by: Loren Varner
Whether you?re leaving the city heading to the Mammoth Mountain/Lake Tahoe High Sierra country for its beauty and relaxation, or planning that ski trip from Scottsdale to Snowbowl, here are some tips for a safe and pleasant journey, and how to deal with trouble, should it arise.
Slow down.
A highway speed of 65 miles per hour may be safe in dry weather, but an invitation for trouble on snow and ice.
Snow and ice make stopping distances much longer, so keep your seat belt buckled and leave more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
Look farther ahead in traffic.
Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra seconds to react.
Remember to avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes.
Do everything slowly and gently.
Anticipate turns and stops. Leave plenty of distance between you and other cars.
Drive as if there were eggs on the bottom of your feet; step on the gas and the brake pedals so gently that you don't break the eggshell.
Trucks take longer to stop, so don't cut in front of them.
Watch out for fog; it drifts rapidly and often is patchy.
In foggy conditions, drive very slowly using lowered headlights.
Don't hang on to the taillights of the vehicle in front.
This gives you a false sense of security and means you may be driving too close.
Don't speed up suddenly, even if it seems to be clearing.
You can find yourself suddenly back in thick fog.
If you should find yourself stuck, turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way. Keep a light touch on the gas, and ease forward.
Don't spin your wheels; you'll just dig in deeper.
Rocking the vehicle is another way to get unstuck.
(Check your owner's manual first, as it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.)
Shift gently from forward to reverse, and back again.
The best approach to recovering from a skid is the same for both front and rear-wheel drive vehicles.
If your rear wheels start to skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left.
If they're sliding right, steer right.
As you continue to correct, you may have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
If your front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don?t try to steer immediately.
As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return.
As it does, steer in the direction you want to go and accelerate gently.
If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), keep your foot on the pedal.
If not, pump the pedal gently, pumping more rapidly as your car slows down.
Braking hard with non-anti-lock brakes will lock the wheels and make the skid worse.
Do not use a mobile phone while driving.
Stop somewhere safe or ask a passenger to make the call.
On a freeway, it is better to use a roadside emergency telephone, because the emergency services will be able to locate you easily.
If you have to use a mobile phone, make sure you know your location from the numbers on the marker posts on the side of the road.
If your car gets stuck out on the road run the heater every 10 minutes but never fall asleep with the car running.
In blizzard conditions, especially overnight, make sure one person stays awake, because help could take some time to arrive.
Maintain circulation by moving your feet, hands, and arms.
Avoid alcohol.
It lowers body temperature and will cause you to become drowsy.
Stay in the vehicle.
Don't wander and get lost or frostbitten.
Leave one window cracked open.
Freezing winds and wet, driving snow can quickly seal a vehicle.
Clean any snow from around the end of the tail pipe to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
Clear outside heater vents -- that?s the grill under the windshield.
Signal to other motorists that you're stranded by using flares or flashlights, or by tying a piece of brightly colored cloth to the radio antenna and using your ?Help? sign.
So, whether you wish to stay at an Aspen resort and spa or luxury Vail hotel, there?s much more involved than just finding discounted hotel accommodations; be sure to plan a safe and pleasant trip -? and ski safely, as well!
About The Author
Loren Varner is a Contributing Editor at http://www.AreaMaps.org, a site providing quick and easy access to city and resort area information, coupled with dynamic maps detailing many local accommodations, restaurants and attractions.
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Easy Invention Ideas
Easy Invention Ideas
by: Steve Gillman
Easy invention ideas? Why easy? Sometimes it's just too intimidating to think about building a new type of car, television, or other complicated invention. So these are ideas for garage or basement tinkerers. Coming up with a prototype for most of these will cost no more than the money in your pocket. They are not patented yet, as far as I know.
Wild Game Carrier
Deer hunters regularly die of heart attacks while carrying their bucks out of the woods. The invention here would solve that problem. It would have an inflatable wheel, using coated nylon that won't puncture easily. Once you get your deer, blow up the wheel, and using the clamps on either side, you attach two poles or sticks that you cut on site. Attach the simple nylon sling between the sticks, and you have a wheel-barrow-like device that will carry a deer over even rough trails. Probably weighing no more than two pounds, it could be carried...
Easy Invention Ideas
Lake tahoe > Easy Invention Ideas
All New Tahoe Soon to Drive By
All New Tahoe Soon to Drive By
by: Joe Thompson
Soon to be driving on the roads would be the 2007 Chevy Tahoe which is the Chevrolet?s next generation of the automobile industry?s best-selling full-size SUV. This new sport-utility vehicle has been comprehensively redesigned and guarantees a sharper, an increased interior refinement, an improved quietness, and a more precise driving feel. Promised for this vehicle also is the capacity for more power because of its improved, segment-leading fuel economy. Since the year 2001, the Chevrolet Tahoe has been the best-selling full-size SUV. The new vehicle is bound to take over the top of the segment in its sales, quality, and comfort.
The outgoing model for this vehicle has found its way to be able to rank first in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey for five years, thus topping all other import and luxury models in its rank. The Chevrolet Tahoe through the years has been able to...
All New Tahoe Soon to Drive By
Lake tahoe > All New Tahoe Soon to Drive By
Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
by: Christopher Panduro
The crystal clear waters of Lake Garda are perfect for swimming and many popular sports such as windsurfing and sailing. The local climate is softened by the presence of this large body of water, which makes it comfortable for exploring the towns and villages on and close to the lake towns such as Garda, Lazise, Sirmione, Torri del Benaco Bardolino, Limone and Peschiera which are wonderful places to visit with a great choice of hotels, villas and Holiday homes or just for wandering around the cobbled streets filled with shops, hotels and restaurants and are home to bustling lakeside markets.
Do visit the old port of Torbole, the charming old streets of Limone and the castle and Roman Villa in Sirmione.From Malcesine you can take a cable car onto Monte Baldo for some mountain walking and superb views. Walks on the lake shore from Lazie or Bardolino also help to work up an appetite.On the southern...
Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
Lake tahoe > Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
Skiing at Breckenridge Mountain
Skiing at Breckenridge Mountain
by: Scott Palat
As you drive into the town of Breckenridge, you can see Breckenridge Mountain and many of the lifts. Breckenridge Mountain has four peaks and each is labeled peak 10, peak 9, peak 8 and peak 7. You can ski all four of Breckenridge's peaks in one day if you are up for a hike. The only peak accessible by lift is Peak 8.
Breckenridge has many green trails which are perfect of beginners. So do not be intimidated when you see the tops of the mountains, because you will not have to ride the lifts to the top to enjoy all the skiing that Breckenridge has to offer. If you are an intermediate skier, Breckenridge has plenty of blue and black runs that offer wide open skiing or tree skiing.
If you enjoy extreme skiing, you'll love Breckenridge Mountain! You can hike any of the four peaks and on peak 8, the lift that will take you to the top.
The Imperial Express Superchair...
Lake tahoe > Skiing at Breckenridge Mountain
Looking After Leather
Looking After Leather
by: Jane Lake
With a little care, you can keep leather clothing looking its best for years, according to an expert on leater from The Olde Hide House in Acton, Ontario.
- Leather naturally repels water but, for additonal protection, look for an environmentally friendly repellent product to help prevent absorption of water and body oils. It's best to avoid silicone-based repellents which retard leather's ability to "breathe."
- Let wet leather garments dry in well-ventilated areas, away from heat. The leather may stiffen slightly but should soften again after wearing.
- Hang leather coats and jackets on thick or padded hangers to keep the shoulders in shape. Don't load pockets with heavy or bulky items, which could tear seams.
- Plastic bags tend to dry out or discolor leather. Use a cotton garment bag for off-season storage, or hang coats as usual, draping a tea-towel over the shoulders to deter dust....
Looking After Leather
Lake tahoe > Looking After Leather
Alien landings in the Lake District?
Alien landings in the Lake District?
by: Peter Scott
News that the latest space probe has discovered a discarded Kendal Mint Cake wrapper on the surface of Mars, and, what appears to be an alien space-craft seen landing on Skiddaw and discharging small people armed with cameras, confirms once and for all that Cumbria and the Lake District is probably the most popular visitor location in the Universe.
Not only is the spectacular scenery and hospitality a tourist attraction, but an added allure is the sense of
mystery, secrecy and maybe a touch of disbelief surrounding many of the region?s venues. A century or so ago, travelers wishing to cross Lake Windermere between Ferry Nab and Sawrey on the opposite shore used the services of a boatman and his small rowing-boat. One particularly stormy night, a voice was heard to call for transport from the wooded slopes of Claiffe Heights on the Sawrey side of the water. The boatman duly set off to...
Lake tahoe > Alien landings in the Lake District?
Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique
Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique
by: Joseph J. Breunig 3rd
Maneuvering a canoe does take a certain level of skill. Although one can easily maintain a sense of balance, a canoeist consciously needs to be aware of his surroundings at all time. On occasion, other boaters have been known to (either intentionally or unintentionally) create sets of waves that can topple the most experienced paddlers, in addition to the challenges that Mother Nature contributes.
Developing that experience of oaring proficiency can only occur when taking to the water. As a suggestion, plan your canoe outing with other canoeists. Besides the camaraderie of quality time spent with friends, traveling in small groups provides you with opportunities to perfect the "Cane-Over-Canoe" Rescue Technique. This technique is best performed when on any body of water. Once having mastered this procedure, an experienced canoe veteran...
Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique
Lake tahoe > Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique
Lake tahoe
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