Climber Busted on Mount Rushmore

Man spotted directly below the carvings of four presidents
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 22, 2012 12:08 PM CDT
Climber Busted on Mount Rushmore
This August 2009 file photo shows the George Washington face on Mount Rushmore National Memorial.   (AP Photo/Beth Harpaz, FILE)

Authorities have arrested a man for climbing Mount Rushmore National Memorial in western South Dakota. A Mount Rushmore rep says the climber was arrested about 2:15pm yesterday on federal charges that include trespassing and climbing the memorial. She did not identify the man, who has yet to appear in court. He was spotted on the loose rock directly below the carvings of four presidents, and park rangers escorted him safely down the mountain. The rep says the sculpture was never in any danger.

Similar incidents apparently happen several times a year when people for unknown reasons decide to try to climb the mountain. Mount Rushmore upgraded its security after members of Greenpeace climbed the mountain in 2009. (More Mount Rushmore stories.)

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