Every time I drive to Grand Canyon, I see this billboard (pictured left) and finally remembered to stop and take a picture and comment on it for its absolute absurdity.  Based on this billboard, it appears that  Papillon Helicopters believes that hiking, walking or simply using one’s own two feet is more invasive to the environment than taking a tour in a helicopter.  Yes, walking, hiking, backpacking, etc. does leave literal footprints, and if you stay on established trails, you are not doing damage.  But what about the carbon footprint left by any gasoline and oil fueled vehicle?

Let’s look at an example from Ask Pablo on www.triplepundit.com.  A hotel in Belize decided to offer a helicopter transport to and from the airport.  This trip of 94km each way (and less than 1 hour each way) would contribute over 140mT of GHGs (Greenhouse Gases) per year assuming one round trip ride every day of the year.  Click here for the scientific stuff.   At Grand Canyon, there are numerous helicopters from a few different companies flying for over an hour each trip, with at least 2 trips per day most days of the year.  I’ll take man/woman power over gas power to see and experience nature any day.

And if you are a skeptic about the whole carbon footprint/global warming controversy, (or find all the math just mentally exhausting - an exhaust that leaves no carbon footprint by the way) what about the noise emitted from these whirlybirds?  Most people would agree that air traffic (planes and helicopters) are loud.  But, what is loud?  Let’s look at this in decibels (widely known as a measure of sound pressure).  Whispering is measured as 25 decibels (dB), a clothes dryer 60 dB and and screaming child 85 dB.  Each 10 dB increase in sound level is an approximate doubling of loudness.  Helicopters are 105 dB, 50% louder than a jackhammer at 100 dB.  What would you rather listen to, footsteps (about the same sound level as a whisper) or a jackhammer?

Still not convinced that walking is a better way to see the sites than by air?  By 2020 it is estimated that 50% of the United States population will be obese.  So how about getting off your a** and leave your footprints!

By the way, I am not a tree hugger.  I live in the Arizona desert.  Have you ever hugged a Mesquite tree or Saguaro cactus?  They don’t like physical signs of affection!