One further piece of advice. Despite all the problems your aircraft may have, the loss of visual cues close to the ground is what kills most people in these conditions, both during take-off and landing.
As well as external whiteout, beware of misting-up of the transparencies before and during take-off. Try to keep the doors open as long as possible while you are getting strapped in and started up, especially if you have been working hard to sweep off all that snow, free the skids etc. This will make sure any perspiration, heavy breathing etc (!) goes outside.
If you do get canopy misting make very sure you don't lift off until it is cleared; the last thing you want is your own self-induced IMC hover. Keep a soft cloth available to wipe the screen and use the screen demist if you have it.
In colder climates where the OAT gets lower than about minus five or so, canopy misting is likely to be less of a problem as the air is drier. Use of screen heat (or any inside heat) may not then be be a good idea as it may put snow contacting the airframe back into the sticky range causing build-up on the outside. Also, if you are carrying pax with snow on their clothing (skiers, soldiers, whatever) you don't want it to melt as it will make them wet which doesn't help them once they go back outside into the cold.
As always, get some instruction from someone who is used to the local conditions!