Snow roof rakes stand at the ready. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

When my nephew lived with us, his enthusiasm for anything to do with snow did not transfer to my children. Don’t get me wrong. My kids love winter sports and snow, but they didn’t share their cousin’s fascination with everything involved in making and moving snow.

As an ice climber, my nephew would have gladly roped in and scampered up the side of our house. We kept him on the ground and introduced him to the roof rake. My children helped, but never reached the level of snow removal excitement of my nephew.

I never thought I’d be the person singing the praises of a rake. If you have to rake snow off your roof, get a rake that comes with its own slide. It wheels under the snow load, then breaks off the snow in brick-shaped blocks which slide down a plastic chute.

For anyone else on the shorter side of average height, I’ve had the snow blocks fall on my head because I have to stand close to the side of the house to get the rake onto the roof. You have been warned.

Besides saving our house from potential ice dams and other damage, it’s an upper body workout worthy of an Olympian. (I’m just trying to find my nephew’s level of pure snow-removal joy.)

Most roofs may not require raking unless there is ice buildup and a potential ice dam. Staying off the roof and using a roof rake from the ground is also recommended. Do not scrape the roof clean because the rake could damage the shingles.

There are also insured professionals more than willing to take on the job. Online resources and Facebook community pages list professionals experienced with breaking ice dams and clearing roofs.

My nephew is now an engineer living his snow-filled life in Alaska. He is in water safety, so when he isn’t recreating outdoors, he works out how the snowmelt and runoff affect water quality. It makes sense that he has always been fascinated by snow.

Yes, I’m sure he would rake our roof now with the same passion as he brings everything else. It has been a long Adirondack winter.

I hope you are finding your own ways to keep positive through each winter storm.