HOUGHTON -- Many of the more modern snowshoes are made from plastic and other synthetic materials. However, students at Michigan Tech University have chosen to use the more traditional wooden snowshoes and they're learning how to lace them.
Lacing the shoes is not like knitting or weaving and the students say it's frustrating at times.
This process can also take up a lot of time and the students involved took this class in three separate stages.
"We did the toe the first night, the tail the second night and now we're wrapping up the main section," said Outdoor Adv. Program Coordinator Erik Keisler. "Learning the knots is kind of tricky and after the third night the practice pays off and hopefully we're able to get everything wrapped up."
The students used rawhide lace to loop, cross, and knot around the wooden frames, and this helps distribute a persons weight evenly while on the snow.
Students say even though they had to put in a lot of hours to lace the snowshoes, the most rewarding part is being able to wear them while out in the snow.
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