Climbers pay $4K for violations in Utah park

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A park official says three rock climbers have paid a $4,000 settlement to Utah's Capitol Reef National Park for violating climbing policies in the making of a photograph that appeared in a Patagonia clothing catalog.

Park Superintendent Leah McGinnis said Tuesday that rangers discovered illegal climbing routes in the red rock park after seeing the photograph in a September 2011 Patagonia catalog.

McGinnis says rangers contacted the company but do not believe it knew about the illegal climbing.

Patagonia spokesman Adam Fetcher says a freelance photographer shot the image, and the company has no relationship with the two individuals pictured climbing.

Fetcher says the company is reviewing its freelance photography policies.