The "Seattle Skintrack" on Table Mountain

I propose that arguing if this slope is safe or not to skin is specious. Instead, I'll put forth to you a different reason not to set a skin track up that slope: Good Manners.

Its rude to set a skin track UP something that other people would like to ski DOWN. Unless its absolutely necessary, like when the only way to access a run is to climb it, or its in the middle of a BIG tour and you need to save every minute possible.

This is a heavily trafficked area by skiers and riders with a wide-range of avalanche and downhill experience. Skintracks should be judiciously placed to take advantage of natural terrain features that maximize safety, minimize time, and limit putting tracks onto slopes that are best enjoyed on the descent.

I think its simple. Don't be a JERK. Don't be a selfish prick just out to get yours. If you don't want to share, then go someplace where you don't have to.

I think its simple. Don't be a JERK. Don't be a selfish prick just out to get yours. If you don't want to share, then go someplace where you don't have to.

Thank you! I think you hit the nail on the head. I'll be surprised if it's easier to convince someone not to be a jerk than it is to convince them to be safer.

Please let is snow so none of the internet matters.

Thanks hop for your persistence. And Chris S for hitting the nail on the head like Jason4 said. Thanks to the other voices of reason also. It should be simple FACT that in popular areas we have a responsibility to act in a communal manner and NOT in selfish stupidity! For some folks, the more self evident the truth is, the greater their resistance becomes. Taking the safer route away from downhill traffic should be the norm no matter how much longer it is. Littering the good stuff (even in no hazard terrain) with extra up-tracks to save 5 or 10 minutes is laughably inconsiderate!

The shame campaign doesn't appear to be working. Try flapping arms harder?

I am no expert and have not skied there in a long time. Here is what I would do and it may not be right for everyone for sure.

I would go around then assess the run from above and then drop in. It is nastier when you get caught skinning up if you are in a group. It is usually but not always the convexities at the top that get you is what I have experienced. Now once the slope has been skied a ton the straight up route might be the way to go. I just do not like big steep crap above me if I can avoid it. I am scared of big freight trains coming down on me from above since I violate the ski rules by solo skiing which is also just plain dumb. This is why I should not talk about anyone's ski habits since mine are bad.

I have found going around often is just as quick as zig zagging straight up. Skinning shallower slopes is often faster. However this is a pure judgment thing for individuals and groups. If they get zapped by folks from above well then that is their fate.

Interesting thread. Hop posted a nice backountry mag article on page one. I'm thinking that opening the conversation with a loud residence-based slam and using a healthy dose of attempted public shaming does not really follow the spirit of the "get the dialog rolling" rule from that article, which went on to suggest:

“We have to own and acknowledge the consequences of our actions in the backcountry or create a social contract.” And that means starting the conversation with anybody who’s willing to participate: friends, guides and avy professionals are good people to start with…over beer, preferably.

I'd agree that I've seen several sketchy uptracks on that face of Table on considerable hazard days with a decent depth of new snow while cruising past Bagley lakes getting to or coming from points further out which aren't such a gong show as is that whole face (the final rule in that article? "Go Farther:Ask Yourself: Are there crowds over the next ridge?"). I've also seen a great many downtracks there which I would not personally have made on those days (particularly constrained chutes with convexities up top and a flattening where a big pile-up will happen quite a ways below, as well as cornice hops from the plateau of Table onto loaded, long slopes). Risk tolerance is of course relative.

Like floater, I've not been there in a long time, in part due to what a circus it had been becoming when I was last there. And I've only skied any of the blueberry chutes on well consolidated snow in springtime on a return from cruising around the backside of Table. But from my memory I'd agree that, risk aside, I'd just rather skin round than set a zillion switchbacks going right up something that steep when there is such a reasonable alternative.