Snake River Overlook in Winter
One question that repeatedly gets asked on my tours this time of year is "How did people survive the winters here, especially without our modern equipment?"
It is always a fun question to consider because, let's be honest 3 feet of snow on the ground and -6 degree afternoons do make us grateful for modern materials and tools.
In reality though, most people didnt survive these winters. Many of the native american populations were smarter than the early european settlers and simply moved away during the coldest months.
Those that did stay, and the european settlers that moved in, lived life differently than we do today, working and existing around the challenges of the cold. Many would collect and fashion the fur of local animals into weatherproof clothing or insulation for their homes.
Many would also spend their time exerting energy during the day to keep warm by splitting firewood, hunting, gathering, and doing what they could to prepare for nights or the days when storms kept them inside.
