February dawn north of the city, Eighteenmile Creek running black between white banks, and Outdoors Unlimited is already three driveways in. The plow opens a lane, the shovel finishes the steps and the walk, and salt goes where the overnight melt refroze into a sheet. Snow arrives out here in the orchard country in long grey afternoons that turn serious after dark, so the work belongs to the small hours. Getting a drive cleared before anybody needs it is the point — no waiting on the day, no shoveling before the commute. Out along the roads toward Transit and beyond, that is the winter routine.