Trail toboggans are quite simply the most versatile hand-hauled craft for winter travelers. Long and narrow, the toboggans are designed to keep a load low to the ground for maximum stability.  The large running surface allows the toboggan to float in your snowshoe track and go anywhere you do – regardless of snow conditions.  Because it is flexible, a toboggan gracefully follows the contours of undulating terrain, and crests fallen trees readily.  Toboggans are all cut in the traditional ‘coffin-shape’ for improved turning performance.

You will construct your toboggan in one day, out of black (UV-resistant) “High-Density Polyethelene” (HPDE), a very durable, extremely low-friction plastic which is ideal for pulling on snow and ice.  Toboggans roll up for easy transportation in vehicles!  When you leave our workshop, your toboggan will be completely ready to take to the trails.  You will:

• Learn to tie and adjust the running and tow lines;
• Install sliding brass rings for use as lashing loops;
• Will install a brake line;
• Sew lashing lines and cam buckles;
• Create your own leather hauling ‘tump’;

8′ long (6′ usable space) trail toboggan: $215;
10′ long (8′ usable space) trail toboggan:  $225
12′ long (10′ usable space) trail toboggan: $260;

Join us to make a pair of deerskin over-mittens and felted wool inner mitts. You will start by hand-sewing a thick pair of 100% wool inner mittens from felted wool duffle (similar to an HBC blanket). You will be taught how to easily personalize your felted mittens by roving (‘needle felting’) designs into them. Next you will create a pair of 100% deerskin outer mitts, designed to cut the wind and protect your wool from damage whenever you’re working with your mitts.   We have tested this combination rigorously on our winter treks and have found them the perfect bush mittens, but they are also stylish and at home in the city as well!

Moccasins are the warmest, lightest and coziest style of winter footwear you’ll probably ever own – we have personally tested them on a variety of winter trips, including a 40-day trek in northern Ontario and know you will be satisfied.  Our moccasin making workshop includes all the materials you will need to complete and personalize your own pair of winter moccasins, plus lots of time to explore and discuss other traditional winter clothing options.  A fun and informative weekend, ending with a beautiful pair of highly-functional, hand-made moccasins!

Available as a DIY kit with easy to follow instructions!

Our snowshoe weaving course starts with a large selection of the best frames on the market (high quality White Ash frames in a large variety of styles and sizes) and incredibly durable and functional 400lb-test fishing line from Vancouver Island.  After years of experience and hundreds of kilometres of testing we’ve settled upon a marriage of traditional snowshoes frames and modern weaving materials.  The 400-lb monoline we offer is lighter, stronger and more abrasion resistant than traditional rawhide. It also needs no varnish, and is much less likely to stick to wet snow.  Quite simply it performs better and lasts longer than rawhide* across a much wider range of conditions (and doesn’t require annual maintenance).   We will help you select a snowshoe style based on your size and terrain preferences and then guide you through the weaving process over two days of instruction.

*As an historical note: as far as we have read, cowhide was never considered by native Canadians as an adequate snowshoe weaving material.  Special winter-scraped caribou hide was considered the best material, with even moose hide considered a poor substitute.  This may explain why we have found modern cow-hide weaves to perform so poorly, whereas in the past rawhide snowshoes have performed well for thousands of years.