Hitherto, Champlain had had to walk when he could not travel in a canoe, and carry a load of twenty pounds, while the Indians carried a hundred pounds each.

But now the water was frozen the Hurons set to work and made their sledges.

These were constructed of two pieces of board, manufactured from the trunks of trees by the patient use of a stone axe and by the application of fire.

These boards were about 6 inches wide, and 6 or 7 feet long, curved upwards at the forward end and bound together by cross pieces.
The sides were bordered with strips of wood, which served as brackets to which was fastened the strap that bound the baggage upon the sledge.

The load was dragged by a rope or strap of leather passing round the breast of the Indian, and attached to the end of the sledge.
The sledge was so narrow that it could be drawn easily without impediment wherever an Indian could thread his way over the snow through the pathless forests.
The rest of the winter and early spring Champlain spent alone, or in company with Father Joseph Le Caron (one of the Recollet missionaries), visiting the Algonkin and Huron tribes in the region east of Lake Huron.