Tracking was Paul's favorite sport and no trail was too old or too dim for him to follow. He once came across the skeleton of a moose that had died of old age and, just for curiosity, picked up the tracks of the animal and spent the whole afternoon following its trail back to the place where it was born.

—The Marvelous Exploits of Paul Bunyan,
W.B. Laughead

Based on the folktale, the people who told this story probably thought that
was very important.

Based on the folktale, the people who told this story probably thought that tracking and following trails were very important.

Based on the folktale, the people who told this story probably thought that tracking was very important.

Based on the information provided from the folktale, the people who told this story probably thought that tracking was very important. This is evident from the fact that the story highlights Paul's passion for tracking, mentioning that it was his favorite sport, and how he would follow any trail no matter how old or dim.

The story also showcases Paul's remarkable tracking skills by mentioning how he once came across the old skeleton of a moose and decided to follow its tracks out of curiosity. He spent the entire afternoon following the trail all the way back to the place where the moose was born. This demonstrates Paul's dedication and expertise in the art of tracking.

Therefore, based on the emphasis on tracking in the story and the admiration expressed for Paul's ability to follow trails, it can be inferred that the people who told this story considered tracking as a highly valued skill or attribute.