When the first Rossland Winter Carnival was established in 1898, snowshoeing events were high on the list of entertainment.
The snowshoe racers in this 1908 photo would have been using the three-mile course down Columbia Avenue and through lower Rossland, originally set in 1898 by the Rev. Henry Irwin (better known as “Father Pat”) and continued to be used until 1909.
But snowshoeing wasn’t just for races at Rossland’s Winter Carnival; it was also part of spectacular events like “Storming the Fort.”
This early 1900s tradition saw participants trekking up Monte Cristo with torches to attack a wooden fort, set ablaze as part of the spectacle.
The event continued for three years, with the fort renamed each time.
Why did it stop?
That remains a mystery, but its excitement lives on in Rossland lore.
This weekend, we've got all kinds of fun planned at the Rossland Museum for the 2025 Rossland Winter Carnival.
Join us at the museum on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a frosty, family-friendly weekend of fun.
Try out some snowshoes (we've got them in many sizes), get lost in our snow maze, or take a thrilling ride on our toboggan run.
Warm up with hot drinks and maple taffy while you cozy up by the campfire, or head inside to enjoy family-friendly crafts and a special screening of recently-digitized ski footage in our theatre.
Full schedule at rosslandmuseum.ca/news/2025/carnival.
Learn more about the carnival's unique history at rosslandmuseum.ca/carnival.
Do you have original photos capturing Rossland’s storied history?
Consider donating them to the Rossland archives, we can scan them and you retain the original.