The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-01-29
SNOW SHOES.
A Necessity For Hunters, Trappers and
Those Who Must Travel Over I'M
brok-E Snow.

InOSc VINO lOOh lUi inc HIot lliHc Ou
the wide clumsy suow-ShocS that hang
crossed upon the wall of Young
bachelors apartment, or are exhibited
in some museum among other curious
things from the North, would regard
them as an awkward sort of shoe, and
difficult if not dangerous thing to
use. The beginner is as ill at ease as
a cat with paper shoes on, and more
certain to come TO grief. With the alb
iect humility that follows the first trial
comes Il respect for the snow-shoer of
only average ability, awe and admira-
ton for the expert who shufflcs along
unconscious of the great Hat surfaces
tied TO his feet.
In the northern part of the United
States and in Canada. where it is said
the year consists of eight months
winter and four months poor sled
ding" the snow-shoe is necessity for
hunters. trappers. and those who must
travel the unbroken snow. These men
begin as boys tramping about with
long narrow clapboards fastened to
their feet, setting wire nooses for the
little white rabbits that track the snow
with their own broad feet. As they
grow older they get their first pair of
raw-hide snow-shoes, and with these
they 90 beating about the country on
longer excursions with gun on shoulder
soaring away everything but the noisy
squirrels and impudent chickadees. AS
men, one must be with them to ap-
preciate the ease with which they can
run, the marvellous way they slide
| Il 81 honl-c olip ,rinTr tn
limbs and bushes. and how they 90.
with skip and jump, after the long
| legged, startled moose, through the
toughest places where the great trees
uprooted by the storms lie piled in end
| less confusion underneath the snow,
never tripping, never falling. As your
Indian guide tells you. ''Sartin fall
down, very poor hunter"
| have heard from those who knew
| him of Il certain lumberman in Canada
who was so good a snowshoer that
there was not Il man in the whole coun-
try who, running on hard beaten road
way with moccaSins, could beat him as
he ran on his snow shoes in the deep
snow alongside.
As means of recreation and social
| tUlON llltUl, SlO" SbOGluD HIS bttu
taken up by Canadians and by Ameri,
cans who visit Canada. For many
wears snow-shoe clubs. especially those
| at Montreal have held. besides their
regular trampS, tournaments each
year, which many people from the
| United States have keenly enjoyed.
These carniyals have been initiated il
our own cities where there has been
enough snow and ice for those northern
sports.
There are hurdle races also. 1t seems
to us impossible TO jump Il hurdle with
| snow-Shoes such rs are worn ut Mon.
treal. These shoes are the kind we
see most commonly in the United
States. and are noticeable for their
long heels" which would be dreadful,
" in the way when jumping.
In the early wars with French and
| Indians many Il winter campaign
could never have been carried on but
for the suow-shoes. which alone made
marching possible. IL the winter at.
! tackS of the savageS upon the settle
mcnts in northern New England. and
! in the expeditions Of English and
| French troops. snow SHOES were d
necessary part of their equipment, their
baggage being hauled on siedS or TO.
| boggans.
Long distances across country are
accomplished as quickly and with less
fatigue on Snow-shoeS over the snow
than on foot over the same ground after
the snow has melted away. There is
something in the spring of the snow.
! shoe and in the manner Of the long
swinging step that makes it easier than
ordinary walking, especially if the
| ground is uneven.
Nothing is more awkward for a he
| ginner than learning to keep right side
up on snnwShncs. 1t is not necessary
to walk with legs stretched wide apart,
for one shoe is lifted over instead of
around the other. The tracks lie one
IN front of the other almost as il or
binary walking. By taking long steps
! one need never founder in the snow as
| a beginner does who lets the toe of one
shoe get caught under the heel of the
other. = 1appan Adncy, IN Harper's
Young People.