beat the path

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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break trail by going in front of a dog team.

Quotations

1776

In the van were twenty-five soldiers, who were to beat the path, so the dogs might walk.

1858

. . . as the snow was deep two of us [were] always required to go before the dogs to beat the track.

1943

Alexandre, who had the smallest load, beat the trail.