Canyon River Guides. This group helps educate people and protect the environment of the Grand Canyon. They work on issues like how the Glen Canyon Dam operates and mining near the canyon.
Kenton Grua passed away at age 52 from a heart attack after falling from his mountain bike. He lived near Flagstaff, Arizona.
Today, The Whale Foundation offers the Kenton Grua Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship helps Grand Canyon river guides who want to continue their education.
