John A. "Snowshoe" Thompson (1827-1876) was a disillusioned gold prospector who responded to a newspaper article asking for someone to deliver mail. He carried bundles weighing up to 100 pounds between Placerville, CA and Genoa, NV (about 90 miles one way) twice a month during the winter from 1856 until 1876. He was never paid by the US government because he did not have a contract to deliver the mail. He married Agnes Singleton (1831-1915) in 1866.
Based on the life of Norwegian-American John Albert Thompson (born Jon Torsteinsson Rue on April 30, 1827 - May 15, 1876) nicknamed Snowshoe Thompson. Despite his nickname, John did not make use of the snowshoes like the ones used today, but would travel with ten-foot skis the locals referred to as snowshoes, and a single sturdy pole generally held in both hands at once. He knew this version of cross-country skiing from his native Norway, and employed it during the winter as one of the earlier pioneers of back country skiing in the United States.
Country and folk singer Johnny Horton in 1956 recorded "Snowshoe Thompson", a song about Thompson's adventures as a mail carrier. The song is track 4 on the compilation: Johnny Horton Makes History.
Monuments and statues dedicated to the memory of Snowshoe Thompson can be found at Mormon Station State Historic Park in Genoa, Nevada and Carson Pass, and at the Boreal Ski Resort, and the Squaw Valley Ski Resort.
In December 1856, he discovered prospector James Sisson lying in his cabin for 12 days with frostbitten legs. He assisted James, then left and returned with six men to help carry James to a doctor. After that, he skied to Sacramento to fetch chloroform so the doctor could operate.