CROSS COUNTRY SKIS

ca. 1894

Haynes Foundation Collection

1979.17.138 a-b

Now used primarily recreationally, cross-country skis once provided an essential means of transportation in snowy climbs. While serving as the photographer of Yellowstone National Park, F. Jay Haynes (1853-1921) relied on skis to traverse Yellowstone's beautiful-yet unforgiving-landscape with his camera and gear, allowing him, in 1887, to take the first known pictures of the park in winter. In March 1894 Haynes once again ventured into the Yellowstone backcountry, initially hoping to document more of the park's scenery and wildlife. Instead, he found irrefutable evidence of bison poaching. The photos he took of the poacher's crimes led to public outcry, encouraging Congress to pass stronger protections for Yellowstone's wildlife later that year. Haynes used this set of wooden skis on this second expedition. They were crafted by Wold and Kolstad of St. Paul, Minnesota, measure over nine and half feet long, and fasten with leather bindings and metal buckles.