Abstract: One of the first things we learn about a (proper) Gromov hyperbolic geodesic space X is the construction of the visual boundary of X. An ergodic theorist then learns that for a non-elementary discrete group of isometries G acting properly on X, there is an interesting family of \delta_G-quasi-conformal measures on the boundary. The parameter \delta_G is called the critical exponent of G, and is equal to the exponential growth rate of the orbit Gx in X.