Got Snowthrower or ski trips?

I have been contemplating getting a snowthrower for a few years, but always dismiss it for various reasons. Like, it's good conditioning for skiing, I don't get enough snow to justify owning another small engine, it will jinks the weather patterns, I could buy a killer ski set up for the price of a snowthrower.
The last couple trips (Alyeska this year, Kirkwood last year 5 feet at Crystal) on return I have intensive shoveling (5 hour min) to get back to norm.
I cannot afford to go on many trips, but if the pattern of me going on ski trips brings intensive snow to the local areas, maybe local skiers would like to ante up to pay for me to ski travel more often? 
Then getting a snowthrower seems more viable!
Potiticians logic.
Gotta go, the snow just doesn't move itself.

Joda-

Search Craigslist - Duluth, MN. You'll be able to find some really good deals I'm sure. However, over in midwest land we call them snowblowers.

Although, I'd be more apt to come help you shovel for a place to crash sometime.

Scott beat me to it, but:

[size=16pt]Will shovel for floor space[/size].

I have about a 200 ft driveway with a sixty foot rise... about like climbing the Muir Snowfield....

Shoveled snow for the first ten years.... what a cardiac workout... then with the heavy December 1996 snowfall, I decided I couldn't take it anymore... went to Sears and got an $800 self propelled blower....

Hard to find a place to store it. Got it outside under a tarp.... Then the gas engine is hard to deal with... finally learned to use "Stabil" gasoline stabilizer.... the electric starter helps a lot. But it throws snow like a champ.

I also keep a supply of salt and ice melting pellets.... the price of living on a hill......