In the Beginning - Interlocking Circles - Winter 2019

31 January 2019 - Interlocking Circles

I received my first pair of snowshoes when I was 11 years old as a gift from my parents. For years I made tracks in the forest hiking trails. A friend from Illinois said, "You walk like you were born with snowshoes on". (Click on any photo to enlarge)

I happen to love winter and this was just another way to get outside. I also hope to inspire others to do the same.

My sister (https://www.facebook.com/ehlersartworks) made a caricature of me 2015.

Winter 2019

It was January 2019, that I first attempted snowshoe art. I must have seen photos or videos of someone else's designs, which gave me the thought, "I can do that"! I often credit Simon Beck with the idea, though it could have been someone lesser known.

I own two different types of snowshoes; the snowshoes that I most often use for hiking are metal with cleats for steep climbs and descents, they are narrow and 36" long. My second pair are what I call deep powder snowshoes, they are 48" long and 12" wide; these are also what I use to do snowshoe art.

Now, the trick was, how to make a perfect circle in the snow. I thought with a hiking pole and some string I could do it. The canvas was waiting! A 15 acre field behind our house was the perfect location. If I didn't have a drone I would need to find a location where I could look down on the design.

Years ago my Uncle Ronny said I wasn't quite right in the head. I think he might be right! What do you do when it's -13 below zero? Why snowshoe art of course! 11,852 steps later. The first design started with two interlocking circles. There was nothing written down, this was just in my head.

What I learned from this experience was that a hiking pole was not sturdy enough and the string was not strong enough to make a perfect circle.

Flying my drone and creating a video was a fun way to memorialize and share this design.