Cope with Snow

Snowman on a promenade in Karuizawa, January 2016.

     Karuizawa had a big snow fall last week.  Since it has been almost snow-less winter until Monday last week, we saw the big snow with rather welcoming mind.   Snow is an essential element of winter scenery for local residents, and we feel uneasy if we do not see this white and icy stuff by December.

​  To cope with the snow, local residents have their own tools and knowhow for snow shoveling.  Until last year, I had been managing to do snow shoveling by a man-powered tool only , namely, by a shovel.  This year, our family decided to purchase a 212cc engine powered snow removal machine, HEIGE HG-K6560, which actually has completely changed and significantly eased our family's snow removal task.

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A snow shovel, having been working with us for these 3 years.

Snow removal machine, HEIGE HG-K6560, arrived at our house last week.

    HEIGE is a Chinese manufacturer and sells its product in Japan only through its online shop.  Local home centers sell domestic engine powered products by HONDA, YAMAHA and so on but their price range are about from 200 to 500 thousand Japanese Yen per unit.  Japanese machines are a bit expensive for ordinary people.  HEIGE sells their engine powered machines, and its starting price is about 50 thousand Japanese Yen for its 97cc engine powered product.  Our engine powered 212cc 6.5 horse power machine was priced at about 100 thousand Japanese Yen.   It is still not cheap, but I felt that the price of the snow removal machine has been coming down to a price range on which ordinary people feel affordable.

​    Watch a movie below (silent movie) to see the performance of HEIGE HG-K6560.

    Snow in Karuizawa last week piled up for about 30 to 40 cm.  It would be 2 days work if we tried to remove the snow around my house only by a man power.  I was amazed to see the performance and powerfulness of the machine.  I, to be honest, look forward to seeing the next big snow fall to test the machine further.
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​     Forecast says it will be snow this weekend.  I hope it not to be too much, to allow us again enjoy snow shoveling.