This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
People sometimes find more than they bargained for while flipping through catalogs.
A picture of climbers used in a Patagonia catalog in 2011 raised suspicions because it showed a "first ascent" in the Grand Wash area of Utah's Capitol Reef National Park.
Rangers visited the spot in the picture and found climbing bolts had been embedded in the rock and determined that "trundling" — moving rocks to make a route — had occurred.
Both activities are illegal in the national park.
Further investigation revealed two other routes were established for the catalog photography shoot.
Two climbers in the catalog picture and another person who participated in installing the illegal routes were charged under the Park System Resource Protection Act.
Capitol Reef collected $4,000 last May from the charged parties in an agreement between the National Park Service and the defendants' attorney. The settlement was first reported last week on the Morning Report website managed by the park service.
A Patagonia spokesman said the company is reviewing its location scouting process.
"We work very hard to make sure every photo we publish depicts responsible climbing practices that align with Patagonia's broad environmental mission by asking vigilant questions and requiring locations always be identified," Patagonia spokesman Adam Fetcher told The Salt Lake Tribune.
"This is an important balance, and, by and large, we get it right," he said. "When we make a mistake, we always look hard at our process and see if any improvements can be made, and we'll do that in this case as well."
Capitol Reef National Park Superintendent Leah McGinnis said the money will be used to restore the site by taking the bolts out and filling in the holes.
"We want to use this as an example to let people know that climbing is allowed in Capitol Reef, but there are certain rules to follow," McGinnis said. "It is like with anything: It is up to people to figure out what the rules are before they do things in the parks."
Climbing information for Capitol Reef National Park can be found on the park's website.
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman