Just what causes most people to refrain from outdoor life in winter is the fear of cold. Yet properly regarded the winter is the healthiest time of the year. Physically greater exertion is necessary in winter to enable the body to generate heat sufficient for protection against cold and this is compensated for in the usually increased difficulties in travel over road or forest snows. Pure tramping methods and kits for summer must be modified to suit new conditions for doubtless you will not have ground to walk upon hence you must take to snowshoes or to ski for the snow work, the body covering must be adequate for additional protection against the elements, and the shelter and bed must be especially adapted to your needs. Snow-shoeing is becoming more and more popular among lovers of outdoor life. Without them northern bush travel in winter would be impossible because in dense forested areas the brush grows close and the ground is filled with fallen trees and rocks and the snow lies loose and powdery. Snow-shoeing is really at its best after the middle of January when the early snows have packed down and the weather is pretty constantly freezing. So much has been written of the great tournaments of ski jumping by the Scandinavian experts that one may lose sight of the fact that ski running for the amateur is an unparalleled winter sport in any snow covered section and is a necessary part of the equipment of mountaineers whose journeyings take them far into the wilderness probably with a pack outfit on their backs. In this country the winters are as a rule mild and pleasant yet the average American does not appreciate the benefits to be acquired from the use of the ski or the exhilarating and exciting sport to be had with them. The ski (pronounced “skee”) is used for walking (really toboganning or skating) over the deep snow, protecting the walker from breaking through and becoming immersed in a fleecy bath. In regions where the snow gets to the depth of 5 to 7 feet the ski is intensely utilitarian, being a real necessity for travel as otherwise travelers would become hopelessly buried in the drifts and perhaps perish. In this country it is becoming more popular each year and in many sections it is replacing the snowshoe for winter travel. With ski one may slide down hills of snow or ice, he can walk over drifts without fathoming their depths and if sportively inclined and trained he can speed downhill so fast that the sense of motion is lost and the scenery is verily “snatched” past in rapid panorama. Where the country is reasonably open and not too rough the snow becomes fairly solid. Ski are superior to snowshoes and travel is far faster than with the web shoe.