Ok so snow approaching soonish. Stick to the shovel or get a snowblower?

Cheers
Wayne

We've only bothered with a shovel, but this year we have a plow on a ATV.

Yeah, not sure if Calgary winter warrants a blower

It doesn't

What area do you have to clear? How much time do you have in the morning? How much spare money do you have? Are you reasonably able bodied?

We bought a snow blower today. Two tone paint, red and cream. Looked lovely on the lot. It'll be delivered tomorrow, inshallah, and I'll take pictures.

We manage with the shovels - nicely designed for pushing rather than digging and lifting.

If a big fall is predicted, I go out and do it when it's around 6 inches deep, even if it's still snowing, and again after another 6 inches. That keeps it manageable; 6 inches twice is easier than 12 once.

Obviously this is not possible if the snow is overnight.

If it's just too much to face there are people who plow for $25 or $30. You lose use of the back part of the drive where they plow to, but we don't drive anyway and it's so much less than having a tractor-blower come.

I am tempted by having a contract to get it done, but most snowfalls are not really a problem and paying for a plow a couple of times is a fraction of the cost.

Ah, but does it have headlights and heated handles?

Neither. I know it to be last year's model. Perhaps the current model has one or both, but I don't suppose this year's model can be had for less than $2,000.

Lasers would be a better idea.

We were lucky up here in pg 4' is not unheard of! So our landlord left a beaten up old junker in the garage for us in the grounds of if you can fix it you can use it but it stays with the house.
Tbh it's down to the temp if I shovel (quicker if it's not too deep and the boys live to get out there and help- esp the toddler) or snow plough it cos it's a bitch to start and will turn itself off randomly at unknown intervals. One or two nasty hip bruises later and entertaining my neighbours with English swear words, it's often easier to shovel.
Don't bother with salt tho. 4' of snow just laughs at you even if you gravel your entire pathway with it!

If he stuck candles on the handles they would serve both purposes.

(candles on the handles )

Gin is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

I have an inadequate snowblower but my backup plan is having a strapping son living upstairs rent free. Works a treat, that plan.

How was Omlet?

shovel for the last 3 winters for a 30 feet townhouse drive. Snow blower this winter. Still not sure which one to buy though. Any ideas which ones are good? It's a gravel drive ca 2.5 cars wide and just under 100 feet long. Don't want to spend a fortune and don't need 18 gears, lights, roof and heating

Naffing snow blowers my arse. Plebs the lot of you.