Snow reaches the top of the hill before it reaches anything else — the Summit ridge above the Passaic valley collects its first inch while the low roads are still only wet. Apex Snow Removal works those hours, plowing the steep pitch of driveways that fall away from the crest and cutting walkways down to bare stone before the porch lights go off. There is a particular pride in the clean pass: one straight lane, banks squared off, salt laid exactly where the meltwater will run and lock up again by four in the afternoon. Neighbors come out to a drive that looks as though nothing ever happened to it. That is the whole point of the night.