The collective wisdom of many posters on these lost and found subjects is guiding me to believe that perhaps it is best, generally, to leave what we find where it is. This, despite the pleasure of reuniting object and owner.
Hi, I'm a long time lurker here. Finally got AT skis and bindings this year, so maybe I can start posting too.
I'll just chime in here to say that last summer I stupidly left a pair of new mountaineering boots behind my car at the TH for Heliotrope Ridge and then drove home. As soon as I got home I realized what I had done, but was way too tired to make the 4 hour drive back. I called the Glacier Ranger station and left a description and contact info, then left Seattle the next morning and went all the way back hoping to find them right where I left them.
No such luck. I left a message on the bathroom building, talked to the trail crew who was working on the bridge and a couple of climbers returning to the lot, and checked in again with the ranger in Glacier. No joy. Posted a message on NWHikers and WTA.
Anyway, I think whoever took them didn't want to find the rightful owner. All they had to do was call or stop at the ranger station and they would have been able to get in touch with me. Or just leave them there, for I did return.
I think the higher the value of the left item, the more effort the owner will put into coming back for them. If I left a pair a $400 boots in the parking lot at Adams, I probably would have driven then 4 - 5 hours back to try to retrieve them. If I had left a pair of ski poles, or sunglasses, I wouldn't bother.
I liked the story about the sunglasses. Returned to the ranger station, no one claimed them so he ended up getting to keep them. I wish someone had done that with my boots.
(Orange and yellow, if you found them last summer, please contact me.)
