This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Federal warrants have been issued for the arrest of three Canadian men accused of violating rules at Yellowstone National Park by wandering beyond designated boardwalks and trails near Old Faithful.
Last week, the men were filming a road-trip series while visiting various U.S. landmarks, including Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats and Arches National Park.
While in Yellowstone, they allegedly walked about 75 feet off the boardwalk at Grand Prismatic Spring and took photos and videos of themselves while off the path, charges state. Court documents allude to a video, filmed by another park visitor, that appears to show four people out of bounds and two of them reaching into the spring. "Several concerned park visitors" reported the incident, charges state.
The group posted self-incriminating photos and videos on Sunday of four people in Yellowstone, charges state, but the content has been removed. However, screen shots of those images have been saved and reposted by commenters.
The men, all members of a group called "High on Life," which runs a clothing line, operate a YouTube channel and have a Facebook page titled "High on Life SundayFundayz."
The organization issued an apology through its Facebook page for making "the unfortunate error of leaving the pathway" and for "not respect[ing] the protected environment."
"We have realized that what we did was not okay, and we want others to learn from our mistake," the post says. "... With the purest of intentions we managed to screw up."
The group has said it will donate $5,000 to Yellowstone National Park in an attempt to make amends. The post also says the group "will be accepting the ramifications of our actions."
Twitter: @mnoblenews