Before this man, when was the trail last used? Why may this be important?

The trail was faint. A foot of snow had fallen since the last sled had passed over, and he was glad he was without a sled..."

The trail was last used before a one foot snowfall. There we no tracks to follow, and it had been used by a sled. This man was walking....... a bit different than being pulled by a dog sled.

Yes, this was important because smarter, more experienced men had avoided traveling in the snow and bitter cold.