By Ben Hunt
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For a cross-country hike in winter through woods and over hill and dale, nothing compares with snowshoes, and it is easy to learn how to use them. The snowshoes shown are easy to make and with reasonable care will last a long time. The shape may be changed to suit the individual. They may be made in a few hours and need only be oiled once in a while to keep them in condition.
Snowshoe with slightly different design.
This type of snowshoe will not take the rough usage that webbed ones will, but on the other hand, the wooden snowshoes are much easier and more quickly made.
Leather toe sleeve.
Game wardens put on and take off their snowshoes a great many times during a day's work. For this reason, they use the type of harness Shown in Figure 1, with a large rubber band cut from an old inner tube to keep the foot in place. The leather toe sleeve is fastened permanently to the snowshoe.
Figure 1.
To put on snowshoes equipped with this type of harness, hook the rubber band over the back of the shoe, slip the toe of the shoe into the leather toe sleeve and loop the rubber band over the toe. as shown. This keeps the shoe snug in the toe sleeve and the snowshoes can be quickly taken off when necessary. This harness works best when using heavy-soled shoes as the constant pull exerted by the rubber band would be uncomfortable when wearing moccasins.
Other Snowshoe Plans:
How to Make Chippewa Snowshoes
Alaskan Eskimo Snowshoes
Primitive Snowshoes Made from Ash or Hickory Sticks
How to Snowshoe
Additional Bindings
Snowshoe Moccasins
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