Snow Shovel: The Missing Manual

Saturday, 19 December 2009 | by Pat's Picks

Yes, the snow shovel looks like a simple, straightforward tool. Scoop. Lift. Dump. Anyone who grew up in a snowy climate learned how to use a shovel at an early age. But how good is your technique?

In my shovelling career, I was fortunate to have lived on the prairies, where we tended to get light, fluffy snow. That meant it was easy to push and lift. In slightly warmer areas the snow is more likely to be wet and heavy. The technique is different.

With all of this in mind, the Toronto Globe and Mail put together an excellent guide to the technique you didn’t realize you needed to learn. (As one comment on the Globe’s website says—what’s next? A guide to flushing the toilet?)