A thought experiment regarding the footprints

[Manti]

Here's an experiment for fellow forum users:

• What do you think, did one person leave these tracks, or two?
• Were they wearing boots or only socks? Or perhaps barefoot?

Let me know. I will post the answer and source of the photo later, of course you can do an image search to find the answer yourself but let's not spoil it just yet.

[ilahiyol]

Two people and they're wearing boots

[tenne]

that is an excellent experiment but without something to gauge size of the tracks it is quite hard to decide

[RMK]

I will guess: one person, wearing boots.

[Ehtnisba]

Here's an experiment for fellow forum users:

• What do you think, did one person leave these tracks, or two?
• Were they wearing boots or only socks? Or perhaps barefoot?

Let me know. I will post the answer and source of the photo later, of course you can do an image search to find the answer yourself but let's not spoil it just yet.

I think is 2 persons but never could guess bare feet or shoes. My gut tells me NO shoes. Curious to see what is the real answer.

[GlennM]

This is a great post! It reminds me of the declaration by researchers that they found Yeti prints in the snow, only to discover they were snow leopard prints aged with time and weather. The image could be deceptive. It could be a single walker who made a clever loop. I would expect any structured footwear such as a boot to leave a distinct heel strike. I see none. These traces are so unlike a footprint except for the intervals between them. I am going to offer one bootless person as my guess. Don't keep us in suspense too long!

[Почемучка]

Ваша загадка сродни этой
Your riddle is like this

[Manti]

So the tally is

• 2 people: ||
• 1 person: ||
• in boots: ||
• no boots: ||
• other: ||

Very even. This is the source of the photo: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2015/03/raised-footprints-in-snow.html
The prints are from a deer.

[Manti]

Ваша загадка сродни этой
Your riddle is like this

And my guess is: a mountain lion with its cub on the side?

[Почемучка]

And my guess is: a mountain lion with its cub on the side?

Где мой приз? Я оказалась лучшим следопытом. Я обошла как Шумахер - даже внучку шотлансткого зверолова, мадемуазель Варфоломеевская ночь. Я сразу решила - что это следы животного. Не человека. И привела Вам как намек - следы котов. Как никак  - год Кота.
Where is my prize? I turned out to be the best tracker. I went around like Schumacher - even the granddaughter of a Scottish trapper, Mademoiselle massacre (night) of St. Bartholomew. I immediately decided that these were animal tracks. Not a person. And she brought you as a hint - traces of cats. After all, it's the year of the Cat.

[tenne]

So the tally is

• 2 people: ||
• 1 person: ||
• in boots: ||
• no boots: ||
• other: ||

Very even. This is the source of the photo: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2015/03/raised-footprints-in-snow.html
The prints are from a deer.

This was an excellent post, it really shows, IMO, how much the tracks expand when they do that. deer have very small prints, or that photo makes them look bigger maybe?

[Зайцев]

So the tally is

• 2 people: ||
• 1 person: ||
• in boots: ||
• no boots: ||
• other: ||

Very even. This is the source of the photo: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2015/03/raised-footprints-in-snow.html
The prints are from a deer.

This was an excellent post, it really shows, IMO, how much the tracks expand when they do that. deer have very small prints, or that photo makes them look bigger maybe?

Это смотря какие олени. Если косуля, то след маленький. А если это северный олень, то след большой. У благородного оленя ещё больше
It depends on what kind of deer. If it is a roe deer, then the footprint is small. And if it's a reindeer, then the trail is big. The red deer has even more

[tenne]

So the tally is

• 2 people: ||
• 1 person: ||
• in boots: ||
• no boots: ||
• other: ||

Very even. This is the source of the photo: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2015/03/raised-footprints-in-snow.html
The prints are from a deer.

This was an excellent post, it really shows, IMO, how much the tracks expand when they do that. deer have very small prints, or that photo makes them look bigger maybe?

Это смотря какие олени. Если косуля, то след маленький. А если это северный олень, то след большой. У благородного оленя ещё больше
It depends on what kind of deer. If it is a roe deer, then the footprint is small. And if it's a reindeer, then the trail is big. The red deer has even more

You are absolutely right, I was using the tracks of the white tail and mule deer here. I have never seen a reindeer print or one in real life. Thank you for pointing that out

[Manti]

Bonus round: Who left these tracks?

• One person or two?
• Were they wearing boots or just socks?
• Or perhaps...

[GlennM]

A two legged dear or a four legged deer? LOL
Given this bit of subterfuge we must now admit a pack of,wandering Wolverines back into the discussion, yes?

[Manti]

A two legged dear or a four legged deer? LOL
Given this bit of subterfuge we must now admit a pack of,wandering Wolverines back into the discussion, yes?

I wanted this to be decided democratically, but it didn't really work. Oh well. I say yes.

[RMK]

Just for reference, here are the official binomial names of the deer species mentioned so far in this thread, along with their common names in English and Russian.

Просто для справки, вот официальные биномиальные названия видов оленей, упомянутых до сих пор в этой теме, наряду с их общими названиями на английском и русском языках.

From the Eastern Hemisphere:

• Capreolus capreolus - "roe deer" - «Европейская косуля»
• Rangifer tarandus* - "reindeer" - «Северный олень»
• Cervus elaphus - "red deer" - «Благородный олень»

From the Western Hemisphere:

• Odocoileus virginianus - "white-tailed deer" - «Белохвостый олень»
• Odocoileus hemionus - "mule deer" - «Чернохвостый олень»

*Edit to add: Rangifer tarandus also lives in the Western Hemisphere (North America), where they are commonly referred to as "caribou".

*Редактировать, чтобы добавить: Rangifer tarandus также обитает в Западном полушарии (Северная Америка), где их обычно называют "карибу".

[tenne]

Just for reference, here are the official binomial names of the deer species mentioned so far in this thread, along with their common names in English and Russian.

Просто для справки, вот официальные биномиальные названия видов оленей, упомянутых до сих пор в этой теме, наряду с их общими названиями на английском и русском языках.

From the Eastern Hemisphere:

• Capreolus capreolus - "roe deer" - «Европейская косуля»
• Rangifer tarandus - "reindeer" - «Северный олень»
• Cervus elaphus - "red deer" - «Благородный олень»

From the Western Hemisphere:

• Odocoileus virginianus - "white-tailed deer" - «Белохвостый олень»
• Odocoileus hemionus - "mule deer" - «Чернохвостый олень»

thank you, for what its worth, white tailed deer are considered tastier than mule deer.

[GlennM]

Go home deer, you are drunk.

[tenne]

that would make dealing with the trolls so much easier but sadly, I don't drink. All my meanderings are done with a clear head

[Почемучка]

that would make dealing with the trolls so much easier but sadly, I don't drink. All my meanderings are done with a clear head

А есть справка от врача - что голова у Вас действительно есть?
Do you have a doctor's certificate - that you really have a head?

[tenne]

A two legged dear or a four legged deer? LOL
Given this bit of subterfuge we must now admit a pack of,wandering Wolverines back into the discussion, yes?

I wanted this to be decided democratically, but it didn't really work. Oh well. I say yes.

You need another option, don't care if people want to or don't want to . I would vote for that one.