Like many familiar innovations, the snowshoe’s origins are lost in antiquity. Archaeologists believe Mongolians used a form of snowshoe six millennia ago. But some suggest snowshoes may be 13,000 years old, worn by people crossing the land bridge from Asia into North America.

The first snowshoes likely imitated wildlife such as the snowshoe hare, ptarmigan, or bear, who roamed snowy surfaces with little difficulty. The first “shoes” may have simply been conifer boughs attached to the feet. Native Americans devised two snowshoe types still used today: the beavertail and the bear paw.

When Europeans began exploring Canada and the northern United States, those venturing into the wilderness found native snowshoes helped them scamper across the fluffy, frozen winter landscape. French Canadian fur trappers probably first adopted the native snowshoes to travel between their traplines.

In 1856, John A. Thompson became a legend in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, carrying the mail. “Snowshoe” Thompson made legendary 90-mile treks through blizzards and over 50-foot high snowdrifts. During his two-decade career, he often rescued trapped prospectors, carrying them out on the backs of his snowshoe-skis.

By the late 1800s, snowshoeing changed from a means of transportation to recreation for many in New England, the Great Lakes region and eastern Canada. Snowshoeing clubs donned colorful uniforms, based on the traditional winter wear of the “coureur de bois,” or literally “woods runners.”

Recreational snowshoeing has made several revivals in popularity since. In the 1970s lightweight metal-alloy frames and synthetic materials replaced the heavier traditional wooden frame and hide lacings. But some of us still like the old style.

Thanks to our contributing writer, meteorologist Keith Heidorn. We are funded by Subaru of America. Find our past shows online at www.weathernotebook.org.

Today's Links

Snowshoeing Through Winter
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2004/alm04jan.htm

Snowshoe Thompson: \"Viking of the Sierra\"
http://www.tahoecountry.com/oldtimetahoe/snowshoe.html