The most awesome shovel for driveways

[Crowbob]

A few years ago I had the 'opportunity' to go up north one mid-winter. Specifically, up to Copper Harbor which is the northern tip of Michigan's Upper Penninsula in February. I had been up in that area before but not in winter. The UP is economically disadvantaged, so to speak, so it's not uncommon to see homes in remote areas that most would describe as 'deer camps', meaning they are inhabitable but without the luxuries we in the real world would call necessities, such as vinyl siding, for example...

What I saw were numerous two-story homes that appeared unfinished owing to second story exterior doors that had no landing, deck or any structure such that if you stepped out, down you went. There were also not infrequently a few 4x8 sheets of plywood leaning up against these houses. What an odd kind of recurrent architectural theme is this, I thought. Well my winter visit resolved that question.

Snow! The only way out after a big storm was through that second story door. The plywood gets laid out to spread the load and prevent sinkage.

Cold is one thing. But dangerous cold is quite another. 40 below, say, and 30 mph wind can freeze exposed skin solid in 10 seconds. That's what can happen walking from your hotel to your car in the morning. Were you lucky enough to have the car start, back to the hotel you went to let the car warm up. 30 minutes minimum for a Dodge Caravan in case you're wondering.

Heading south (which is your only option) along US 41, Lake Superior will be on your left, supposedly. There was no way of confirming this as I had to peer through an 8 X 12 inch oval directly above the defroster vent set at WOT.

I could sometimes see the tracks left by some other insane idiot ahead of me. Beyond that the experience can only be described as driving inside a gigantic ping-pong ball. Pure whiteness all around.

Generally, the whole trip felt like a National Geographic special.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

..........Generally, the whole trip felt like a National Geographic special.

That might explain the Real Estate ad I saw this summer, 300 acres for $100,000.

[CurtEgerer]

Crowbob - I went to school at Mich Tech up there. In the fall of the first year there, I was driving up to Copper Harbor and noticed houses with what looked like raised docks one would see on a lake leading from the front door to the road. WTH? During that first winter, I figured it out. There was 3-feet of snow under them. Why shovel 3-feet of snow, just build a walkway above it all. That said, it basically snows every single day up there but the roads are always clear - they have (had?) the best snow-clearing equipment and crews anywhere. Back then, most cars had those fiberglass rods with an orange ball on top like used on dune buggies so one could see cars behind the snowbanks.

[cabmandone]

The best shovel I have found is the one my son is holding while he's shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. Next best is the Toro single stage snow blower he sometimes uses when the snow gets too deep.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

A few years ago I had the 'opportunity' to go up north one mid-winter. Specifically, up to Copper Harbor which is the northern tip of Michigan's Upper Penninsula in February. I had been up in that area before but not in winter. The UP is economically disadvantaged, so to speak, so it's not uncommon to see homes in remote areas that most would describe as 'deer camps', meaning they are inhabitable but without the luxuries we in the real world would call necessities, such as vinyl siding, for example...

.

The idea for most of these hardy people is to be off grid, grow their own food, not need a 9-5 job, and stay home doing projects while it is Winter.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Crowbob - I went to school at Mich Tech up there. In the fall of the first year there, I was driving up to Copper Harbor and noticed houses with what looked like raised docks one would see on a lake leading from the front door to the road. WTH? During that first winter, I figured it out. There was 3-feet of snow under them. Why shovel 3-feet of snow, just build a walkway above it all. That said, it basically snows every single day up there but the roads are always clear - they have (had?) the best snow-clearing equipment and crews anywhere. Back then, most cars had those fiberglass rods with an orange ball on top like used on dune buggies so one could see cars behind the snowbanks.

This isn't a north thing, it's an area thing. Major lake effect snow.

Where I live I'm 10km north of Lake Ontario, about a 10 year cycle but most of the time we have little snow, 40km south across the lake in New York they get hammered.
Buffalo gets dumped on, when just across the border they never get anywhere near the amounts.

[Crowbob]

Some people must have done some pretty awful things in the prior lives to end up in Buffalo for this one.

[Bowling]

It's that time, thanks for the post.

[CurtEgerer]

Still not missing it ....

[72doug2,2S]

That shovel won't remove the little ice chunks off the pond for ice hockey. Three years ago I had two plastic shovels a 40 inch long steel shovel for the pond and a Toro single stage blower for my 400 foot driveway. I used the snowblower so much I had to change out the brass worm gear from the transmission in a 40 degree garage one night just so I could get to work the next day an hour drive away.

Now I shovel sunshine 365 days a year. You guys don't have to live up there, just say'n.

[72doug2,2S]

Yesterday hiking

[fastfredracing]

Your tractors are cool. I love that kind of stuff. I did that for 2 seasons. Now, I get to sit in a comfy seat , heat blasting, my favorite tunes on the radio, and a warm coffee in the cupholder .
Problem is, that I have 2 places that I have to take care of , so I either needed 2 different tractors or quads, or something mobile .

[fastfredracing]

[Baz]

Got my flip flops on Fred!

Plus tank top and shorts.....

No better place to be than Florida in the winter......

[CurtEgerer]

The tank top might be a bit much ... it was only 81 today.

[fastfredracing]

No liking you 2 much right now. No snow, but it's about 20 deg out. Work boots with 2 pairs of socks .

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

No liking you 2 much right now. No snow, but it's about 20 deg out. Work boots with 2 pairs of socks .

20? Lucky! It's 9 in NW OH right now.

[sammyg2]

Southern California snow shovels:

[sammyg2]

edit: sorry, that was not cool.






It was WARM!
I crack me up.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Another option for snow removal is to MOW it while using the front blade.

https://youtu.be/21jPxJLgCD8?t=57s

He's having fun so oh well (otoh- I don't have any snow to move where I live!)