Updated: Climbers pay $4,000 for violations in national park in Utah

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct who paid the fine. It was the climbers, not the company.

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 after discovering the violation.

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.

Patagonia stresses in its marketing that it is an environmentally responsible company and even says it donates a small fraction of sales to environmental causes.

Climbing is allowed in areas of Capitol Reef, but climbers are not allowed to place new bolts or fixed hardware.

The Salt Lake Tribune first reported the settlement Monday.

This story was originally published September 23, 2014 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Updated: Climbers pay $4,000 for violations in national park in Utah."