Easiest Way To Dig Up Gravel Walkway By hand?

The easiest way is NOT to do it by hand, I know. BUT I have a deck that would impede my use of an excavator in most of the area I'll be working in. Digging up the gravel and tarp underneath MUST be done by hand. Years ago I went at it with a shovel and it stopped me cold. I was a teen and kind of dumb for going at what is basically a block of well compacted gravel, but I have no better Ideas now. How can I make it easier to dig this stuff up? I want to lay nice pavers there.