Snowshoes

Currently it is believed that snowshoes originated in central Asia about 6,000 years ago. They started out as slabs of wood or bent twigs or branches and rawhide. Slowly they transformed to reflect different types of terrain, kinds of snow conditions and the owner’s needs. In Scandinavia, they eventually evolved into skis. The North American Native Americans are credited with perfecting their features. They developed numerous styles, notably the Alaskan, Obijwa, Michigan, and Bear Paw (see illustration). The Alaskan is long and narrow with upturned toe for breaking trail. It was developed for traversing the deep powdered cover areas of the northwest. The Obijwa’s double-pointed shoes allowed backward and forward movement for the much more varied terrain of the Manitoba region. They were made with speed and ease of movement in mind. The tennis racket shaped Michigan allowed their owners to carry heavy loads. But turning around was difficult and tripping was a common problem. The oval shaped Bear Paw was the most versatile. Being short and wide it allowed for ease of movement through diverse terrain while carrying a heavy load. Modern snowshoes are based on this design. Up until the 1970’s a classic snowshoe was wooden framed with rawhide lacing. Then a gradual revolution in material occurred slowly making them lighter and more durable. In the 1980’s aluminum frames enabled snowshoeing to join in with the growth of running, cycling and Nordic skiing. With the further adaptation of even lighter material, evolution of easier bindings and better traction devices, snowshoeing now has become a common recreational pastime. (Illustration: http://www.winterwalk2006.org/articles/snowwalker.htm)