• Tuesday-What'sUP January 20 - 08:54 am

Thanks to Bob Gilreath, we have a short lesson on the art of snow removal, here in the Great Northland. Actually he lives in Hubbell and that's where he's walking behind the snowblower in the first photo, blowing the snow off to the side of his driveway. That photo was taken a couple years back, because since then, Bob has upgraded his snowblowing equipment so that he can ride on it now, rather than bringing up the rear like before. You still have to watch for which way the wind is blowing with either method, otherwise you might end up with snow all over your face. Bob's last shot is his back-up system, in case he can't start the other machines. Isn't that sweet? He bought "His and Hers" Yooper Scoopers. Nice touch, Bob!

It all looks cold and like a lot of work, lol. We even have a Yooper Scooper all the way out here in MN. I bought it at the Lake Linden hardware store one winter when I was up visiting my parents. My hubby loves it!!! We don't get a lot of snow, though, so it doesn't get a lot of use.

His and hers Yooper Scoopers--that's funny!!! I needed a good laugh this morning--snow removal is always an interesting challenge. I'm kind of strange in that regard (well, one of many) I make it a project--it's kind of fun to do in a odd kind of way, it takes a little strategy some days, depending on wind conditions at the time and were you want it to pile up. I still think winter is one of the best times of the year. It makes you appreciate "color," and gives you time to reflect on past events and look forward to the ones to come.

I used my Yooper Scooper two weeks ago. It is great, course it is not like moving the snow I was scooping in Calumet.

The month of December brought us the amount of snow we usually expect for the entire winter season. And now we are in an ice storm warning for tonight and tomorrow, I'm looking forward for the mowing season.

My brother the eternal romantic bought his wife a Yooper Scooper as a present one year. I noticed a roof rake in the garage, probably another romantic gift. The contractor has started the second floor bathroom remodel. When he finishes he will start the first floor master bath. I gave my wife the second floor remodel for Christmas and she gave me the first floor one. I guess we are as romantic as the good doctor is.

Those Yooper Scoopers are awesome! Lived in the UP and never had one. Now were in OH (cant wait to get back up to the UP) and I bought one last year! Dont put as many miles on it but it sure clears the drive in a hurry. Let it Snow!

As is often the case, many of the comments posted here would make a whole lot more sense if we knew where the authors were located. Yet many contributors neither include their location in their profile, nor in their message!? Strange.

I think I am ready for Spring
and a trip UP north on the Wing
C'mon global warming
just stay dry, not storming

I have found that the new scoops made of plastic are the best! Instead of pushing around all that weight of the scoop itself you are just moving whatever the snow weighs. Here in Calumet, I scooped TWICE today and it's not even lunch time. Once when I got up, and again after the &(%$# snowplow filled my driveway back up. Many of my friends go to the gym to work out, but I find that scooping is just as good!

Back when I was a youngster growing up in Calumet nobody even thought of buying a snowscoop, they were all homemade out of 2x6's for the sides and 2x4's for the handle and heavy gauge tin on the bottom and boy were they heavy. I don't know if there were even commercially made scoops available back then?

When we lived in Eagle River (70's & 80's) we were the only ones to get up to go to work in the morning and the guy driving the plow must have known it 'cause he would always lift his blade when he got to our drive, put it down in the drive, clear it, then lift it so he could go back doing the street. Of course I had to do the rest of it but he was always mindful of our drive so it was a bit easier for me and we didn't have to clear out the snow from the street.

Like Daveofmohawk, we also had one of those homemade scoops. They worked, but the new plastic ones work great. They're lightweight and the snow doesn't stick to them.

James Ludos -- That is a very nice story about your snowplow driver. That could only happen in the UP where people take the time to care about each other. Actually, brought a tear to my eye. I'm proud to say I'm a homegrown real deal Yooper.

My small Kubota with no cab is usually in low 4wd when I'm clearing the drive here and the plow has caught me at the end of the driveway apron about 3 times now west of Copper Harbor. No time to run or hide. Those guys are great and manage to go by with nothing more than the snow that is drafting the truck hitting me. My hat's off to them (after they've gone by and my heart's settled down again.) Most courteous and much appreciated let me tell you! Thanks to them if they or any friends read this.

Question concerning the plastic Yooper Scooper, Does it hold up to really cold weather-like below zero? I have had plastic shovels bite the "snow bank" on some cold days here outside of Duluth, MN. I have the trusty metal one, works ok for both drive and roof, but there are days I pull out the snowblower, (not for the roof, drive only--but that could be an interesting adventure--NOT) but it has to be over 4 inches of the white stuff to qualify the use of the snowblower.

My snow removal arsenal (in Lansing, MI)
- for anything less than an inch of powdery stuff, I use a 24" pushbroom.
- for over an inch of the powdery stuff, I use what I would consider to be a traditional snow shovel (curved blade)
- for the wet, heavy stuff, I actually prefer a scoop shovel (grain shovel?). Grain is what we used them for on the farm, anyway. If you get the technique right and have a strong back and arms, you can throw a shovelful up to 20 feet.

Yooper scoopers are great if you need to move the snow any distance. We had metal ones (like in the last pic) at my off-campus house when I was at MTU. I would consider a snow blower, but the layout of my lot is such that I have nowhere to blow it. My driveway is between my house and my neighbor's drive, so I'm stuck with manual snow removal tools.

Deb L. (Lakegirl)

Deb, are you a former YOOPER?

I am a former YOOPER and former Duluthian.... now living in the cities!

And may the good Lord taketh away, the snow he piles on us today !!!!! ;-)

silver bear snow scoops. a little summer
maintenance helps with dealing with sticky
snow. try waxing the snow scoop with auto
polish.

With regards to shoveling and using the Yooper Scooper, I use a little WD40 on them--snow does not stick to them either. I'm not sure were I came across that little bit of info., but it works slick and I suppose it could be sprayed on the augers/chute of the snowblower to keep wet/heavy snow from sticking as well.

To the question above, I'm a Yooper want to be, I guess. I'm a Great Lakes girl who just loves the norhtwoods that's all. I'm orginally from around the Green Bay area, but now live outside Duluth/Superior. When I was much younger I used to ski outside Montreal, WI. I fell in love on sight (Maybe because at the age of 27, I saw my first eagle and thought, God what a privledge to see such a great bird, I know it sounds silly but that meant a lot to me) and when the opportunity came to move up this way. I did!! I have never regretted my choice. I guess you could say I have fulfilled part of my dream I had when I was a child--to live in the northwoods and be by the Greatest of Great Lakes and just enjoy Mother Nature. I try not to take any of that for granted. I just felt the need to say that.

FRNash...again I agree with you on something. A longer profile is fun. I understand peoples' leariness (such a word?) in todays world. But a hint of whether one is in Florida, Colorado or New England, gives us an idea where you're coming from. I like that.

I live in Middleton, WI, Near Madison, WI.
I have been moving snow with my Yooper Scooper for the past two winters.

People stand around in a semi-circle when I am moving and throwing snow.
Often there are rousing rounds of applause.

I purchased mine from “ http://www.silverbear.biz/ “.

I use mine much differently than the video shows. I throw the snow much as I did when clearing my driveway in Mass City MI in the late 50’s and early 60’s.

I forgot to mention that my first yooper scooper was made by me in my freshman year of high school. I used the combination of wood shop and metal shop. It had wood sides and handles. The bottom was sheet metal with steel strips with counter sunk screw holes.
A one inch dowel was the push handle.

I, too, have a motorized snowblower (Cub Cadet) and a snow scoop that I enjoy. Plus, the old Armstrong snowthrowers, too. Shovels. :o)

Deb L.lakegirl, to answer your question, the plastic scoops have no problem with sub-zero temps. It is a very hard plastic, and you'll never need to waste time on summer maintenance waxing the thing when you'd rather be thinking about summer! Try one!

I live near Cincinnati, OH,& built myself one a couple years back, I also used a "Yooper Scooper" in Rock, MI as a kid and learned a couple of important lessons, first old lawn mower handles make good scooper handles on home made units, and second scoopers make awesome sleds if you're brave enough! It doesn't take much snow, and you have a little protection in front for bouncing off of trees on the hill.

To the crazy snowblowerman-my hats off to you. I have never really seen anyone do this but have heard stories. I'm not that gutsy, I'm sure it made life a little easier but I don't think I could do that. A few years ago I was shoveling snow off the roof and had my Mukluks on. They are very warm but terrible on ice, I slid down the roof and fell off. ( I should have known better than to wear them on the roof) I wasn't hurt or anything and it was kind of fun in an odd kind of way. (Good thing there was a very tall snowbank there) I were my Sorels now when having to go up on the roof.

Thanks for sharing its always fun to see how others tackle snow removal.

My scooper and I can do our drive as fast or faster than the neighbors with their gas powered small ones. The ringading models. We make a lot less noise too. Not sure about the smell, especially at the end of the job.

One slight correction, the tractor is mine.

the scoops are mother and daughter... ;-)

I'll be ducking when I enter the back door tonight lol

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