I prefer first tracks and the process involved in getting them, but after that, I could care less if 100 people follow the trail. I just hope they know what they are doing!

I think it’s a resort/road proximity issue. The amount of pictures on the internet really allow someone to see what’s out there, but hard work keeps most people away. Places like Wolverine Cirque, which to be honest doesn’t require much work (it’s what 30 minutes of a safe traverse/hike from the supreme lift) are ripe for exploitation. But there are many places where the best pictures in the world can be posted and people will stay out, for the exact reasons you’ve stated your book didn’t lead to bloodshed. But I will concede that skiers are very sheep like and do enjoy following a good trail.

1) Personal responsibility. Holding the author of a guidebook responsible for the mistakes and misjudgments of others is nuts, me thinks.

2) The increase you’re seeing on these steep lines is probably a simple function of more people in the backcountry. What was once a niche extreme sport is becoming commonplace. It’s now common to see as many AT bindings standing in line at the lifts as alpine bindings. Then these folks go hit the backcountry like they would the resort. It’s still about personal responsibility, though. As an evangelists of the sport, our only responsibility should be to preach education, not restrain people from venturing out of bounds.