To snowshoe or to ski? That is the question when considering Winter Transportation…
We’ve all learned about the wheel, one of mankind’s biggest innovations. However, how well does a wheel work in four feet of snow? Yeah, not so well. So, in the northern hemisphere, there are other inventions equally as momentous, providing snow travel necessary for survival, skis and snowshoes! *yay*These indigenous inventions don’t receive the attention they deserve; Both opened the door for winter movement, used for hunting, trading, migration, and more. The age of these winter tools is largely disputed, some of the oldest known snowshoes and skis are estimated to be from 4000-9000 BCE.
To snowshoe or to ski? That is the question. Now, this is commonly seen as a personal preference, and you pick the environment to match your chosen activity. However, what you chose in the past was more specific to where you lived and when. Skis were present in Europe and Asia but there’s no known evidence of them in North America until after European contact. The division of these snow travel methods is believed to be due to a combination of snow conditions and terrain. Skis work best on slightly wetter snow and rolling terrain. Snowshoes on the other hand are ideal for light fluffy snow. Snowshoes also provided easy navigation around trees in densely wooded areas.
Snowshoes mimic the distribution of weight found in many animals such as bears and lynx. These mammals have the added benefit of not only widespread feet but the weight being split between four points, or at a minimum, two at a time. Whereas us humans have only one foot on the ground for the majority of our stride. In areas with compacted snow or windblown swaths, smaller snowshoes do the job, not needing to disperse the user’s weight as much to stay atop the snow. In sheltered areas where the snow has been able to collect to greater depths and is more powdery, larger snowshoes are more efficient.
Similar in purpose but slightly different in style, skis had the added benefit of speed. The gliding motion over the snow made movement faster than it would otherwise be with a normal stride. covering more ground was particularly useful for pursuit hunting. Many different indigenous groups across modern-day China and Scandinavia used skis and spears, which doubled as ski poles, for reindeer hunting. Skis over time and regions have drastically changed length, ranging from 18 ft to 3.5 ft or the 5-foot length of most modern backcountry skis (national geographic, 2022). Some were designed with the intention of gliding on one leg and pushing with the other, whereas others followed a more similar classic of skate ski style movement. Skis historically were made of large wooden planks, sanded smooth. Reindeer hide would be attached to the underside, the direction of the hairs would run smoothly when being pushed forward but would catch when pushed back, making it possible to go up hill. (Huntford, R., 2009)
We all know Canada is known for its cold winters and mountainous snow. Back in the 1800s, this was no different. This excerpt by Herman Voaden from the book Memoirs of St. Thomas and Elgin showcases how harsh some winters were for families of the early Talbot Settlement.
“In the winter it was bitterly cold. With strong winds, snow blew in through chinks in the walls and was white on the floor, sometimes on their blankets. When they were called in the morning, they grabbed their clothes and dashed downstairs to the warmth of the stove to dress.”
Though cold harsh winters were a rough season for the settlers, wintertime itself had its advantages; Areas with thick underbrush or rocky terrain that are difficult to traverse with a cart, once covered in smooth packed snow are passible. This allowed for more distance to be covered and heavier loads to be moved with minimal effort by sled. Sleighs were commonly single or double runners. Double runner bobsleighs not only provided extra traction and balance but could carry much heavier and larger loads. This was particularly advantageous for hunting; larger loads could be carried back to the family in a single trip. With the expansion of the road systems, this became less pertinent for survival but maintained its application in recreation and backcountry hunting. Sleighs were multipurpose units, utilized for business and pleasure. A sled with seats could be attached to the undercarriage for a delightful winter ride with family and friends. Or a wagon-like bed could be fixed on the skis to haul wood for the harsh cold of the great Ontario winter. Sleighs were often painted in bright colours with ornate stripping or designs. Red plush cushioned seats were a popular choice of fabric and made for a very comfortable ride.
In the late 19th century, instead of snow ploughs people used snow rollers to clear the roads. Snow rollers were huge, horse-drawn wheels that would flatten out the snow, making it easier for the carts with skis to move through the winter thoroughfare. These rollers are essentially agricultural land rollers that would have been utilized in the summer for flattening fields. Soon after, as cities were rapidly growing in population, streets needed to be entirely clear of snow for the business of the city to continue.
Most of our winter outdoor recreation equipment was transportation technology, not for sport. Now we have multitudes of different technologies that allows us the time and energy to enjoy these winter sports on the side. During the Victorian era, this shift was coming in full force with the rise of snowshoeing and skiing as social sports, particularly for wealthier families. It was an event to dress up for, you would have a costume specifically for the sport and it would be a display of high fashion with silk dresses and seal skin hats.
Snowshoeing is excellent low-impact cardio exercise, with its ease to learn, it is still a family favourite. There are minimal differences in the old and new, with the size and shapes being almost identical. The primary variation being the materials used to manufacture the shoe. Historically, strung with hide and sinew (a strong fibrous tissue that attaches bone to muscle) on a wooden frame, this is in comparison to lightweight aluminum and plastics that modern snowshoes are made of.
The winter fun doesn’t end with skiing and snowshoeing though, tobogganing and skating had the same seasonal hold as a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Skating became very popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was one of the earliest sports in which men and women could both participate in the same activity. The first ice skates were made from polished animal bones and were primarily used to help with transportation over ice. Poles were used by the skater for pushing across the ice since the bone skates did not have sharp edges which would allow the skate to be used for thrusting. By the 18th century, ice skates had metal blades which were mounted to a wooden platform that was then strapped to a shoe or boot. The first ice skating clubs were formed in Europe and figure skating and speed skating started to emerge as specialized forms of ice skating. The first instructional book about ice skating was published in London in 1772. The popularity of ice skating dramatically increased during the 19th century. Frozen ponds, lakes, and rivers were abundant during the winters in many parts of Upper Canada, the United States and Europe. Because of this ice skates began to be mass-produced, making them affordable to the public. Ice skate designs improved as time and popularity increased and a skate with a fixed blade that was clamped to a shoe or boot was invented by E V Bushnell in 1848. In 1865, the well-known figure skater of the day, Jackson Haines, developed a skate with a blade permanently fixed to the boot. Haines’ improvements to the ice skate made jumping and spinning much easier and safer than with the older ice skate designs. The sport of figure skating quickly developed thereafter and by 1908, figure skating was made an Olympic sport. People of many different backgrounds, income, and ages gathered on frozen ponds, rivers, and lakes often dressed in their finest winter clothing for ice carnivals. Not only were rivers used for sport and leisure, but they were also used as road systems during the winter!
One sport that you may not have heard of that captured the attention of the Victorians was iceboating. Iceboating, said to be a sport “faster than wind” before the days of automobiles and trains, had people enthralled with the wonder of speed. Without the friction of the water, the ‘boats’ would be propelled at new levels gliding on three sharp blades. It was the fastest transportation anyone had experienced, giving quite the thrill. That thrill did not come without costs, as one can imagine in the absence of brakes, flying full speed on a frozen lake is quite a tumultuous sport. Gaps in the ice sheets claimed many adrenaline seeking settlers. The extreme sport lives on today, participants compete in marginally more controlled environments to experience the exhilaration of being faster than the wind.
However you choose to get outside in winter, the recreation we enjoy today has a long-standing history of both necessity and fun. If you are looking to experience some of this fun, visit us when the snow flies. At the Backus-Page house museum we have snowshoe rentals available so you can explore the snowy trails of John E. Pearce Provincial Park and make your next visit a walk back in winter history!