Nature & Environment
Ancient Desert Rock Formation in Utah’s Goblin Valley Destroyed by Boy Scout Leaders [VIDEO]
Benita Matilda
First Posted: Oct 21, 2013 10:32 AM EDT
Two Utah Boy Scout leaders who deliberately toppled a 20-million-year old ancient desert rock formation in a state park are now receiving death threats after the video filming their reprehensible act went viral.
Two men and a teenager tagged as Dave Hall, Glenn Taylor and Dylan Taylor posted a video on Facebook that shows how the three gathered around a hoodoo (tall, thin spires of rock formed by erosion) and toppled the mushroom shaped ancient rock formation in Goblin Valley State Park that is known for its unique sandstone structures.
The troop leaders Glen Taylor and David Hall face felony charges after they deliberately destroyed the ancient rock formation, New York Daily News reports.
In response to the death threat the two scouts argue that the hoodoo was near to toppling over and could have killed any passers-by if it would have fallen on them. They claim that it would have toppled on its own in a matter of hours and their action was in fact a good deed. This is evident in the video as the duo cheer after destroying the ancient structure. In the video Hall is seen singing the lyrics to 2 In a Room's 1990 hit 'Wiggle It'.
"This is about saving lives," Hall told the Associated Press. "One rock at a time.
But to their dismay, the Emery County Attorney don't consider this as an act of service and is planning on convicting the trio with felony charges after which they will not be able to serve as troop leaders for the Boy Scouts.
Hall elaborated on their intentions to NBC News: "We came across this two- to three-thousand-pound boulder that was resting on about an inch-and-a-half-thick, razor-thin ledge of dirt. Upon putting a little pressure on it, you could see that it was moving and just then a couple of families walked up right below that rock and went around it...and stopped for a family photo. And the thought that went through our minds was if this would have fallen while they were coming up that valley, up that very well-used walkway, numerous fatalities would have happened."
The minute long clip shows Taylor forcefully pushing the boulder at the park and Hall singing in celebration. Once the huge rock that has stood since the Jurassic period fell, the three laugh and exchange high fives. Hall is heard saying that they have successfully modified Goblin Valley.
Jeff Rasmussen , deputy director of Utah State Parks and Recreation, told FOX 13 News, "It's a valley full of these rocks that are perched up on these earth platforms, and obviously we're very concerned and upset that someone would come and destroy this natural wonder that took millions of years to be formed."
The video went viral and a lot people have protested against the trio's act.
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First Posted: Oct 21, 2013 10:32 AM EDT
Two Utah Boy Scout leaders who deliberately toppled a 20-million-year old ancient desert rock formation in a state park are now receiving death threats after the video filming their reprehensible act went viral.
Two men and a teenager tagged as Dave Hall, Glenn Taylor and Dylan Taylor posted a video on Facebook that shows how the three gathered around a hoodoo (tall, thin spires of rock formed by erosion) and toppled the mushroom shaped ancient rock formation in Goblin Valley State Park that is known for its unique sandstone structures.
The troop leaders Glen Taylor and David Hall face felony charges after they deliberately destroyed the ancient rock formation, New York Daily News reports.
In response to the death threat the two scouts argue that the hoodoo was near to toppling over and could have killed any passers-by if it would have fallen on them. They claim that it would have toppled on its own in a matter of hours and their action was in fact a good deed. This is evident in the video as the duo cheer after destroying the ancient structure. In the video Hall is seen singing the lyrics to 2 In a Room's 1990 hit 'Wiggle It'.
"This is about saving lives," Hall told the Associated Press. "One rock at a time.
But to their dismay, the Emery County Attorney don't consider this as an act of service and is planning on convicting the trio with felony charges after which they will not be able to serve as troop leaders for the Boy Scouts.
Hall elaborated on their intentions to NBC News: "We came across this two- to three-thousand-pound boulder that was resting on about an inch-and-a-half-thick, razor-thin ledge of dirt. Upon putting a little pressure on it, you could see that it was moving and just then a couple of families walked up right below that rock and went around it...and stopped for a family photo. And the thought that went through our minds was if this would have fallen while they were coming up that valley, up that very well-used walkway, numerous fatalities would have happened."
The minute long clip shows Taylor forcefully pushing the boulder at the park and Hall singing in celebration. Once the huge rock that has stood since the Jurassic period fell, the three laugh and exchange high fives. Hall is heard saying that they have successfully modified Goblin Valley.
Jeff Rasmussen , deputy director of Utah State Parks and Recreation, told FOX 13 News, "It's a valley full of these rocks that are perched up on these earth platforms, and obviously we're very concerned and upset that someone would come and destroy this natural wonder that took millions of years to be formed."
The video went viral and a lot people have protested against the trio's act.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone