7-6-2011,Inter Glacier , MISSING SKIS

I've deleted the email address now that he has indicated his contact with [rightful] the owner.

But when I had previously looked at that thread, seemed like contacting him via email might be necessary in addition to just posting the rightful owner's phone number for him to call, since his earlier statements are so shocking that they deserve repetition here:

"Otherwise in ONE MONTH of this posting I am a happy camper."

"Additionally a reward of some sort would be greatly appreciated given (some of) the circumstances; hell, I had to pack them out for almost half the decent which put a big damper on my turns."

As for the general issue of gear that might have been accidentally left behind, skis at the top of Interglacier don't seem to fall into that category.

Anyone think there's a standard rule about finding gear?

No standard rule, just common sense.  Gear, warm clothes, food...I'd probably let them be as they can be essential for survival. Booze or dope...I'd probably see those as a ground score and PARTY ON (esp. if I have none)!  No one will be put in danger (or a trip be ruined) if I keep the bota bag.

Also, the context of finding an item can give you an idea about the intent of the owner.  Skis at the top of a glacier, below a major climbing route where they would not be needed?  Well, the guy admitted it:  he was exhausted, hypoxic and not thinking clearly. 

The finder (besides the obvious mistake of taking them) was only guilty of a making silly requests for reward.  

Anyone think there's a standard rule about finding gear?

Might be situational.
My takeaway from this: I'm thinking that if I'm going to Cache, I'll plan ahead and 1) label my stuff with contact info, and 2) maybe go so far as to create a laminated tag to attach the states, "these items have been left on purpose and I will be returning for them shortly, please do not disturb"...

P-buddy, while the whole situation might be regrettable, good on you for making an effort to make it right.

The guy that "liberated" the cached skiis wasn't thinking clearly -- thankfully his conscience eventually made him reconsider his actions.  I wonder if writing your name and phone number on the skis with a permanent marker would have helped think more clearly at the time, it certainly would have made returning this skis simpler.   A note attached to cached equipment indicating planned return would help honest people distinguish cached equipment from lost or abandoned equipment.     I use a lock when skiing at lift areas now after having a snowboard stolen a few years back during a bathroom break – what do we need now—lockable ski racks at Camp Muir and Camp Shurman ?

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As for the general issue of gear that might have been accidentally left behind, skis at the top of Interglacier don't seem to fall into that category.

Agreed.  We all had a chat about this a couple of years ago
Don't take the gear ,  normally..

Agreed.  We all had a chat about this a couple of years ago
Don't take the gear ,  normally..

and that time that the Troll took my stashed ski:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=13483.0

Don't disturb our stashes! 
(beer may be a reasonable exception but only a service fee of one beer IF you re-bury the remainder)