Found Ski: What would you do?

Jerm is right, caching is illegal in National Forests and National Parks. We've all stashed stuff for a day or two during a trip, but caching between trips is illegal for a good reason. The Ranger didn't have much right to complain.

Stashing skis in snow for extended periods doesn't seem bright. Snow melts, things fall downhill. Personally, if I were to stash skis for an extended period, I'd look for a cave, or in a tree in some woods, etc. If at all possible, I'd also lock them.

For the record, I'll leave a pair of skis alone, but a single ski I'd take on my way out, too.

I think we can all agree that leaving litter in the wild is a Evil. Likewise, stealing the beer someone has half-buried in snow near their car is also Evil. The stuff that's not obviously stashed, however... You've got to make a judgment call and decide if you think someone is coming back for this.

Do I remember correctly that a certain few respected folk Cached gear/rations for nearly a decade in hopes of a long Cascade traverse??

Only one responsible respone: kick *ss, stomp face, the guy's a nazi

Questions about what's legal and not, are B.S.

His attitude was the problem; he should have thanks! for the concern

He could have left a note.

p.s.: just finished changing the oil in my m'cycle and kicked back with 4 beers, no temperance left

On the cache note. Try reading Orland Bartholomew first winter traverse of the Seirra. He and his buddy were water surveyors  who used skis to assess water snow pack. Thier boss started making them use snow shoes because he suspected they were having too much fun. Orland and friend then starting leaving the trail heads on snoshoes only to pick thier cached skis once out of sight! Great read involving lots of caching.
Ive no problem with caching it's attitude that is the problem here.

I came across the ski sticking in the snow on the trail to Glacier Basin on Saturday.
We thought it strange sticking in the snow and talked about it for a few seconds.
I thought somebody must have lost it during the winter or early spring and thought that
sticking it in the snow was a good idea and that the person who had lost it would have had a better chance to find it that way.

If I had come across it on the way back on Sunday, frankly I would probably have left it but only because I was tired which makes what you did even more noteworthy. Loading yourself with another ski after such a long hike was a great act of kindness.

The Ranger was a jerk.

A couple of years ago a Glacier basin ranger boasted to us how many cached boots and sneakers he'd picked up and carried out from "his" area. It's making them wear uniforns that makes them act that way.