What I saw in Port Stanley today

One of the most important breakthroughs of the twentieth century, the plastic snow shovel. Lighter than a metal shovel, and the blade doesn't get deformed. Snow shovelling is arduous work; just think of the number of lives that have been saved by the plastic shovel and another twentieth-century invention, the snow-blower.

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The comments below suggest that many regions don't have ice chippers. A metal shovel would have an advantage there, then. But the ice would still destroy the shovel's blade. Ice chippers have a short heavy blade that doesn't crumple.

Sami Serola (inactive), Eva Lewitus, Diane Putnam, Fred Fouarge and 11 other people have particularly liked this photo

45 comments - The latest ones

William Sutherland ^club

Outstanding colorful POV!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to William Sutherland ^club

Thanks, William.

4 years ago.

Steve Bucknell ^club

The trouble with a plastic shovel is that it doesn’t cut and shift the ice under the snow very well.
Anyway, I love the colours and point of view here!

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Steve Bucknell ^club

Thanks, Steve. I find an ice chipper better than a metal shovel myself.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has added

Or you could use one of these:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4MH0Xo3HPU
(if your Canadian French is rusty, there are English subtitles).

4 years ago.

rdhinmn ^club

And just think of the coronaries suffered by us codgers who go out and shovel it! (We're supposed to get about a foot tonight, with strong wind. Our snow removal people can come dig us out.)

And like Steve, I need a shovel that will chip away at ice...

Nice colors, and the shot look to me like I'm looking down from a height.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to rdhinmn ^club

Thanks, Bob. As I mentioned to Steve, I find an ice chipper more effective than a metal shovel.

Good luck with the snow. Rest when your breath gets short.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has added

Or you could use one of these:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4MH0Xo3HPU
(if your Canadian French is rusty, there are English subtitles).

4 years ago.

Jean

A lovely colourful close up. Fortunately my snow shovel only gets occasional use. My car stands on gravel so I avoid shovelling there and only tackle the pavement.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Jean

Thanks, Jean.

4 years ago.

Sarah P. ^club

Maybe I'm a romantic, but I prefer the shovel to the blower.
Of course, I live in a place where it snows once in a hundred years, so my opinion is of no practical value.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Sarah P. ^club

These choices depend on many things, Sarah, like your age, the depth of the snow, volume, etc.

4 years ago.

Ulrich John ^club

Bright colours, fine composition ! Good Morning, John !

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Ulrich John ^club

Thanks, Ulrich.

4 years ago.

Amelia ^club

These colourful plastic shovels are only good in fresh un-trampled snow, as we found out when we lived in Norway. And of course, when the plastic eventually breaks, as it will do, there is the problem of disposal. Meanwhile, happy snow clearance.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Amelia ^club

You can use rock salt on packed snow and ice, Amelia, although it's best to put it down before the storm. My beef with metal shovels is that their corners crimp when they hit ice or packed snow, and they become inefficient. They're heavy, too -- not good for the heart.

I'm getting the impression that ice chippers are unknown in Europe, too, which changes the value of your shovel options.

4 years ago. Edited 4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Amelia ^club

After considering all the replies here, I think the best snow shovel is the one best adapted to local resources. Local resources in Canadian cities tend to be extensive, but in other places a metal shovel may have its advantages.

As I've noted below, though, the best solution seems to be to rent. Then somebody else shovels your snow for you.

4 years ago.

MaggsMep ^club

Glad it's so rare for me to have to even negotiate even a centimetre of snow!

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to MaggsMep ^club

There are many adaptations necessary when you have harsh winters, Maggs. For example, that's why much of North America has different fire hydrants to warm climates -- they're designed for frozen ground.

4 years ago.

Dutt Changgle

the most Canadian thing I've ever seen!

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Dutt Changgle

You must have the same issues to deal with where you are, dC.

4 years ago.

Dutt Changgle has replied to John FitzGerald ^club

with average yearly accumulations well under 4"-a teaspoon will suffice for snow clearing in my neck of the woods. but when it does accumulate everyone here tends to run in circles screaming and shouting....

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Dutt Changgle

I must have leapt to the wrong conclusion about your region, dC. Our weather is certainly better than the States' at the moment, though.

4 years ago.

Keith Burton ^club

I see very little snow where I am John...........and even when we do, rarely gets deep enough to worry about.

I'm always really impressed when I see how countries such a Canada deal with their winters. In England the whole place comes to a halt with half an inch snow!

Love the invention in the link...............I can't imagine how I've lived so long without one :-)))

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Keith Burton ^club

The difference is we're ready for snow, Keith. Snow tires, armies of snowploughs, pre-storm road salting, etc.

4 years ago.

Keith Burton ^club has replied to John FitzGerald ^club

Makes perfect sense - given the difference in the severity of our respective winters :-)

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Keith Burton ^club

We even have snowploughs at horse races, Keith. Trotters and pacers race year-round, and it's not unusual to see snowploughs on the track between races.

4 years ago.

kiiti ^club

I was shocked when I learned that plastic was more efficient for snow.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to kiiti ^club

Well, there is some disagreement here about that, kiiti.

4 years ago.

tiabunna ^club

No need for either here, but I guess the plastic snow shovels are more colourful - then again, a blower sounds like the real answer.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to tiabunna ^club

I'm getting the impression, George, that it depends on local conditions. I suspect, fo example, that Canada may have more extensive infrastructure for dealing with snow. Elsewhere, metal shovels may have distinct advantages.

4 years ago.

Fred Fouarge ^club

nodig om sneeuw te ruimen

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Fred Fouarge ^club

The northern life, Fred.

4 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club

Unusual and creative shot, John! Also, you make some good points. I tried using a metal one, once, and it was grueling.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Diane Putnam ^club

Thanks, Diane. I have now moved from Toronto to a place with about twice the snowfall. I grew up here but expect I will have to re-adapt.

4 years ago.

Diane Putnam ^club has replied to John FitzGerald ^club

Good heavens! Well, I certainly can identify with that, John. ;-o

4 years ago.

aNNa schramm ^club

ja Schnee schippen - bald ist es soweit !!!!

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to aNNa schramm ^club

Didn't you have enormous falls of snow last year, aNNa?

4 years ago.

Eva Lewitus ^club

I am so lucky... and I appreciate it... I never hat to shovel snow! ...Great to have them so colorful.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Eva Lewitus ^club

One of the advantages of being a renter here, Eva, is that you never have to shovel snow, eiter.

4 years ago.

Eva Lewitus ^club has replied to John FitzGerald ^club

Why? Somebody does it for you, for free?
Canada seems to be the place to live, especially if you like the cold.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Eva Lewitus ^club

I should have said if you rent an apartment you never have to shovel snow, Eva. The superintendent does it.

4 years ago.

Esther ^club

I only use a plastic shovel these days, but eventually, the plastic at the end begins to scrape away or curl and the entire shovel has to be replaced. Next time, I will buy one with a metal trim.

4 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Esther ^club

I suspect the desirability of plastic shovels varies with the local resources for fighting snow, Esther. Where I live snow removal is so important people make a living ploughing other people's drives.

4 years ago.

Eva Lewitus ^club

Ah... of course! The best solution.

4 years ago.

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