[pct-l] Flotsam and jetsam

[Gary Wright]

On Apr 13, 2010, at 12:51 PM, AsABat wrote:

> On a Sierra hike years ago, the boots I was wearing (we all wore huge heavy
> boots) became unbearable. I changed to my sneakers and tossed the boots in a
> bush, intending to pick them up on the way out. A week later, heading out
> early in the morning, I saw a group camped next to the bush. I went over in
> a friendly way and retrieve my boots. They hadn't noticed them, but I would
> not have been happy if they had claimed them. They weren't abandoned, they
> were cached. (Yes, I suppose technically leaving property in the wilderness
> is wrong, but I wasn't about to carry an extra 10 pounds on my back.)

And exactly how does one determine if a pair of boots in a bush in the wilderness are 'cached' or abandoned?

Seems like you should leave an obvious note with any gear that you intend to return to pick up along with a date otherwise it might be impossible for someone to discern your intent.

I don't think things are all that complicated. If you find lost or abandoned gear on the trail, make a reasonable attempt to get it back to its owner to the best of your ability. If the owner can't be located in a reasonable amount of time and a reasonable amount of effort, then it is your gear to do with what you want.  Relocating gear from the point at which it was found is reasonable in my mind: carrying it further up the trail, to a trailhead, to the authorities, or even to your home so that you can ship it after posting on Craig's List all seem like reasonable ways to get the gear closer to its previous owner.

Bonus points for people who go the extra mile but I don't think there is an ethical obligation to spend inordinate amounts of effort, time or money to locate the previous owner.  I do think that *some* effort is required though and that some time needs to elapse before you can claim the gear as your own. Context is important also.  Gear left at a shelter or a trail junction is not necessarily abandoned.  Think about all the gear that is left at Crabtree Meadows while hikers climb Mt. Whitney.

Radar