Regarding helicopter flights over Olympic National Park (where biologists are conducting an annual elk census in Olympic National Park):

Three flyovers: first one up the Queets Valley, second pass about a half mile south (over Tshletshy), third pass down the Queets. On the third pass the aircraft could not possibly have been more than 300-400 feet above the ground.

While it’s all well and good that the Roosevelt elk are being tallied, and I have no issues with fisheries studies done in cooperation with the Quinault Tribal Nation, after spending weeks in preparation, four hours driving to the trailhead, and five hours hiking in to GET AWAY FROM THE NOISE OF THE CITY, it’s rather unsettling to be repeatedly buzzed by helicopters racing by so low I feel like ducking for cover under the alders. (The third pass was directly over my head.)

Or maybe those pilots get some weird kind of kick from scaring backpackers?

Brian Kirk

Tacoma