When Is It OK to Bootpack a Skin Track?

SnowBrains |
A perfect skintrack.  Turnagain Pass, AK.  photo:  snowbrains
A perfect skintrack. Turnagain Pass, AK. photo: snowbrains

When is it OK to boot pack a skin track?  Many would say never, but that’s not exactly accurate anymore.

Whether you like it or not, there are times when it’s more or less acceptable to boot pack a skin track.  It’s not acceptable because it’s the right thing to do.  It’s acceptable because it’s going to happen whether you like it or not.  Whether you regulate it or not.  Whether you care or not.  It’s simply reality.

There are only two scenarios where it’s OK to boot pack a skin track…

A nice skin track
A nice skin track.  photo:  snowbrains

When It’s Ok To Boot Pack a Skin Track:

1.  It’s OK to boot pack a skin track if the skin track is within the boundaries of a ski resort.

2.  It’s OK to boot pack a skin track if the skin track begins at the boundary of a ski resort.

***ANY other time, it’s not OK to boot pack in a skin track.

The North Shore of Jackson Hole, WY.  skier:  miles clark.  photo: jh skier
The North Shore of Jackson Hole, WY. skier: miles clark. photo: jh skier

In Jackson Hole, this entire scenario is often flipped.  When this occurs, locals will kindly remind you:

“Get your skintrack off my bootpack!”


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