How Do You Make A Pair Of Eskimo Snowshoes?
The Alaskan Eskimos did not rely heavily on snowshoes because the ice tends to be densely packed and navigable in the arctic tundra. However, snowshoes are an essential piece of equipment for winter travel in wooded areas. Alaskan snowshoes differed slightly in design than Native American snowshoes in that they were elongated and narrow for use on smooth surfaces versus bear-paw shaped for use on freshly fallen snow. Hatchet two live elm saplings measuring 1½ inches wide and 4 feet high. Trim and taper them square with drawknife until they measure ¾ inch in the middle and ½ inch at the ends. Fashion the spreaders using the 4-inch thick hardwood plank. Cut in half lengthwise. On one piece, measure 2-1/8 inches up and 1 inch in on both ends. Remove cubes with the saw. Cut 2 ½ inches off the second piece. Measure 2-1/8 inches up and 1 inch in; remove with the saw. Nail the larger spreader to the top of the long hardwood plank 10 inches from the rounded end with the longer end up. Nail the
