Kenton Grua on the Crystal hilltop talking about his speed run in 1983.

[@Hintz6]

Came here after finishing the Emerald Mile to see the man himself. So rad. RIP Factor

[@toddnelson3575]

Great video Lew. Awesome to hear it from the horses mouth, so to speak. All you boatmen can tell a great story!

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Pretty great to find this footage in the myriad videos on KZbin. I’m not a river person, but utterly fascinated with the Colorado’s history. Recently, I was turned on the Fedarko’s book about this run. I’m so glad these bits of history have been captured. Thanks for sharing, especially this particular video.

[@KyleKovalikSongs]

Great stuff! What a run! So good to hear it from Kenton himself. Mike Walker and I were flown over in a Park Service chopper a few hours later, at the Park's request, radioing down to the crews that had been stopped with instructions on how to run it. "Start right, stay right". We weren't aware that the Emerald Mile had run it that morning and was on the historic run. What an amazing story! Thanks for posting this Lew.

[@rsberryalta]

Great fun, thanks. I flipped in Crystal in 84, another very big water year, but not as big as 83. Now 50 years later, so glad I was there.

[@antoniahall7507]

I’d like to see Crystal at that level! Best story ever-RIP The Factor… Great video!

[@kelllylipp1041]

Oh my! Classic tale well told. Makes me want to go again. I assume you are back and fit as a fiddle. Keep 'em coming my friend...

[@EricHumes]

If you haven’t read the The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko, read it! You will not be disappointed. It’s an incredible story!

[@billwilson6670]

Read "A Walk In The Park" too.

[@anncassidy4064]

We were sleeping on the boats at the Ferry and we were waked up by a truck and flashlights and a couple friends. It happened so fast and off they went.

[@sagecreekwitt3301]

Brilliant footage! Thank you

[@hilslamer]

The Emerald Mile should have a reference to this capture of first-hand experience.

[@Snappy-ut4bj]

Badass!

[@carlgranfors166]

I may have been in that crowd and ready to run Crystal in ‘83.😎

[@kellymahoney3847]

Legend

[@coreyainsworth2727]

Inspirational!

[@devinwhite104]

this is pretty much exactly what i imagined him to look like while listening to the emerald mile

[@bradpertner1035]

RIP FACTOR

[@eringrua9630]

I miss my dad very much. RIP

[@bradpertner1035]

@@eringrua9630 Great Man

[@dustyharris7861]

What a guy!

[@jeanettecameron7530]

That's Bob Rigg in the Clyde Beatty hat, a long time family friend.

[@seanbaskett5506]

I've spent a lot of time rafting big rivers in Idaho, and it's impossible to explain how fun you can have to someone who's never done it. Being exposed to the river community and mingling with it, you will find a family that you never knew existed.

[@michaelangel8133]

Kitting water out of your boat with a pitcher, WTF