February 26, 2008 Maine man makes snowshoes the old-fashioned way Play video

(NECN) - Snowshoeing has seen a major surge in popularity in the last decade. The boom is mostly due to aging baby boomers who are looking for a more gentle form of outdoor exercise.

Snowshoes have been around for thousands of years. NECN's Amy Sinclair heads to Eagle Lake, Maine to meet Brian Theriault, a man who makes snowshoes the old-fashioned way for customers who depend on them.

As one of eleven children, Brian was expected to make his own snowshoes. So began a life long partnership with his father - resurrecting and trying to improve upon the backwoods art form. It takes 10 hours, spread over weeks, to make a pair of snowshoes, but Brian doesn't consider it work. For him, it is a way of connecting with his ancestry.

Snowshoeing isn't a way to survive winter, it is a way to make the most of it. To learn more about making snowshoes, visit their website at: www.ilovesnowshoes.com.