Page 1 of 2

Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:26 pm
by Vaca Russ
http://news.yahoo.com/charges-possible- ... 47899.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do any of you know John, the guy who issues wilderness permits at the Bishop Ranger Station?

He once told me the biggest violators of the backcountry rules are the Boy Scouts.

-Russ

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:05 am
by Ikan Mas
I read this in our paper this morning and was outraged. Unfortunately, there are still people out there that are stuck in the 1940s with regarding outdoor behavior. You would think with all the training required by BSA that these guys would have known better. They sought to eliminate risk rather than manage it. We did that a few generations with predators, but the times have changed. I hope the state throws the book at these guys.

While I do believe that scouts could use a lot of improvement in their backcountry behavior, the worst violaters are the packers, hands down. More so, because scouts do it only once a year, packers all summer. Permanent structures errected, horses too close to the water, and overly large unmanaged groups. With all due respect to our ranger friend, I rarely see scout damage, but I see packer damage every day in Ansel Adams. Washington state is much worse, as the horsemen think they own the wilderness there and abuse it horribly. My experience in the Pasayten this summer was a bit shocking. At any rate, but the scouts and the packers are old school groups with a sense of entitlement. All we can do is educate them.

If a ranger is reading, what sort of violations do you see from scouts and other large groups? I suspect overly large groups, building fires, and camping too close to lakes, something that the backpacking population at large is also guilty of. The scouters that do peruse this forum would probably appreciate finding out what they could do better. Let us know. I'm retired from scouts, but there are many here that can pass the word on.

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:56 pm
by dave54
Yeah, it was reprehensible. Very untypical of most scouting leadership. I suspect the national organization will get involved.

The "remove the hazard" excuse was pretty lame. That was the best rationalization they could come up with after several days?

My vote for the worst in outdoor manners remains the sierra club. I have yet to encounter a sc group that was not arrogant, aloof, or felt they were 'above the rules'. I am not impressed with the skills of their group leaders either. About half are borderline incompetent. Good ones are few and far between.

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 5:50 pm
by rlown
seems simple. just walk away and keep your scouts away from it. there is no excuse.

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:46 pm
by sparky
"It's all about saving lives here in goblin valley"

What a load of crap.

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:47 pm
by dsundrwd
There's also an article that says he's suing over a car accident and claiming permanent disability

http://news.yahoo.com/man-toppled-ancie ... ories.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 6:37 pm
by fishmonger
hmm, why do I now remember my encounter with a Boy Scout troop in 1987 at Woods Creek, when they roared in late at night and found it necessary to take everyone else's food out of the bear lockers and stuff theirs inside, then make a ruckus for the rest of the night? This was before bear canisters by the way, so we ended up with our food in hand at midnight and so much noise that we took down our tents and moved up the trail towards Dollar Lake in the middle of the night.

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:17 pm
by dave54
The national headquarters has now ousted them. This was after they retracted their flimsy "We did it to save lives" story. At least they admitted it was stupid.

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:44 am
by freestone
Guilty. He's gonna pay....

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex- ... ion-n56596" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Utah Rock

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:58 pm
by RoguePhotonic
Although vandalism of locations that are meant to be preserved is never a good thing I can't say I care too much that he pushed that rock over. If they were able to knock the damn thing over then I don't think it was going to stand for too much longer anyway.