I live in northern Utah about 8 miles west of the Wasatch Mountains, closer to the Great salt Lake. As a side gig I repair a lot of snow blowers and you can't beat the Toro single stage blowers, especially the older CCR's. Two stage blowers I'd say Toro, Ariens are good machines but I've had good luck with just about any other model also. Save yourself some money and buy a good used one, repairs are easy as google search's and youtube covers just about anything you need to know. Most problems are caused by ethanol gas gumming up the carburetor. Gas stations here in Utah sell an ethanol free gas for just small engines.
As many have said, single stage and dual stage snow blowers each have their advantages and disadvantages. I personally have one of each and use the single stage way more than the 2-stage. The single stage is my go to for the simple fact it's much quicker and easier to use because its light and speed is determined by how fast you walk.
Two stage snow blowers are heavy and take a bit more leverage when it comes time to spin it around. Some model now have left and right triggers to assist in turning disengages the drive wheel in the direction you want to turn. They're a lot of weight to throw around in light snow but are a god sent when the snow is deep, compacted, or piled up at the end of your driveway after the city snowplows go by.
Many make the mistake on 2-stage snow blowers by letting the scraper/shave plate grind on the ground. It's actually not supposed to touch the ground, that's the purpose of the skid feet. The shave plate should be off the ground 1/8" on a good level driveway or 1/4" on a rough driveway or gravel surface. I've seen blowers where people have ground so much auger housing metal away that the bolt holes that attach the shave plate are open ended.
I could go on and on but will stop there.
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