Abstract: An apparatus for traversing loose, granular material includes a frame and a rotatable traction device connected to the frame. The outer surface of the rotatable traction device includes spaced apart curvilinear or angular traction ridges and spaced apart curved or angular valleys, each valley being between a pair of adjacent traction ridges, thereby forming curved or angular shovel-like elements. Each shovel-like element has a leading curved or angular surface and a confining curved or angular surface. Rotation of the rotatable traction device results in rotation of the shovel-like elements through the loose, granular material. Each shovel-like element enfolds a portion of the loose, granular material bordering the leading curved or angular surface of the shovel-like element, and the confining curved or angular surface of the shovel-like element confines at least part of the enfolded portion of the material, thereby confining and restricting displacement of the enfolded portion of the material.