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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2021)
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Roundabout SISTERS Bill Bartlett Columnist The art of snow shoveling Four weeks ago, in this very paper, Ron Thorkildson was explaining 4 or lament- ing 4 our dearth of snow. Saturday, if you popped into Bi-Mart, Hoyt9s, or Sisters Ace Hardware, there were lines of shoppers for snow shovels. The inevitable bragging could be heard about who got the most snow: Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman, or Sisters. All agreed that it was more than anybody cared to shovel. The number-one question on everybody9s mind: Is it time to trade the old scoop and handle for a manly, powered blower? Shovels come in varying shapes and sizes, serving dif- ferent purposes. Generally, there are three categories: lifter, pusher, and sleigh. Lifting shovels feature square-shaped blades, best for scooping and lifting snow to throw onto a snowbank. Sleigh shovels are designed to move large amounts of snow down an incline. They have square-shaped scoops that can reach two- to three-feet in width and length, with a handlebar for gripping with both hands. They cannot be lifted off the ground when loaded. They are also good for shoveling roofs. Some shovels now come with ergonomically-shaped handles that are supposed to be better for your back. It is important to maintain good posture. Bend your spine under load and expect pain. Lots of it. Listen to your body. Metal vs. plastic? Plastic shovels are more common. For starters, they are lighter. Snow sticks to plastic less than metal, helping the snow release. But plastic breaks over time, and isn9t good for chipping ice or packed snow 4 unless it has a metal edge, well worth the extra few bucks. Heavier, metal shovels help get deeper into snow for lifting. Spray non-stick cooking oil on the blade, both sides or use your car wax to keep snow from sticking. With shovel in hand, get to work. If you are over 55 and/or have a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or heart problems, let someone else shovel the snow. If you smoke or are overweight, then it is really dangerous for you to be shoveling snow. While snow shoveling looks like a benign household chore, it is extremely taxing on the heart. Back injuries and lower back muscle strain while shoveling snow are common. Lift with your legs. And don9t throw snow over your shoul- der. Use good form when shoveling snow. Avoid lifting large shovels of snow, bend- ing at the waist or turning your torso, and then chuck- ing large amounts of snow. All you are doing is taxing your heart and straining your muscles. As you lift each shovel- ful of snow, lifting with your legs all the time, walk over to dump the snow in a pile. Work smarter, not harder. Don9t shovel the same snow twice. Decide upfront where you will make your piles. That way, you can shovel and dump your snow progressively closer to your snow piles. Try the <rect- angles= grid technique. Working in rectangle forma- tion, shovel snow from the center of the rectangle and dump it along a rectangle grid corner. One cubic foot of snow, a shovel full, could weigh as much as 15 to 20 pounds. Snow blower... PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT It’s never too early to learn to properly shovel snow. Shoveling 10 inches of snow from a two-car drive and a 60-foot sidewalk is close to a ton of snow! Think that sweating and working hard will keep you warm shoveling in cold weather? The exact opposite is true. Strenuous snow shov- eling in cold weather will drain your body heat 4 dan- gerously so. Sweating while dressed in light layers in cold weather also wicks body heat. Shovel snow in fluid, rhythmic motions. Don9t shovel too much snow, and don9t overexert yourself. Be sure to breathe while you are shoveling. Holding your breath strains the body; it constricts blood vessels, reducing the supply of blood and oxygen your body has available to complete the task. You may also increase the risk of feeling light-headed, dizzy, or fainting as you work. Breath in and out nor- mally as you shovel. It9s not as easy as it sounds. Just do it. We Do The Job Right, The First Time... 14 YEARS EXPERIENCE! • Residential & commercial housekeeping, move-in/out cleaning • Winter services include snow removal on driveways, roofs and sidewalks Mendoza’s Cleaning Services LLC 541-610-5760 • Cesar FREE ESTIMATES! The Law Offi ce of JOHN H. MYERS, LLC — Downtown Sisters — WILLS & TRUSTS Make it easy for you and your loved ones. Call for a free 30-minute consultation. PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK A helicopter blew snow off the roof of new construction at Bend Distillery near Tumalo. REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 5 AT 9 AM SAV E E TH DATE! Online and over-the-phone registration only. On Full list of summer camps at SISTERSRECREATION.COM www.SistersRecreation.com 541-549-2091 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd. Sisters, Oregon 5 Protect what you’ve worked for. 541-588-2414 204 2 0 W. Adams Ave., Ste 203