"Why shovel? It won't do any good..."

[KurtNYC]

It snowed for about 6 hours on Saturday. I love snow, used to work for a ski resort and love playing with snow so I went to the front sidewalk in the middle of the storm and just shoveled one narrow path. I cut through the snow bank at the curb so that people crossing the street could do so easily. Then a path one shovel blade wide up to the door of the shop below me.

It took all of 60 seconds but that was long enough for one woman to suggest that I cut the snow bank on the other side of the street; I believe her words were "I wish somebody would do that over there (points)", and another woman to tell me to stop:

"Why shovel? It won't do any good."

Me: yes

Her: "It's just going to keep snowing!"

Me: (with a blissful smile) Yes!

Her: "Yes?!"

The whole episode replayed in my mind a couple times (as you can see here). I heard her remarks as a kind of Zen -- why shovel? She saw what I was doing as work. I saw it as fun -- if you shovel a path while it is snowing, people will walk on the path and keep it from filling in. People prefer the path. It is like having your own human ant farm.



Snow is beautiful. I wish no one would shovel it. It is beautiful right where it is.

Why shovel -- just wait for Spring.

[hlthe2b]

1. I actually wish sidewalks would be allowed to remain snow-packed...

I have the snow-cleats you put on your shoes/boots to give traction and thus far have not missed a single daily fitness walk this winter... but damn, if the sidewalks are scraped dry for 100 feet and then back to snow/ice and back again, they are worthless, since they can't be worn on dry pavement.

Frankly, shoveled sidewalks up the ante for black ice. But, most Colorado cities have ordinances requiring homeowners to shovel, so....

[Orrex]

6. Not convinced about the black ice, at least not in PA

I know that it exists, but in my many years of traversing shoveled and un-shoveled sidewalks, I can count on one fifth of one hand the number of times that black ice has been a problem.

I believe that the reason that many areas require the walks to be shoveled is because people will tend to walk in the plowed streets if the walkways are impassible, and since the roads are already narrowed by curbward snowbanks, the likelihood of getting blasted by a car is greatly increased.

Sorry that this screws up your fitness walk. Why don't you take two steps to the left and walk through the unshoveled area immediately beside the pavement? And, anyway, don't you have to cross dry roads in your snow cleats? Isn't that the same problem?

[hlthe2b]

8. Out West, rapid partial melt under high altitude sun, followed by quick re-freeze after sundown,

pretty much assures some areas of black ice on unsalted, shoveled sidewalks). But, you are probably right as to municipalities wanting to discourage pedestrians from walking the streets in lieu of unshoveled sidewalks in deeper snow. I still think moderate snow (3-6inches) usually lends to easier sidewalk walking with just the snowpack left from light shoveling (or none at all).

As to crossing plowed streets, yes, short distances on dry pavement won't destroy the ice treads, but over time they do eventually weaken and break.I just upgraded from the "walking" model I'd used for a couple of years to the more expensive and rugged "running" type that should hold up better over time.

Most of the time, i don't use anything, relying only on a good tread from some gore-tex trail running shoes, but they are very handy and let you walk/run with a lot more confidence in more iffy conditions... And, heaven knows I don't need a broken hip.

[Orrex]

9. Yeah, the melt/freeze cycle might be different here

Most of the time we get packed-down snow on walkways, and this solidifies into a slick, semi-deadly mass of opaque ice. Not as stealthy as black ice, but still potentially difficult to walk in regular boots or shoes, as you note.

I can honestly say that in my entire life I have never once seen anyone in snow-cleats on a pedestrian walkway. Construction workers and snow crews, maybe, but never on the average passerby. I'm just about 100% confident that people would try to wear them into stores and businesses, resulting in a heated disagreement as the steel teeth gouge the tile all to hell.

We do get black ice around here, but in my experience it's much more common on road surfaces than on pedestrian walkways.

[hlthe2b]

11. they are really designed for more athletic pursuits...

Used to be just one major brand--Yaktrax... Now, the REIs and other outdoor/sporting goods stores and even shoe stores here sell about a dozen different brands and varieties. So, lots are being sold--probably a lot more than you realize in your area.

But, one would have to be a total moron to try and wear these inside, as it is readily apparent they would destroy carpeting, tile, or hardwood. I really can't imagine anyone being that stupid. After all many out here will pull out the cross country skis or snowshoes after a particularly heavy snow--but certainly no one has ever dared try to wear them inside... This really isn't so different.

[Scuba]

2. I have a 5-HP snowblower with tractor drive. It was not up to the task of clearing my driveway ...

... following the snowfall we got here 12/20. I had to pay to get the five foot drift plowed.

I love winter, just not so much of it!!! And I hate that almost every one of my beautiful pines suffered limb damage. Sucks to get 18 inches of snow when it's 31 degrees. Talk about wet and heavy!!!

[LWolf]

3. I only shovel around gates.

Only to make sure I can get them open. I've got 2 sets of farm gates and 2 small walk-through gates to clear. I don't usually do the pasture gates that lead to the barn; the only time I close those gates is to get the old mare into a smaller area to catch her up. Since she's retired, I only catch her for grooming, worming, vaccinating, or trimming. Yesterday I needed to catch her, and discovered that one of the gates couldn't be cleared and closed. That was fun, following her around over several acres of snow.

I leave the rest, right up to the house. Packed snow is not as slippery as the ice. No pavement near me; I live on a dirt road. Dirt doesn't ice up as badly as asphalt does, for walking OR driving.

My driveway is about 100 yards long. It's another 50 yards back to the barn. There is a packed trail from the back door to the barn, and a tire-packed trail down the driveway. I have a high profile, 4wd vehicle, so getting down the driveway, the private dirt road, and the county dirt road to the paved road is not a problem. We've never gotten snow deep enough for me to get stuck in. My neighbor, though, if the snow is 6" or more, will pull his tractor out and clear the roads and driveways.

When we've got a fresh coat of snow, I love the journey to the barn in the early morning. I can see the tracks of all the night critters. Mostly bunnies.

[In_The_Wind]

4. Yep. Wait for Spring.

Except for my driveway.

[Orrex]

5. Why bathe? You're just going to get dirty again.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Having shoveled my share of snow...

I can say that it's a lot more pleasant to shovel a couple of inches many times than it is to shovel out of deep snow once. And, you're less likely to die of a heart attack.

Your post reminds me of my senior year in high school. We got something like 3 or 4 feet of snow over the holidays and early January. I WISHED people would have shoveled a path, but most of the people in my neighborhood had the attitude of the "Why shovel?" woman. We had to walk to school in the streets for weeks. Not fun at all.

[we can do it]

10. 2 good reasons why I always shovel as it snows. Be kind to yourself and those who walk.

[KurtNYC]

12. good points, fresh snow you can simply push

once it piles up there is lifting and possibly the throwing. And, if allowed to thaw and freeze there is that crust to cut through.

[GoCubsGo]

13. Piled-up snow is really heavy.

Especially when it's wet and slushy. Yep. Pushing thin layers is a lot easier than lifting, even when it's the wet stuff.

[irisblue]

14. shovel around the fire hydrants too

really, it can really help the fire fighters. The neighborhood dogs will thank you too.

[Enrique]

15. i've seen people doing that

never consciously thought about it, but in the back of my mind i thought those people know how to deal with snow. I grew up in Chicago and Wisconsin, but I never got the hang of dealing with snow. The last winter I was in Chicago, I left my car buried in the snow for months. I definitely belong here in Florida.