| Whether you're leaving the city heading
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| | cell phone and small change or a calling
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| to the Mammoth Mountain/Lake Tahoe High
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| | card for a payphone.
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| Sierra country for its beauty and
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| | It's a good idea to keep a winter
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| relaxation, or planning that ski trip
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| | survival kit in your vehicle: blanket,
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| from Scottsdale to Snowbowl, here are
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| | hats, boots, gloves, change of clothing,
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| some tips for a safe and pleasant
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| | small broom, ice scraper, small snow
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| journey. Be sure to see also Part 2:
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| | shovel, towel, flashlight, batteries,
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| "Don't get in Trouble, but if you do --."
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| | kitty litter or burlap for traction,
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| Driving in winter conditions tests your
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| | jumper cables, a tool kit, tire chains, a
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| car to the limit. If something isn't
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| | properly inflated spare tire, wheel
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| working properly under the best
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| | wrench and tripod-type jack. Additional
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| conditions it certainly isn't going to
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| | items for the trunk include a Help sign
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| work when it's cold and stormy.
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| | to put in your window, brightly-colored
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| Check weather and travel conditions
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| | cloth, a compass, first aid kit, wooden
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| before heading out. Don't take chances
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| | matches in a waterproof container,
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| if the weather is bad. Don't drive when
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| | scissors, string, and canned food along
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| there are whiteouts, freezing rain or
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| | with a can opener.
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| blizzards. Leave early to allow extra
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| | Always carry chains. Sandbags in the
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| time to get to your destination. Buckle
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| | trunk over the rear axle will provide
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| up; always use your belt. This means all
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| | better traction in rear wheel vehicles.
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| passengers and children, too.
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| | Use winter tires. They improve driving
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| Whenever starting your car, make sure
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| | safety by providing better traction and
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| that there is nothing obstructing the
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| | handling through snow, slush, and on ice,
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| tailpipe, and never warm up your car in a
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| | but never mix tires of different tread,
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| closed garage.
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| | size and construction. Because of
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| If you feel tired, pull off the road and
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| | winter's lower temperatures, the air
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| rest!
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| | pressure in tires will drop. Check tires
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| Check engine oil, especially before long
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| | after driving a short distance to warm
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| trips. Use winter weight (5W-30) or
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| | them up for an accurate reading. Adding
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| all-season oil.
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| | air to cold tires can result in
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| Check tire pressure, tire condition, and
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| | over-inflated tires when they warm up.
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| spare tire pressure regularly. Tires
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| | It can take ten times longer to stop in
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| lose on the average 1 pound per month
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| | icy conditions than on a dry road. Don't
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| through normal leakage.
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| | get overconfident with four-wheel drive.
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| Inspect the belts and hoses to be sure
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| | Four-wheel drive helps you get going
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| they are free from frays, cracks, leaks
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| | quicker but it won't help you stop any
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| or rotted rubber. Make sure that
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| | faster. Drive slowly, allowing extra
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| radiator hose clamps are tight in order
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| | room to slow down and stop. Use the
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| to prevent leaks at the connections.
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| | highest gear possible to avoid wheel
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| Be sure all lights are in good working
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| | spin. Maneuver gently, avoiding harsh
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| order, and that your brakes, windshield
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| | braking and acceleration.
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| wipers, defroster, heater and exhaust
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| | If your car is equipped with anti-lock
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| system are in top condition.
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| | brakes, do not pump them. To avoid
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| Have a mechanic check the battery and
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| | skids, brake carefully and gently on snow
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| charging system. Keep battery terminals
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| | or ice. "Squeeze" your brakes in slow,
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| clean, tight, free of corrosion, and dry.
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| | steady strokes. Allow the wheels to keep
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| If you find that you need a new battery,
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| | rolling. If they start to lock up, ease
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| get the biggest that will fit in your
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| | off the brake pedal. As you slow down,
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| car.
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| | you may also want to shift gently into a
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| Keep the windshield and windows clear.
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| | lower gear.
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| Change to winter wiper blades, which are
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| | Be careful when approaching shaded areas,
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| made for driving in snow. Check
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| | bridges, and overpasses, as these
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| windshield washer fluid level. It's a
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| | sections of road freeze much sooner in
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| good idea to keep some extra fluid in the
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| | cold weather and stay frozen long after
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| trunk in case you run out. Make sure you
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| | the sun has risen. Don't use your cruise
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| get fluid appropriate for the lowest
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| | control or overdrive when it's freezing
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| temperature you will experience.
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| | (or colder). Even roads that appear clear
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| Check coolant level and mixture. Make
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| | can have isolated slippery spots and the
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| certain the antifreeze will protect your
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| | quick touch of your brakes to deactivate
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| car to the lowest winter temperature
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| | cruise control can cause you to lose
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| you'll be exposed to where you will be
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| | control of your vehicle. With overdrive,
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| driving.
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| | as you encounter a hill your vehicle
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| Keep the gas tank as full as possible.
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| | automatically accelerates or downshifts,
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| It may be necessary to change routes or
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| | which can cause loss of traction.
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| turn back during a bad storm, or you may
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| | So, whether you're to stay at Scottsdale,
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| be caught in a traffic delay. If you get
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| | an Aspen resort and spa or luxury Vail
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| stranded, the engine will be your only
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| | hotel, there's much more involved than
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| source of heat. (Make sure you keep a
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| | just finding discounted hotel
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| window open a crack if you're sitting
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| | accommodations; be sure to plan a safe
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| there with the engine running.)
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| | and pleasant trip!
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| Always keep an updated map of your route,
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| | (See also Part 2: "Don't get in Trouble,
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| an extra car key in your pocket, and a
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| | but if you do --.
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