• Tuesday-What'sUP January 7 - 02:47 am

That's right, there are so many activities to keep one busy or entertained once the snow hits the ground. They range from the necessary, like this shot captured by Carl Kiilunen, to some of the fun things like cross country skiing, which we featured one day last week. Of course in order to really enjoy those fun things, we first have to take care of the inescapable exercise of snow removal. Today's image depicts one of the more pleasant ways to accomplish this task, although when the wind is howling it makes for a pretty cold ride! I'm sure everyone has their favorite way to push the snow around, mine is from behind a snowblower. You get both the exercise of the walking, plus the power to shoot that snow off into the distance!

First! Some people down here don't understand how one can
spend multi-thousands of dollars "just" for a snow blower.

Woo hoo! Nice unit! I'll take one like that!

Jim of Ann Arbor

With an annual average of 17 feet (and a record of 27), snow control up here is a way of life. Being new to the area, I tried scooping out 300 feet of driveway with a 22 cubic foot bucket on from of a Deere last year, until I broke down and added a 6 x 2 foot - two stage blower like the one shown, and yes you are right, it is a multi-thousand necessity that "just" blows snow.

Speaking of just blowing snow,maybe we should talk about that today. I think "just blown snow" when refrozen can get hard enough and strong enough for 707s to land on and the equipment that was created to do that was tested up at the airport. Maybe RCW can help us out here with some more details.

The tractor in the pic above is not only used for blowing snow. It has a bucket for the front that can be used for moving dirt. With a drawbar on the rear it can be used to pull most any farm implement, It can also be fitted with a back hoe for digging trenches. It's a real versatile unit.

Holy Wha!

My husband covets the mighty John Deere. We only have a high powered Ariens walk behind!

eventually you spend enough time muckety-mucking around in
the unshoveled snow that it seems like a deal no matter what it
costs...

we're supposed to get upwards of 5" here on the prairie the next
couple of days. if things go like they've been going, it'll be 50
and rainy three days later.

Its been coming on 20 years since I visited Da Yoo Pee, Eh in the
winter. I definately miss it.

Yes Roudy, back in the late 50s and early 60s there was testing of that process. However no planes were actually used. I seem to recall the equipment was to be used in the Artic regions. I may have a photo of some of the machines, and will post in my Gallery if I can locate one

The famous UP snow scoops still continue to beat the neighbor's snow blowers in cleaning the driveways here in lower Michigan!

The only thing that makes snow removal worse is relatives and friends in warmer climates telling you that it is an absolutely beautiful day today and what the thermometer is currently reading!!!

Vicki Rae - Just to make you feel better, it's 27 degrees here with freezing fog, and it's an absolutely hideous day outside.

I'd take the snow any day.

He looks cold on that tractor, but oh how I'd give anything to have our area look like that right now! Nothing but ice here! ;(

Jim in ann Arbor.

Tell them that's just the initial investment!

Maintenence and gas play a role also. ;-)

Seems like I can't win this year. I'm averaging one repair per snow removal day!

Our first big snow this year I went out to clean up on sunday only to find a flat tire on van, then the drive on the snowblower quit working. Ok just finish with the plow no problem.... Problem, pump quits working 1/2 way leaving us to scoop the rest..

Had to have the pump repaired on the plow last week and happily started pushing the snow out of my drive Sunday when I suddenly noticed a red line in snow as I backed up. Pinched the line, I'll be replaceing that tonight just before cleaning the snow off the ROOF!

Makes you wonder sometimes why I put up with it for 28 years now, but it only takes a weekend back down in the city where I grew up to slap my head straight again! ;-)

I remember my mom saying that when she was growing up in Freda in the early 1900's, that they never removed the snow from the street. They "packed" it with snow packing equipment, and they sometimes had to carve steps into the ice pack from their property. It didn't melt until late spring. That must have been something with an annual snowfall of 17 feet! She moved to Buffalo in the 30's and winter never bothered her there!

I thought we Panked the snow???

I sure don't miss the snow in the UP,as a matter of fact, I don't miss the UP yet.The weather down here is fantastic,70s.

Here in eastern Iowa we don't get the snow the U.P. is famous for....but, when we do we have our 1963 Allis D-17 Series III, with a blade. That Allis is also handy living on 20 acres to mow pastures, do fencing, all the chores we can find to do on our little farm. They are saying 8-12 in. of snow for us between tonite and early Thurs. a.m.!

WE TESTED SNOW AT KEWEENAW RESEARCH CENTER, AIRPORT IN 1964. ( RECORD SNOWFALL} SEEMED COMMICAL, BUT I THINK THEY USED THAT INFO TO BUILD SNOMOBILES AND TRACK VEHICLES, TANKS ETC.

KRC still does. Here's their online weather station and live cam:

http://www.mtukrc.org/weather.htm

Moving snow: just so everyone can get his share and enjoy the activity:
First person on the block scoops it from his driveway, puts it on the road; snowplow plows it into the next person's driveway. Second person scoops it out of his driveway and puts it on the road. Snowplow plows it into the.........etc. and around the block that snow goes!

Dan LL Can you remember when they tested snowmobiles even in the summer??I can recall the look on passengers faces at the treminal when a snowmobile would go flying by in a cloud of dust

It's snowing heavy right now, as it did yesterday. The driveway needs blowing. We LOVE it!
Happy New Year and Winter!

Just got a big new snow blower from Santa this year and can't wait for the next big snow! Let it snow... let it snow .... let it snow.

It feels cold enough for snow here in not-so-sunny California today, but I'll bet we only get rain (again). At least when it snows, it's bright outside. Here, it's dark and dreary and really hard to get motivated.

Snow MAKES you go outside, if only to move it away from the car. I think I wouldn't mind moving it if I had one of those great John Deere machines! For most of our years in Laurium, we used the trusty Yooper Scooper, then finally broke down and got a walk-behind. Best $600 we ever spent!

Hi
My method of snow removal is, wait for the landlord to plow out the driveway (it's so long, it's almost a small street in its own right). Or, as I had to do on December 23, just drive through it. My '99 Dodge Neon was able to get through the 3-4" of snow.

By the way, Paul in Biloxi: I would be glad of 70 degrees...in May. If I had that right now, I'd bemoan lost skiing opportunities.

Paul in Biloxi :

you're a sick, sick man! can only hope you come to your senses! LOL!

Knowing what the summers are in Biloxi I'll take the snow any day!!!

Roudy. I found a few photos of the Snow Train that was tested back then. Don't seem to have any of the compacting equipiment. Can be seen in my Gallerys last page.

Here I sit in Georgia, where we had about 21 flakes so far this year, and I remember the days in NJ where we had to shovel our ways out. The ONE time I was in Mohawk during the Winter months, was when my Grandmother Tiensivu passed. I thought I had seen snow? Not like in the U.P.!

Dad had shown me pix that are very close to the above, but to actually BE THERE and see it... WOW! It was simply unreal. I wish I could be there now to help shovel! (Grin).

Still waiting for someone to send me a box of snow!

Hey! Charlie! Instead of dry ice, you should send the pasties in official U.P. snow!!!!!

We've had snow here in the mountains around Vegas and lots and lots of rain in the valley. The snow is really piling up in the northern part of the state.
I do miss the way the snow looks as it covers the trees and the countryside under a soft white blanket. It is a very beautiful time of year in the Keweenaw. But I sure don't miss moving the snow or driving in it.

Paul in Biloxi: enjoy your nice weather. This nasty cold rain we've had in Vegas for the past week makes me wish I was sitting along the Gulf with my folks in Texas.

You go Chub, what a picture, what a snow blowing machine. Are you having fun yet. Good Picture.

Hey!...That's my John Deere! Only took 45 years to get it. Snow...no problem! Great investment..used year round (not for snow in summer :-) Cuts grass too!

RCW,nice pictures. That was probably the most impressive of the machines there. There was an aircraft landing gear attached to a flat bed trailer that I remember. Never got to touch or see in person,but the movies of it in action stuck in my memory as did the SNO GOs that processed the snow to create the runway. Larger versions of the unit todays picture. Maybe a little more sophisticated.Hei?

Hey, Jim of Ann Arbor. All these tools to do the work, then you need an addition on the pole barn to store them! "He who dies with the most toys, wins!"

Yes I wish I had taken more pictures back then. Do you recall the snowblower with the hugh arched chute over the top. Must have been 15 feet high.It blew the snow up an over to the rear, supposidly taking the air out and compacting the snow in the rear to form a runway.

Oops! I accidentally posted this to the "What's Up" site. I meant to post it here!

What a great picture today! Reminds me of my dad. I think riding his John Deere is one of his favorite past times.....not sure if it's the snow plowing, grass cutting, or that it gets him out of the house and away from my mom! : )In any case, it makes him happy. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face!

In 64/65 there was a piece of test equipment called the "snowbird" I think at CMX. We were skydivers hanging around the airport at the time.A friend from AMC also did some testing up there a few years before I got there to attend da Tech in 64. He also recalls some of that test equipment. Will pick a few more brains...

Paul in Biloxi: In the last week we have been x-country skiing, snowboarding, snomobiling, to a hockey game at MTU, to the movies, out to dinner..snow doesn't stop us from anything! What are you doing in Biloxie?

Paul in Biloxi: In the last week I have been shovelling snow, shovelling snow, and shovelling snow. What are you doing in Biloxi?

Ah, the difference between men and boys, the size of their toys ....

Ahhhhh, I bet the guys with all those tools and toys are fat and chubby and the guys that shovel are lean and muscular. :) And when the work is done, the guys with the toys go inside for a nice hot pasty, slathered with butter and ketsup, and the guys that shovel have yogurt or a nice salad. :)

Reminds me of the person who didn't carouse, smoke,or drink. They lived to be 91, but every one wondered what was the point.

Paul in Biloxi
at least you did something about not likeing snow, moved where its warm unlike the weather forcasters in troll land excited when its 50 and raining instead of beautiful snow.

Roudy Take another peek at my gallery I added another odd machine tested at CMX in the early 60s. What a sight to see it actually moving sideways

I to am skiing,only on water.In between time,playing golf,hold-em,and Omaha,so that when I return to the UP in warmer weather,May,I can purchase beach front property along Lake Superior!!

Cool, Paul Biloxi...Enjoying the same here in W FL. We don't miss the snow, shoveling or driving in it. Beaching it and enjoying the 70 degree temps.

Jim in Ann Arbor, I do agree with you! Just going to college downstate educated me in the ignorance of the LPer's. No offense, but you can't know it 'til ya lived it.
I will take 30" of snow over the freezing rain we have in eastern Iowa today...at least you can see it and do something with it...something practical like build a snowman;-)

Its 37 damp, nasty, rainy, and all that good stuff here in Missouri, But I'll take that over 4 ft of snow anytime. Had my share of shoveling snow as a kid and we didn't have all of those fancy playtoys to remove it with. I'll just sit here and enjoy the snow in the pictures here on Pasty.com.

WE MEASURED THE DENSITY OF SNOW WITH DIFFERENT SIZES & SHAPED PLATES IN FRESH SNOW. ALSO USED OLD WWII TRACK VEHICLES WHICH WERE TO BE USED ORIGINALY IF THEY INVADED EUROPE FROM THE NORTH.

WOW...WHAT A MACHINE!!!! WE DON'T GET MUCH SNOW HERE,JUST A DUSTING THE OTHER DAY; I CLEANED UP THE WALKS WITH THE SHOP VAC....HEY CHUB, WANNA TRADE SNOW MACHINES??

You see some dandies that buy a pickup and a plow but nowhere to push there snow acept aross the street for there neibors(only in the copper country can you get away with it???)A blower is the way to go if you havnt room to push and store it--blow on a windy day its gone with the wind--lol

bthecute1, hey, I shovel snow by hand, AND eat pasties!

The point being everyone could say he died healthy.

Hey Jim From Ann Arbor from 7:42am this morning:

1) Why do nursing homes in Phoenix, Arizona have air conditioning?

2) Why do people in Alaska use insect repellent?

3) Why do people in Florida stockpile canned goods during a Hurricane Warning?

The answer has something to do with excessive heat, mosquito visits and strong winds; respectively. This just in, but up there in Yooper Land, they got bombed with snow six months a year.

bthecute1

What if you're in your 60's and have had a tripple bi-pass? Is it still prudent to shovel?

Do you own a car?

I'm blowing snow 8 hrs a day....Guess you'd call me and those that I work with snow blower test pilots...Not a lot of glory,but lots of fresh air.It sure is pretty at Ft.Wilkins this time of year.In a few days we'll be moving to the airport...FUN FUN FUN til my daddy took the Cessna away...

As a country boy my feeling is IF YOU OWN A JOHN DEERE YOU HAVE REACHED THE PINNACLE OF LIFE ! :)

Paul in Biloxi has his jingle..."In the good ol'Summertime" and the people of the U.P. have theirs, "In the good ol' Wintertime"

Mr. Bill, I was under the impression that excercise is good for the heart whether you are 30 or 60, by-pass or not. Maybe I have been misinformed. So sorry. So what your telling me is that you have a lot of big snow toys. :) By the way, I enjoy your pictures of all the boats in your snug little harbor on Lake Superior.

Was in the copper country in the winter of 1999 for a month. Spend a couple of weeks yearly in the other seasons but this was the first winter there since aroung 1957.
To see the efficency of the snow removal was amazing. Also, to see people helping
others such as the elderly was heartwarming.
It was truly a beautifull time of year.
The almost daily routine of getting up, have quick cup of coffee, scoop the drive then go back in for breakfast was an invigorating way to start the day.

I wish I had a John Deere....(Homer drooling)

John Deere is second best..........Mooney is best.
Don't move snow, but it moves me from DET to the Copper Country in about two hours......LOL

Sarah in Central WI- he doesn't look cold...check out that cool looking Stormy Kromer on his domer.

Could someone please tell me where Biloxi is located? For the life of me, I can't figure where
it is at. Thanks

I used to hate the thought of snow. Then, I met the Kromer clad, pasty fed, yooper scoopers on Pasty Net. Over the last to winters I have read the posts and delighted in the stories of copper country snow exploits. I have watched the kids at MTU, building their statues of snow on the campus cams. God will forgive me, if you will, but I have even imagined I was knee deep in UP snow, as I shoveled my own snow from the sidewalk. Thanks to all of you, my attitude adjustment is nearly complete. I'm begining to enjoy snow.

downstate don:
Could someone please tell me where Biloxi is located?

Biloxi, MS -- right on the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane country!
(Now which would you 'druther live with, hurricanes or UP Snow?)


But I guess it's warmer in Biloxi than in Tupelo ("Two-below"), MS:

Well I prefer the snow of course. No hurricanes for me. Earthquakes either, or floods, or the very
warm temperatures. Thank You

Paul, write back in August and let us know how Biloxi is then ! :)
(that is after you wipe your hands of sweat).

Hi again,
I understood instantly why my mother's cousin, Van Gardner, of
Eagle River, spent $7000 on a Kubota w/ accessories in 1981,
"just" to handle his two foot driveway (anybody remember?). Ya
gotta have the right tools to get the job done right. When people
down here start moanin' and groanin' about "too" much snow, I
just grin and head out into it. Pushing, scooping, shoveling,
blowing, panking, salting (ugh), it has to be done, lest you fall
behind and never catch up. I have pictures of Octave Gardner's
house in Calumet/Laurium with a tunnel to the front door from
the street. Wish i was there, anywhere in the Keweenaw.

The way I look at it, spend thousands on snow removal equipment and have fun with it, or shovel the white stuff and spend thousands on recovering from a heart attack, that is if you survive one.

I enjoy shoveling snow. It can be great exercise. But lifting snow can raise your heart rate and blood pressure significantly, which could lead to a heart attack....not to mention the back strain issues. Here are a few links for "safe shoveling". Please be careful.

http://www.whvc.org/matters/default.aspdismode=article&artid=204

oops messed up...here it is

http://www.nyredcross.org/outreach/weather_snowtips.htm

v.r. LL Paul in Biloxie: We can do all that too...IN THE SUMMER!

Paul in Biloxi: You are certainly a popular guy today! My husband and I are here in Gulfport. Tuesday was a beautiful day, but I still prefer the cool temperatures, the 70's are just too warm for January! I'm going to have to mow the lawn again!

mmmmmmmmmmm 70s in January! We ARE coming get some!!!

Hey That's my old man , on the Deere...:-)
That man will be out there no matter what.. and It runs good in the summer to..

Kathy from NY, My grandmother grew up in Freda and I think she knew your mother (Margaret Cunningham?). My grandmother said that sometimes the snow was too deep so they climbed out through the second story windows. Our house wasn't raised up like many so maybe they did!