Snowshoes
In order to travel fast and easily over snow covered ground without sinking waist deep into the snow, specialized shoes were needed. The resolution was to create special wide soled shows that were given the suitable name, snowshoes.
Inspiration for early versions of snowshoes came from local animals whose feet were adapted to the setting for over-land travel. A snowshoe rabbit’s hind feet were the muse for a pair of different styles of snowshoe.
For those who like categorizing objects the snowshoe can be broken down into 5 basic categories: bearpaw, Yukon, beavertail, Ojibwa and Western. But there are also various unique sizes or overlaps in regional names which can blur the lines involving the various types.
Materials used to make snowshoes resulted in wood-framed or the more modern metal-frame. Early models were webbed with animal hide and the tracks they made resembled those of the bobcat or lynx. Some were also made to resemble bear tracks, though bears left much deeper tracks than those made with snowshoes.
For over-land travel through deep, soft snow, there was not anything that could beat a well made pair of snowshoes.