It was a long walk, following in the tracks of the sleds. At times, I had trouble seeing them, as it kept snowing and filling them in. As the way led further south, I started running into mud. Have you ever tried to lift a foot attached to a mud-laden snowshoe? Heavy, man.

But finally, I saw the glow of a campfire ahead and, knowing I was almost at my destination, I removed the twenty pound snowshoes and stuck them into the forked trunk of a tree by the road, figuring someone heading north one day would find them and be grateful.

"Hallo the fire! I do hope you have something hot to drink!"