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how to build a set of snow shoes....Or something like that
by blyndndef at 11/19/2010 10:14:20 AM
I was really impressed with myself today while hiking thru the woods. I had to come over to the pizza shop and get some slices and type this out.
It aint as easy as it looks. I mean ya bend some wood and wrap some "cat-gut" around 'em and strap em to your feet. Right? Hell no. Not at all. After a few tries I couldn't figure out how to bend the wood without it splitting. Even with soaking it over night in water wood just doesn't want to make a loop and bend right over itself just like that. So how do ya do it. I was out walking along the river this morning after setting a pot of stew for dinner. I was looking for another peice of wood to try. Then as I was walking enjoying the beautiful Susquehanna River and all it's flaming foilage when I actually figured it out.
See it's alot like life itself. Building a set of snow shoes requires a bit of patience. And many layers. That is the key to it all. You start with a single strip. Wet it down in the nourishing waters. You shape it and bend it to what it wants to be. You can't force it or bind it to your own needs. You take this strip and build upon it. Layer it strip by strip. Thin ones. really thin ones. Layer by layer soak them in lifes good waters and layer them. Take each one as it is, and build upon the foundation you have so carefully built. One small layer at a time. Each layer adds it's own unique addition to the entire finished product. I didnt look this up Im letting it right from mind to keyboard here so keep up.
You really need your patience here. You don't want to rush or you will end up breaking a layer or ruining the entire thing.Each strip adds a new dimention to the quality of the shoe. Slow and steady. Wait. Watch. Place the wood strip by strip one at a time in a basin with good clean warm water. Let it stand for a good bit. Watch it soak the water into its grain. Then remove it from the water. Bend it slowly. Very slowly. It may take hours to get one strip to curve the entire way. I don't have any fancy equiptment for this so I gotta do it with some old whatever I have here.
When you think you have it where your pleased with the results. Add another layer. Just like life. You think your happy, you have done it all. Your life is layered. Built upon the one before it. Your only finished with that one layer. There is so many more to build yet.
See building snow shoes is pretty simple. You just take your time. And build upon the layers. Slowly and carefully so you don't split them. Build upon the layers. So now you have it to where it looks like a shoe frame. Really good job you have done there. But your still not done. See now comes The "Cat-Gut" Your gonna need two pieces, really long pieces. They have to be equal. If ones to long it wont work If ones too short it still won't work. You take these two and wind them around. Looping together with intracut knots and braids. Let your hands dance to whatever song sings in your heart.
So it's like a dance. The two strings weave and twist around each other. They join together and form bonds. The run alone for awhile and then go weaving entwined with one another once again. Like two people in life. Getting to know each other. Forming bonds and common ground. Dancing under stars on moonlit nights. These two strips of "Cat-Gut" are all over each other yes. but in a very intracate manner. The weave a web that supports all the layers and holds the entire thing in place.
So now you have a frame work with a really neat web system to support it. Whats next you ask? You try them on and take a walk.
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