Just in case I'm not the very last person to consider this, a leaf blower can make a fantastic alternative to a snow shovel! It obviously isn't ideal for a single overnight 12-16" snowfall, nor if the snow is real wet and heavy, but we have around a foot of snow on the ground and I haven't touched a snow shovel yet this year. I have a tractor, skid steer, and 8 HP two stage blower, so can deal with the bulk of it, but started using the leaf blower a couple winters ago for the porches, sidewalks, around the overhead doors, etc., and it's great. As an aside, yesterday morning, with a forecast of 6" or so of new snow, I heard a doctor on the radio say that anyone over 50 should not be shoveling snow. So this morning I caught my wife a bit off guard when I sat down on the sofa crossed my arms, waiting for her to come by. She asked me if I was going to go take care of the snow and I told her no, I was going to have a cup of coffee and wait for someone under 50 to show up at the door with their shovel. She appreciated the humor, but nicely suggested that it wasn't going to happen so I may as well get busy. And I did. Anyway, just a suggestion about the blower.

 

Oh how the light fluffy snow flies with a leaf blower. I used mine today.
Usually the snows here are wet and heavy and that won't work.