Snow ??

[imkms]

Just got in from plowing this wet white hell. What crap.........

Agree with that, this is some of the heaviest snow I've moved in a while, makes the last 2 storms look real easy. My snow blower is handling it OK, just does not throw it real far like the light fluffy snow. And to make matters worse, the other 2 neighbors on my street with snowblowers told me that their blowers just died! I guess it will be a long day for me.

 

[Boyd]

I left Philadelphia last night at 10:00PM and it took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to drive 50 miles home. That was one of that scariest rides I've taken in years. 676 and the 42 freeway were a nightmare with very wet snow - everyone was sliding all over the roads. Got on the AC Expressway and it was even worse - saw several cars spin off the road, so I got off immediately at exit 41. The car in front of me spun all the way around on the exit ramp. I didn't think I could even make it up that slight incline. After that I took the smallest back roads that I knew for the next 30 miles home. Traction was much better in the 4" of unplowed snow, so I just settled in at 15 to 20 MPH for the rest of the way.

By then it was raining at my home, rain continued all night and it's pouring here now - has washed most of the new snow away already. Looking at the radar, I'm in a very small cell of rain with freezing rain and snow all around - it's 38 degrees here now. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop! Say warm and safe everyone...

 

[Boyd]

My J/D model 40 has a pull behind plow on a 3 point hydraulic hitch which does not do well in wet heavy snow. My dad comes over with his Ford Deisel Backhoe and 8 foot bucket when things get serious here.

I got a big Toro snowthrower a few years ago, but never had a chance to really put it to a serious test until this year. It's been a real champ so far. Went through the last snow without a problem. My driveway is a really just a little sand road over 800 feet long. Two round trips up and back clears a path just wide enough for my car - a third trip is better though.

It's a bit of a workout, and the wind blowing the snow in your face can be unpleasant. But it really gets rid of the snow completely by throwing it so far away, so I don't end up with any mountains of snow. Took about 4 hours though after the last storm. I am not even going to attempt to clear anything until tomorrow morning.

 

[RednekF350]

Made it to work in nothing flat this morning and I am stting here now watching it really start to kick in.
Should be nice and squirrelly for the ride home tonight.
Not looking forward to hand shoveling the drive apron again in a blizzard. I usually just keep the apron open and drive in and out repeatedely in 4WD to beat the rest down.
I don't know if I will be able to continue to pull off that trick.

 

[Boyd]

The rain changed to heavy wet snow here around noon and it's starting to pile up now - looks nasty and it's sticking to all the trees. I hope everybody's power stays on! I couldn't get my generator to start, and after looking closer noticed a wire dangling.... looks like the mice may have been frolicking inside. Now I just need to figure out where that wire was supposed to go and I'll be ready for anything.

 

[ecampbell]

I got a big Toro snowthrower a few years ago, but never had a chance to really put it to a serious test until this year. It's been a real champ so far. Went through the last snow without a problem. My driveway is a really just a little sand road over 800 feet long. Two round trips up and back clears a path just wide enough for my car - a third trip is better though.

It's a bit of a workout, and the wind blowing the snow in your face can be unpleasant. But it really gets rid of the snow completely by throwing it so far away, so I don't end up with any mountains of snow. Took about 4 hours though after the last storm. I am not even going to attempt to clear anything until tomorrow morning.

The snowthrower sounds interesting. I'm using a small tractor with a FEL and I have mountains. I am running out of places to put snow. Let us know how the thrower handles the wet stuff. Does it run OK on skids in the sand? How about twigs?

 

[Jerseyman]

Folks:

Based on a photograph my brother just sent me, it appears that people who are sick of all the snow have formed a vigilante mob and are taking matters into their own hands:



Keep an eye on your neighbors and be careful out there!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[Boyd]

I will let you know tomorrow - because I plan to watch this storm inside with the woodstove today! I don't think it will have a problem with this wet snow, the last snow was very heavy here too and that was ~21" but I am not supposed to get that much today.... I hope!

The snowthrower gobbles up small branches pretty well, but doesn't like big ones. I don't have any problem on my unpaved sand road - I was worried about that at first too. You have to "drive" it though so it doesn't dig in too deep. I had a smaller craftsman snowthrower before, and pretty much wore it out in two seasons of heavy snow in Medford when I had a 300 foot driveway.

So I got the Toro in 2006 - I joked that everyone could thank me for the mild winters, since I spent all that money and never got a chance to really put it to the test until 2009. This is what I'm using: http://www.toro.com/home/snowthrowers/gastwostage/6000.html

 

[bobpbx]

How you boys doing? I'm getting hammered here in Bamber.

 

[lakesgirl]

Folks:

Based on a photograph my brother just sent me, it appears that people who are sick of all the snow have formed a vigilante mob and are taking matters into their own hands:






Keep an eye on your neighbors and be careful out there!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

that's very funny!!! i know a few folks who are feeling the same way!

 

[MarkBNJ]

Nice, Boyd! My Dad had a big 5 hp Ariens when I was a kid and we lived in upstate NY. That thing would chew through three feet, no problem. I have a baby Toro, the kind with a one-piece collector/impeller, manual chute, maybe a 10" opening. So I have to do it when the snow gets that deep, and I just came in from my first pass. Good thing I didn't wait any longer.

We have maybe 10" of new stuff on the ground, still snowing and the wind is picking up. The last couple hours it has been this fine, granular snow that packs hard.

 

[Boyd]

How you boys doing? I'm getting hammered here in Bamber.

Getting windy and colder here, but the snow is taking a bit of a break. I only have ~3" of snow on my car since the rain rinsed it down earlier today. But the driveway is a slushy mess. I just heard from a friend in the Northern Philadelphia suburbs and he says they're getting blasted. The Schuylkill and Turnpike are shut down and he's worried that some trees look like they're ready to fall.

 

[Teegate]

Snowing hard here now. I ran the snow blower earlier today and shoveled the end of the driveway a little while ago. Jennifer and I are debating if we should go out again now, or wait a few hours.

Guy

 

[RednekF350]

I'm getting hammered here in Bamber.

Yeah, but how bad is the snow ?

 

[ecampbell]

My driveway with flash

without

this stuff is wet!

A big fire, more than 1/2 cord of wood in the garage 6 out back, generators gased up, lots of extra fuel and fresh diesel, we'll handel it.

 

[Teegate]

Nice Ed! How does your gate work in the snow? Do you have to shovel that.

Guy

 

[ecampbell]

Nice Ed! How does your gate work in the snow? Do you have to shovel that.

Guy

I sure do, unless I leave it open but then the dogs might get out or the deer in.

 

[ecampbell]

There must be a hugh snow load on my roof.

 

[bobpbx]

Yeah, but how bad is the snow ?

Oh, I'm gonna avoid a bad hangover in case the lights go out! I don't feel comfortable that they won't. It's been at least a couple inches an hour since 4.

 

[ecampbell]

Our lights have been blinking