A Utah rock formation that was around 170 million years old was toppled by Boy Scout leaders. The rock formation was located in Utah’s Goblin Valley.
A video of the two men tolling the formation was uploaded to YouTube, showing them happily pushing it down.
“We have now modified Goblin Valley,” one of the men says in the video. “A new Goblin Valley exists, with … this boulder down here [at] the bottom,” he adds.
The cameraman then says that a “little kid was about ready to walk down here and die,” suggesting that the boulder could fall on someone.
“Glenn saved his life by getting the boulder out of the way. So, it’s all about saving lives here at Goblin Valley,” he adds.
Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts, said that the men will likely be punished and condemned their actions.
“We are shocked and disappointed by this reprehensible behavior,” he said, according to NBC News.
Smith noted that the two did not adhere to the principle of “Leave no Trace.”
“The isolated actions of these individuals are absolutely counter to our beliefs and what we teach,” Smith continued. “We are reviewing this matter and will take appropriate action.”
Utah park officials also were not happy with the move.
Utah State Parks spokesman Eugene Swalberg described the video as disturbing.
“This is not behavior that is appreciated or should exist in state parks,” Swalberg told the Deseret News. “This has been formed for literally millions of years, and it’s supposed to last for a long time. It doesn’t need individuals doing the work of Mother Nature.”
One of the men, Dave Hall, told the News: “Neither one of us were out there intending to do illegal activity It just made sense to us at the time — remove the danger so that we don’t have to hear about somebody dying.”
Glenn Taylor, the other man, added “I feel guilty because I have a conscience. But my conscience also says I did the right thing.”
