Posts Tagged ‘Grand Canyon’
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
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!
Tags: Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon carbon footprint, Grand Canyon helicopters, Grand Canyon hiking, helicopter noise, helicopters carbon footprint
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking, That's F-d Up | No Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
 This is a post for any of you who are looking to go on a guided trip or know anyone who is looking to do the same.
I came across a company today that claims it can guide hikers Rim to Rim or Rim to River to Rim of Grand Canyon in one day. As an authorized guide service, I know that this is not appropriate for anyone who actually carries an authorization to guide in Grand Canyon National Park. I will not name names - yet; however, I do feel it necessary to make all who are looking for a guide company to be aware of this. This is not an isolated occurrence. Grand Canyon National Park issued over 20 citations to rogue companies guiding unsuspecting guests just last year.
There are many things to consider when choosing the right guide company; quality of guides, menu, gear they supply, transportation, destinations, etc. All these things are important to enhance your experience, but there is absolutely one thing you need to be sure your guide company has - authorization to guide trips within the destination you are looking to go. This includes backpacking, hiking, rafting, kayaking, fishing, hunting, etc. For example, if you are looking to go on a guided trip to Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains or Yosemite, be certain you are not going with a rogue company - a company that does not have the authority to do so. The National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, city parks, preserves, etc. almost always require such authorizations.
What does an authorized guide company have that a rogue company does not? Well I can’t speak for the rogue companies out there, but as an authorized guide company, we are required to maintain certain standards. We are required to carry a certain amount of liability insurance, our guides are required to have extensive knowledge of the area they are guiding, our guides are required to have Wilderness First Responder (medical) certifications and educated in Leave No Trace principles. These authorizations keep guide companies honest by not allowing guides to take guests on trips that can be excessive or dangerous. Most important, authorized guide companies have proven to these entities that we are committed to the safety and security of our guests, as well as the integrity of the destination we are visiting.
Authorized guide companies work hard to meet minimum standards that a rogue company does not. And you have to ask why they cannot or will not even meet said standards. So, next time you are looking into going on a guided trip anywhere in the United States, be sure to ask about the company’s authorizations. If you want to double check, you can also contact the agency that oversees that area for verification. Remember, going rogue (which defines a mischievous, dishonest or worthless person) might be good for Sarah Palin, but not for your guide company.
Tags: authorized guide companies, Commercial Use Authorization, Going rogue, Grand Canyon, Yosmite
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
 I recently received an email with the question: “Is it better in cold weather to be curled up in your sleeping bag in the fetal position or laid out straight?” Since it is winter and sleeping outside anywhere in the continental US is going to be cold - even the bottom of Grand Canyon can get below freezing this time of year - I decided this would make for a great topic. So for your next adventure in Yosemite or the Rockies, here is the short answer. “Laid out straight.” The only time you should be in fetal position is when you are in a corner rocking back and forth.
Now the long answer and some tips on how to keep warm in your sleeping bag.
1. Insulate yourself by wearing as much clothing as possible, especially around your core (stomach, back and chest). The more layers you have, the better and if you get too warm, you can remove clothing.
2. Make sure you have a bag that fits you. A bag that is too large or too small is not going to work as efficiently as one of the right size. A bag too small will have parts of you hanging out. A bag that is too big will leave you with too much empty space, requiring more area to be warmed up by your own body heat. Fill up that space with extra clothing , leaves or water bottles filled with warm water. Anything you can use to make the area smaller. For those of you that are vertically challenged, bags are made in shorter lengths - 60″ and 65″.
3. Wear a knit cap to bed. Forty to fifty percent of your body heat is lost through your head, even more if that is the only part of your body exposed to the cold. Also make sure to keep your neck warm.
4. Be sure to keep your face outside the bag. When you breath inside the bag, you exhale moist air, creating a damp, clammy atmosphere. If your face gets too cold, put on a face mask. By the way, this is why you do not want to sleep inside your bag in fetal position.
5. Make sure you have a good sleeping mat with proper insulation and that it is positioned in a way so you will not roll off of it in the middle of the night. Check out the Big Agnes line of sleeping bags. Their system is such that the pad slides into a sleeve on the underside of your bag so no rolling off.
6. Don’t go to bed cold. Before hitting the sack, warm up by doing some pushups, jog around camp, do some jumping jacks or whatever, just not to the point of sweating.
7. Snuggle up with someone else. The more bodies there are, the more body heat. And we will leave this suggestion right where it is!
8. If none of these suggestions work, you need a new bag.
9. One last tip - if you need to pee in the middle of the night, do it! You are wasting body heat by trying to keep that amount of fluid warm, and wetting yourself is only a quick fix.
Tags: Big Agnes Sleeping Bags, cold weather camping, cold weather camping tips, Grand Canyon, sleeping bag tips, sleeping in cold weather, sleeping outside in cold weather, sleeping outside in the cold, Staying warm in your sleeping bag, winter camping, winter camping tips, yosemite
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | 3 Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
 This blog should have been posted a while back, but with all the shameless media whoring of minor celebs such as Kendra and Bear Grylls (see the last couple blogs), we had to put our own shameless self promoting blog on the back burner. Check out the January/February 2010 issue of Experience Life Magazine. There is a great article about taking an active vacation at Grand Canyon and we are featured in said article. Granted, we had to share the spotlight with a couple competitors (who will remain nameless), but we got the first line of the print article. Our very own guest, Joanna Grimes, had the first two words of the article. Her name is 4 times the size of the rest of the text and in red. They don’t mention that she was our guests but that is ok, we like our guests to get a little gratuitous promotion as well.
We did get an online article all to ourselves however; “Grand Canyon Dos and Don’ts”. This is good and important stuff, so be sure to read it.
The magazine can be found at Frys, Safeway and Barnes & Noble or check out the magazine online at www.experiencelifemag.com.
Articles: “A Grand Adventure”; “Grand Canyon Dos and Don’ts”
Since we are on the topic of gratuitous self promotion, check out our recent press coverage page to see more articles about how cool we are!
Tags: a grand adventure, Experience Life Magazine, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Backpacking, grand canyon backpacking trips, Grand Canyon dos and don'ts, grand canyon guided tours, Grand Canyon hiking, grand canyon hiking trips, Just Roughin' It
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | No Comments »
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