and maybe some of you should complain less about plowing snow...

[Egon]

Whole lotta NOPE for me on that plow! :laughing:

As for the angle, I got to thinking about it. If you angle the blade to push snow to the right, that would kick the front to the left if it jammed on something, which could force the rear of the machine to the right, and off your rear goes over the edge.

So conversely, if you angle the blade to push the snow to the left, you'll see if the front starts getting pushed to the right if the blade jams on something, and stop before the front goes over the edge.

That's my guess. Someone go interview the drivers and see what they say.

The blade angle might make sure that there is more snow to pack under and support the right track. ??? As well as packing the side slope snow into a vertical edge to stop it from caving out and starting an avalanche.

 

[EddieWalker]

The blade angle might make sure that there is more snow to pack under and support the right track. ??? As well as packing the side slope snow into a vertical edge to stop it from caving out and starting an avalanche.

That might be it. I know that with my dozer, when I have the blade angled that direction, I'm pushing the front of the dozer out the opposite direction. That's with dirt, and only when I'm moving a lot of it.

 

[hddnis]

If you angle the blade out you will break out huge chunks of the hard icy top layer and potentially break the face of the drift off right out from under you. By angling in you shear through that hard layer, cutting it off and breaking it up as you push forward, the snow breaks up and moves towards the downhill side pretty well on its own.

I don't plow in GNP, but have done a fair bit on mountain roads around here.

 

[goeduck]

If you angle the blade out you will break out huge chunks of the hard icy top layer and potentially break the face of the drift off right out from under you. By angling in you shear through that hard layer, cutting it off and breaking it up as you push forward, the snow breaks up and moves towards the downhill side pretty well on its own.

I don't plow in GNP, but have done a fair bit on mountain roads around here.

We appreciate the explanation. Amazing how complex this can be, impressive skill for sure.

 

[PILOON]

Whole lotta NOPE for me on that plow! :laughing:

As for the angle, I got to thinking about it. If you angle the blade to push snow to the right, that would kick the front to the left if it jammed on something, which could force the rear of the machine to the right, and off your rear goes over the edge.

So conversely, if you angle the blade to push the snow to the left, you'll see if the front starts getting pushed to the right if the blade jams on something, and stop before the front goes over the edge.

That's my guess. Someone go interview the drivers and see what they say.

I owned a dozer and decided to open the road to our cabin one winter.
You are correct on the results of angle pushing the snow.
As soon as I accumulated enough snow I immediately would slide sideways.

Also note he only does short pushes repeatedly as even with the heavy weight of a dozer and lots of apparent ground contact he actually loses traction.
The tracks act sort of like snow shoes and actually the PSI of ground contact is relatively lower than one might think.
The main advantage of a dozer over a wheeled machine is that it will always remain level while pushing.

For an angled blade to be effective you need speed to curl the snow off to the side and I don't think anybody would like to speed on that road under the best of conditions.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I've been watching the plowing status all year, as we are going to be out there for the last 2 weeks of July this year. I've been to Yellowstone and Grand Teton a couple times, but this will be our first trip to Glacier. And I can't wait!

The NPS has a status page to let you know where to plows are, and down at the bottom, a link to a flickr page with more photos.

 

[ray66v]

If you angle the blade out you will break out huge chunks of the hard icy top layer and potentially break the face of the drift off right out from under you. By angling in you shear through that hard layer, cutting it off and breaking it up as you push forward, the snow breaks up and moves towards the downhill side pretty well on its own.

I don't plow in GNP, but have done a fair bit on mountain roads around here.

It seemed as though there had to be a good explanation for why he was angled towards the wall.

I sure couldn't think of one though.

Thanks.

I assume he keeps backing up for the same reason.

 

[hddnis]

It seemed as though there had to be a good explanation for why he was angled towards the wall.

I sure couldn't think of one though.

Thanks.

I assume he keeps backing up for the same reason.

When I was breaking through packed drift my rule of thumb was to never go more than half a vehicle length past my last push if I wasn't running on or near the road surface. You get a feel for the snow you are running on and adjust accordingly. You are building road as you move forward, the road just happens to be snow.