Let It Snow (And Blow): The Motor-Assisted Throw

As I mentioned in my prior post, I’m now living full-time at 7,000 feet. Exactly three weeks ago (as I type these words) it started snowing…and 24 hours later, when it stopped, 2.5 feet worth of new accumulation (and they don’t call it ‘Sierra Cement‘ for nothing) was on the ground. For reasons that in retrospect aren’t remotely clear to me, I decided to hand-shovel it all. Five hours and several sets of sore muscles later…

Last week, after receiving another 12+ inches of the wet, un-fluffy stuff overnight, I was a wiser high-altituder. In the spirit of my past praise for a massage chair manufacturer, I’d like to extend enthusiastic kudos to the electrical, industrial and mechanical engineers (and other folks) at Toro for the delightful Power Curve 1800 electric snow thrower that they developed. My blessed snow saviour wasn’t up for the 3-to-5 foot drifts that accumulated in various corners of my deck (including the front screen door, which I was unable to open until I cleared the drift…fortunately the side door is made of sturdier stuff), and I also still had to hand-shovel the steps. But the Power Curve 1800 made short order of most of the necessary premises, and because it’s not gas-powered, it was quite easy to pick up and otherwise maneuver.

Judging from the upcoming weather forecast, I’ll be breaking out the Toro again beginning tomorrow morning. Hmm…maybe a massage chair for afterwards isn’t a bad idea…