I Consider It The Quintessential Icon Of The Outdoors

I challenge you to find a symbol that depicts the outdoors better than a good ol’ pair of snowshoes.   Oh sure, for some of you who live in the southern climes I understand the symbol might not fit.   Yet, generally speaking, a pair of rawhide laced snowshoes represents the outdoors in nostalgic ways I feel no other object can better represent.

I spent part of this weekend doing those putsy little jobs that we all need to get done, but we seldom take time to do…so we keep putting it off.   For me re-varnishing my snowshoes in preparation for winter is one of those chores.   Been meaning to do it for years, but it’s not exactly fun.   Heck, in most cases the task just doesn’t take priority over the many other jobs one has to do in his spare time.

But today was different.   I picked up a quart of spar varnish and touched up the two pair of snowshoes I am lucky to own.   I say lucky to own because rawhide snowshoes aren’t exactly commonplace these days.   I didn’t realize this until I started checking out the Internet…but modern technology has certainly made shoes like I own almost outdated.

Don’t get me wrong…if I go snowshoeing I would much rather use the traditional ones as opposed to the modern aluminum frame with neoprene webbing.   Oh sure, the newer shoes work very effectively and are a dream to wear on your feet because of their lightweight construction.   Still, traditional shoes are just cool to strap onto your feet.   They look rugged and, well, I guess there is that nostalgia thing again.

Whether running a late season beaver trapline, chasing bunnies during the mid-winter doldrums, or maybe it’s just out getting some honest to goodness exercise.   If you’ve never strapped on a pair of snowshoes let me be the first to tell you they can be a workout.   I’m not saying that in a grueling, negative way.   Nope, the outdoorsmen of yesteryear who used snowshoes as a means of traversing the mountains must have been in some of the best shape possible.   Snowshoeing will work nearly every muscle in your body.

I guess this process of varnishing the webbing to help preserve and protect the shoes so they will last me a lifetime has taught me something.   First, I have to replace my bindings because they are nearly wore out.   Searching the Internet has certainly taught me that traditional snowshoes are on their way out.   Apparently today’s outdoorsman would prefer the carefree ease of using the modern shoes.   Quite frankly, I don’t blame the marketplace because this is where today’s consumer attitudes likely fall.   Nevertheless, watching the slow demise of traditional shoes is sort of sad.

So how about you…do you like snowshoeing?   Do you agree with me that the snowshoe is certainly the quintessential icon for the outdoors?

2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.