dumb snow shovelling question

[Sparticle]

we learned early that it's best to get out there and shovel often. got 5 inches last night. I was going to get out there and start shoveling and the person behind us that we share a driveway with just drove through the soft fluffy snow with their big truck. Ok, that's going to make it a little more difficult I think.

then they got their big tractor and started going back and forth over their part of the driveway behind us and using right behind my car as a turn around spot for the tractor. So the snow is all mashed down behind the car with big tire ruts.

Should I even bother at this point? Or should I still get out there and try to get up what I can? sorry this is my first snowy winter

[mink]

seems like it snows everyday here , doesnt it. often times i dont clean up 5-6 inches of fluffy snow even though i have a tractor with a blower on it. id talk to the neighbor and get his input maybe hes the type that doesnt try to fight the snow either. your in new york now so you'll get used to the snow fast. just smile and pretend your an eskimo. ........mink

[Cabin Fever]

We have a 400 foot dirt/gravel (Class 5) driveway. Unless the snow is really deep, we always compact the first few snows with our vehicles. This compacted layer of snow makes plowing later snowfalls much easier and keeps the gravel on the driveway where it belongs.

[greenhaven]

Do you have dirt? Or hard surface driveway? If it is a hard surface like concrete or asphalt you can still get the packed snow off...if you do it before it turns to ice! Use a steel flat spade to get under the packed stuff. Otherwise, just drive over it and save yourself the trouble!

[Sparticle]

I have a rocky/ gravel driveway. When we left compacted snow in the turn around spot, we got a sheet of ice. but the driveway we kept clear only had a thin layer because when the snow melts, it runs down into the driveway.

no one lives behind us, they just have equipment back there for milling trees and their big tractor. There's really not a way for me to get in contact with them other than trying to walk all the way back there which I don't want to do.

Cabin fever, i hadn't thought about loosing gravel.

[seedspreader]

Winter is tough on long gravel drives, especially if you plow.

Around here the official date of winter's end is when you go to buy gravel for your drive and they are backlogged for delivery.

[edcopp]

Put this project on hold for about six months. Things will look better then.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

during the winter we park in the back yard about 15 feet from the kitchen door i just let the first few snows compact then i keep it cleared to the crust

as for the drive way it is asphalt about 50 feet in all i try to keep it clear but we had some snows then freezing rain and it is far easiet to clear on top than to try and bust thru

had some freinds in the Upper Penisuala of michigan the main roads got cleared but the secondary roads were left with a hard crust and were sanded only this make for the smothest roads of the year in the summer it would rattle your fillings loose .

[fishhead]

I always drive down the first 12" or so. It makes shoveling easier if I need to shovel later snowfalls because the shovel slides on the hardpack rather than digging into the gravel.

[Highground]

We leave it where it falls. Keeps the slickers away from up here.

[pistolsmom]

We have 3 Blazers..........we don't shovel or plow. Put 'em in 4x4 and go.

[haypoint]

When they were moving their tractor back and forth, were they plowing or just driving over it? If they were plowing it, next time get your vehicle out of the way. Make it a bit easier and they might plow your half of the driveway, too. So you want to communicate with them but don't want the bother of walking back there to do it? How about waving at them when they are next to your car in the tractor?
Any time you have to share anything, including a driveway, open communication is a must. Otherwise you'll unknowingly do something to him (leave your car in the way) and he'll do things that you don't like ( pack the snow down before you can get it shoveled). You live in an area that gets lots of snow. You share a driveway with a guy that has a tractor and plow? I'd be hot footing it back there with some hot chocolate and cookies before the first snow. Or you could sit in front of your computer and complain.

[Sparticle]

the way the drive is situated, there's no chance of my car being in the way. It's a straight shot back to their work area from the road. When I pull in, I go past the house and then make a left into a tiny drive where I park the cars so they can get past an any time. I don't allow anyone to park in the drive unless it's just for a couple of minutes. Otherwise, for visitors, they park where I do in the back. they weren't plowing they were just driving back and forth with their tractor.

I didn't go back there because I don't know these men and will just let Jeffrey talk to them when he gets back. I've waived to them a few times but they haven't stopped. Guess I'm not doing the "please stop waive". When they first started driving through they wouldn't even look so that I could waive. Jeffrey has spoken with them a couple of times now, so I'll let him work out the driveway details with them when he's back home.

[fantasymaker]

It seems they have decided to do the frosen layer approch . you might as well join then.
Take care of the slick spots with a bit of sand . You will be surprised how far it will go on a smooth slick surface. Simply take a shovel full and in a sweeping motion throw it as far along the drive as you can. Ive done my 300 + foot drive with a 5 gallon bucket many times. You dont need to cover it just have a few grains between your bootor tire and the ice.

[Sparticle]

the thing I worry about though is in the last snow, we shovelled the driveway but not the part where we have to back up to get to the driveway. so as we back the cars up, it would compact the snow. When it warmed up just a hair, we had a slab of ice back there. We've been using ash and coal from the woodstove on the drive.

[ibcnya]

I have a 930 ft gravel drive and have found it best to adjust the chain lift on the plow to stay about 2 inches off the ground in the lowest position. That way I catch the center crown on the drive thats built up during the summer and throw a little gravel back into the ruts.

[canfossi]

My driveway is quite steep and gravel, there is very little chance of getting up it anyway. So I don't shovel it, unless it gets to be a foot or more deep, though I do shovel the bottom where the vehicles are parked. Chris

[YounGrey]

I get out there and get what I can when I can. Will help it melt off the sidewalks when the sun does come out.