That makes at least four topplings of fantastic sandstone formations in the last decade, two in the last two months alone. All were within reach of adult human beings which makes it suspicious that only natural forces were involved in all of these cases. Additionally, since these formations have withstood centuries of natural weathering, it is highly unlikely that they'd all topple within a few years of each other.
It's outrageous that such incredible natural beauty is being lost at such an incredibly rapid pace. All the places destroyed were under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management at the time the vandelism occurred.
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on October 1, 2006 at 3:18 AM
The BLM release suggests vandalism. I wish vandals would stick to concrete walls and box cars...
Pete D.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on October 1, 2006 at 6:40 AM
A very sad commentary on what society has become. The complete and total lack of respect for the natural world, and even other people's property, is disturbing.
Posted by Lori Kincaid on October 2, 2006 at 9:06 AM
Tony,
I'm really, really sorry to hear this.
Lori
Posted by Kent Staubus on October 2, 2006 at 10:39 AM
I have never understood the desire of a few to destroy things that they know gives others pleasure. I attribute it to their being sociopaths. They are destructive people, and in the long run they destroy themselves.
Kent in SD
Posted by Ed Cordes on October 2, 2006 at 10:50 PM
This is terrible. However, I am afraid it is representative of many people's lack of respect for nature as well as things that are important to other people.
Posted by David Senesac on October 9, 2006 at 10:21 PM
There are and have long been a few visitors to our outdoor scenic and backcountry areas that have a disgusting inconsiderate selfish ethic. In our timberline high country there are many places where aesthetic snags have been butchered by cretins only interested in wood for their illegal bon fires. At any lake with fish in easy day hikers range, one will almost always see an array of all sorts of fishing gear like salmon egg bottles and beer cans that are tossed. Last year while camped at one of the most scenic spots in the Sierra, Ediza Lake, below Mount Ritter and The Minarets, two climbing morons over a couple hours were reaching every ledge in one area of cliffs and pushing every movable sized boulder over the edge. It is called trundling and like perverse criminals trying to be "baddest" they even brag about their destruction:
Although most in the climbing communities condemn such, there is little beyond peer pressure to prevent the few in any outdoor enthusiast sport from grating against the rest of us.
Posted by Steve Foss on October 10, 2006 at 7:27 PM
Thousands, often millions, of years to form, a few minutes to destroy. Truly there are those among us engaged in a mad dash around the planet, simply aching to show the world: "Hey, I am here, notice me!"
Discussion
8 replieshttp://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=11536&b=vf10&st=0&la=1616&ph=20&sid=20677&u=20677
BLM confirms it in this press release:
http://www.ut.blm.gov/NewsReleases/sep28c.html
That makes at least four topplings of fantastic sandstone formations in the last decade, two in the last two months alone. All were within reach of adult human beings which makes it suspicious that only natural forces were involved in all of these cases. Additionally, since these formations have withstood centuries of natural weathering, it is highly unlikely that they'd all topple within a few years of each other.
It's outrageous that such incredible natural beauty is being lost at such an incredibly rapid pace. All the places destroyed were under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management at the time the vandelism occurred.
Pete D.
I'm really, really sorry to hear this.
Lori
Kent in SD
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=171722&f=270&b=0
Although most in the climbing communities condemn such, there is little beyond peer pressure to prevent the few in any outdoor enthusiast sport from grating against the rest of us.