What is the Deal with Peoples Skin Tracks?

The past few times I have been skinning I have been horrified by what I have seen. Skin tracks heading straight up wind loaded Colouirs, traversing in/across the crux of major avalanche slopes, and making unnecessary swithbacks on wind loaded slopes above massive cliff bands.

I don't know if it is people new to the terrain or people without common sense but this could become a real disaster.

Its new people i am sure. Well new people who arent willing to learn. I know before i start i take a look up and make a sort of plan in my mind, then usually ask my partners if it sounds good. Just a good idea in my mind as wo or three sets of minds and eyes is better than just one in my opinion.

but yeah ive seen some stupid skin tracks i didnt want to follow or even use. And not the lets be superman and go straight up ones but like you said ones that go through sketchy terrain for no reason

Stupid skin tracks and stupid snowshoe tracks. I think both are due to much improved equipment (AT and snowshoe) that not only allow steep climbs but relatively unschooled people to access the bc. All these Warren Miller movies & internet videos not only stimulate the alpine skier to go bc but to seek out the extremes. I think snowshoeing is replacing XC skiing for the new folks and easy rentals are available for quality equipment. Seeing lots of adult social groups from relations to church groups going bc and most seem to think the best way up is straight up a gully or couloir.

There's of course no requirement to show proof of one's Level 1 Avy Course in order to buy equipment, nor avy books (which discuss safe routefinding) bundled with the gear. One of the folks at Marmot told me in the past year or two that there's been a big upswing in folks buying gear, which supports the notion that there are probably lots of folks who are new to the sport out there.

There's nothing like a disaster to get people to embrace more thoughtful route selection. Or at least a close call or two.

Luckily there's no requirement that you or I follow said skintracks.

Yesterday a party skinned up the gut of gun barrel, about 15-20 switchbacks and up through the steep constriction at the top. We had set a track through the trees well away from gun barrel and got to the top just as they finished their run. Worse yet, they decided to do a second lap as we were trying to ski down. It was some of the worst I've seen.