DCHP-1 Online
forerunner 
n. a man on snowshoes who runs ahead of a dog team making a passable track in new or deep snow.
See also: foregoer (def 2.) runner ((1)) (def 3.) track-beater track-breaker tracker (def 2.) trail-breaker (def 1.) run ((v.)) (def 5.)
- 1748 [In long Journies, through deep Snows, the Men generally go before them to beat a Path with the Snow Shoes; the Dogs soon grow accustomed to whatever thay are taught, and being docil and tractable are very useful.]
- 1936 When the trail was bad and snow deep, they marched on snow-shoes, sometimes with a "forerunner" to break trail. Generally they ran or walked, occasionally they rode on the sleds.
- 1954 The two policemen were travelling with two dog teams and two Indian fore-runners, making patrol up the Liard to the British Columbia boundary.
- 1748 [In long Journies, through deep Snows, the Men generally go before them to beat a Path with the Snow Shoes; the Dogs soon grow accustomed to whatever thay are taught, and being docil and tractable are very useful.]