PEAK TO PEAK — It has been a mild start to the winter and the forecasts for snow look pretty bleak through to the end of the year. But when the snow does come, mountain folk will need to rely on their trusty snow shovels to clear their decks and a path to their vehicles.

Snow blowers and plows can move the big stuff, but snow shovels are an essential tool to clear decks, stairs, and a path to the dog yard. Brooms can work for small snow amounts, but falter when the snow is wet and heavy or deep.

Choosing the right snow shovel to use is a personal decision based on a person’s size and abilities. It is a little like choosing a wand in the Harry Potter stories. The right snow shovel in the right hands can make snow disappear like magic.

The biggest determining factor in choosing a snow shovel is the width of the blade. A wider blade can scoop up more snow, but it is also heavier per scoop, which risks back injuries.

Dry January powder isn’t as much of a problem, but big wet spring storms can set off the phones to the orthopedic clinics. Ruptured disks are the most common injury, with muscle pulls and heart attacks also possible.

Weight is another factor when shopping for the perfect snow shovel. A decent snow shovel will weigh around five pounds. Anything heavier, like shovels with steel handles, adds to the weight per shovelful, which accelerates fatigue and risks injury.

The length of the handle is another consideration when purchasing. Handles can be short or long, straight or bent, and maybe with a grip at the top. A shorter handle keeps the fulcrum of lifting the snow closer to the body. A longer handle allows for a longer range for tossing the snow—like during the 2003 and 2021 monster spring storms when the paths were like World War I trenches and the snow was being tossed above the waist and aspirin were being consumed like candy.

All things considered, the traditional snow shovel with a 24” blade and short handle is more suited to an apartment dweller than a mountain cabin. The shorter handles require more bending over and the wider blade adds weight that increases the complexity of lifting the snow and risks injury.

Ski areas, experts at moving snow around, often use a narrow blade shovel with long handles around their lifts. The blade is made of aluminum to reduce the weight of the shovel, and it can be used to clean the loading area. These shovels are usually 12-14 inches wide with a 48-inch straight handle.

Popular brands for this type of snow shovel are Ames RAZOR-BACK, A.M. Leonard, Foxy Manufacturing, and Zoro. Prices range from $40-$120. Use the internet search term “14-inch aluminum scoop shovel” to find these shovels online. The local hardware store can also assist with picking a snow shovel that works well for the individual.

The days might be warm and dry right now, but when the big snows roll in, having the right snow shovel and a back belt are necessary tools for living the mountain life. Who knows? It might be the perfect Christmas gift this year.