History of the Snowshoe - Fact Sheet
By Karen Harrington, Seawolf Chapter PRSSA

How long have snowshoes been around?
Snowshoes have been used for thousands of years. The current belief is that snowshoes developed in central Asia some 6,000 years ago. As people migrated from east to west, they brought their shoes with them. Along the way, changes were made for different types of snow conditions. Eventually, snowshoes evolved into skis in Scandinavia.

Why were snowshoes invented?
People need to eat during the winter, too! They relied upon their hunting skills to feed their families. These hunters observed the feet of the animals, like snowshoe hares, that were able to travel easily in the deep snow and tried to mimic them for themselves.

Snowshoe design
The first snowshoes were nothing more than bent twigs with rawhide lacing. Ash became the wood of choice, though birch, willow and spruce have been used, as well. North American Indian tribes are credited with perfecting the features with four distinct styles: Alaskan, Ojibwa, Michigan and Bear Paw.

The long, narrow, and upturned toe of the Alaskan shoe all served a purpose. The wide, open spaces of the interior made for swift travel for which these shoes were adapted. The upturned toe was used to break trail for dog sled teams. These shoes commonly measured 10” x 60.”

The canoe-like features of the Obijwa shoe were developed because of the variety of terrain the people traversed. These double-pointed shoes allowed the First Nations people, of what is now Manitoba, to cross their diverse territory with speed and ease. Walking backwards was even possible with this design.

The long-tailed design of the Michigan resembles a tennis racquet. While this long tail made turning around difficult, and sometimes tripped them up by getting caught on hidden undergrowth, the hunters were able to carry their heavy loads of elk and buffalo. Michigan shoes measured about 13” x 48.”

The oval-shaped Bear Paw is the most versatile and is the design used in today’s modern shoes. It is short and wide, making it easy to move through different terrain and to carry a heavy load. Because they have no tail, Bear Paw snowshoes are easy to turn around in. These shoes range from 8”x 25” to 10” x 36.”

From tool to toy
While snowshoeing was essential for survival, that began to change during America’s Industrial Revolution. By the late 1880s, snowshoes were seen as a toy, not a tool. The first snowshoe clubs were founded in Canada and the northern United States.

The new shoes
The 1970s began a new evolution in snowshoes.Old wooden frames were replaced with lighter aluminum ones and neoprene lacing replaced rawhide. The base of the shoe became neoprene, followed by polypropylene and then hypolon. Today’s shoes are the lightest and most durable.

For more information:
Snowshoe Magazine: www.snowshoemagazine.com and www.snowshoeracing.com/history.htm

For kids “Snowshoe Thompson” by Nancy Smiler Levinson. This true story is about Jon Torsteinson-Rue, who delivered mail for 20 winters in the Sierra Mountains on skis that were 10- feet-long and weighed 25 pounds.