Wherever possible you push or pull the snow; lifting is a last resort. Unfortunately the last resort of lifting is nearly always necessary. Shovelling snow isnt simply a matter of digging a shovel into the snow and throwing the fluffy white stuff over your shoulder there is a rhythm to it, much like dancing. For this particular two-step, your dance instructor has to be a Canadian; lets face it, thats all we do for 6 months of the year.
Dance clothing to some crazy Canadians is optional and dependent on the temperature at the time of shovelling. It can be bewildering to outsiders to see Canadians wearing short sleeved t-shirts as they clear the snow on a gloriously sunny winter day. But those days are rare, and they arent completely daft; they do slather on the sun block. In normal cold and damp winter weather, sensible people will wear layers of clothing for insulation purposes, as well as insulated gloves.
Before you venture forth, to clear that driveway, think of yourself as a wick. The deadly cold and damp will seep up through your feet and force your body heat out through the top of your head. You must wear thick-soled, waterproof boots and a hat or toque. Unless it is vital, try to avoid shovelling during blizzard conditions or in a bitterly cold arctic wind with swirling snow.
Mouth breathers beware snow kills it is imperative that your mouth is covered, and it helps if you wear a scarf. Gasping for freezing air through your mouth does not give the frigid air any time to warm up. Not only do your lungs renege at this treatment, it doesnt do your heart any good either. There is a reason for inhaling through your nose; not only do your nostrils filter the air, but the longer journey gives your body time to smooth the shock.
As mentioned earlier, shovelling snow kills. No matter how young you are, attacking snow as if it was weightless and the task has to be finished immediately, can kill you. Snow has the same peculiar attraction to men as does a new drill or a new chainsaw. Give a man a new toy like that and once they have finished the job that needed to be done, they look around for anything else to bore holes in or cut. There is a theory that the dinosaurs didnt die out due to a meteor colliding with Earth, but were consumed in the conflagration started by the inventor of fire. Young men die every winter because they dont show the snow the respect it demands. Take your time. Stop every few minutes and check that you are still alive.
The choreography for the shovel shuffle begins with choosing your partner, in this case your shovel. Do you need a pusher, a scoop or a lifter? Snow shovel blades are mostly ribbed plastic, and may have either plastic or wooden handles. The blades can be various sizes, and the handles can be either straight or ergonomically curved to protect your back. It is important to find one that you feel comfortable with.
1) The pusher has a straight, flat blade. When used on an ergonomic handle the blade is nearly vertical, and is designed to push snow away. Ideal if you have powder snow and there is hardly any effort needed to clear your driveway. For really deep powder or heavy snow the effort needed to move the snow makes the pusher inadvisable.
2) The scoop or sleigh type as it is sometimes known is a larger shovel with a double handle much like your walk- behind motor mower. If you have a large area to clear, this sleigh type scoop may be perfect for you, but although it can carry a lot of snow and will slide easily, it still has to be emptied. Tipping the scoop on its side to empty heavy snow can be impossible, and tilting it up high enough to allow the snow to slide off can be daunting. (Think of the problems you have trying to empty a full wheelbarrow.) However, a nearby ditch would overcome those problems. If you do have a snow ditch on your property, a clever way of getting rid of snow is to use a lifter to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC809d2CE2c_GO-ePkXRizbA
