We live where there is six months of snowy weather. Neither of us is capable now of lifting heavy snow and throwing it over the top of the piles that can accumulate higher than our heads along the driveway. We have a snowblower, actually we have two. I have a small electric "Power Curve" for clearing our large deck. The larger gas powered blower is too heavy for me to use easily, so I use my little one to clear our long double-wide driveway, if needed. The blowers spread the snow lightly and evenly over the lawn so that wall of snow doesn't build up along the driveway. Snow that is blown will melt much more quickly in spring than the snow that is piled, compacts and becomes ice.

We don't have public sidewalks to clear. We only clear our own driveway and walkways on our property. That's all we can manage and even that is getting to be a challenge with my husband not well. I'm hoping that I can manage for the rest of this winter. Next year I'm considering approaching a neighbour with the offer of the use of our big blower if they will clear our driveway and theirs.

Our neighbours clear only their own areas as well. I've seen people with blades on trucks push snow out onto the street in other parts of town, but nobody on my street does that. There's up to $500 fine if they get caught.

rags