This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Two men were arrested Saturday after they allegedly set booby traps along a popular hiking area in Provo Canyon, authorities said.
A 19-year-old from Orem and 21-year-old from Provo were booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of misdemeanor reckless endangerment.
Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said a Forest Service officer was patrolling the Big Springs Trailhead area when he noticed a trip wire near a popular fort-like shelter on the trail. The officer, who has military-training and extensive experience identifying booby traps, found the trip wire led to a device made with a large rock and sharpened sticks, held together by rope.
"It was hung where it would most likely swing to and hit the head or face of a hiker or camper," Cannon said in a news release.
In a second entrance to the shelter, the officer found another wire that appeared to be set so it would trip a person and possibly cause them to fall forward onto sharpened sticks that had been placed on the ground.
After the discovery, the officer contacted the sheriff's office and began posting about the traps on social media websites to those familiar with the area. After speaking with witnesses, authorities arrested the two men.
Cannon said the men admitted they were involved in making the booby traps and placed them last Sunday.
Twitter: @jm_miller