Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1978)
travel supplement friday, february 17, 1978 page 6 Survival is a matter of degrees on snowy highways By Gail Stork If you know how to play your coffee cans right, you can survive even a Nebraska snowstorm on the highway. State Patrol Lieutenant Robert Buch holz in the safety education and training division, said he recommends a survival kit containing two three-pound coffee cans loaded with a transistor radio and battery, toilet paper, candles, matches, and high nourishment foods like nuts or candy bars. He said the transistor radio provides in formation about weather conditions without using the car radio in case you are stranded or stuck in the snow. The candles placed inside a coffee can will warm up the interior of a car four or five degrees, he said. Snow can be melted in the other can for drinking water. ' Buchholz also said winter clothing should always be included in the car. He suggested stowing blankets or unused sleeping bags in the trunk. These basics, Buchholz said, will fit in a compact-sized trunk, but there are optional items for larger cars. He said he packs a paperback in his emergency kit. Families with children may want to include playing cards or games that don't take up much room. Additional precautions are to winterize your car, which includes snowtires and a full gas tank, he said. 'Otherwise if you get to a place with no power you're doomed," Buchholz said. 'They can't pump gas." Besides, a full tank adds weight that can be helpful on icy roads, he said. . - f -f f 1- 'w r' '',' " rT i., "T" '"iiiNi'fi tjjtutrt "r ' 1,1 ! ' - M!r '" V . When a blizzard does stop your car during a winter outing, run the motor and heater for five to 10 minutes each hour and keep a window open a crack for ventila tion, Buchholz said. He emphasized staying in the vehicle. Besides the possibility of getting lost or vandalized, Buchholz said abandoned ve hicles are a problem when the snow removal crews need to move them and they can't find the owner. Whether it's a blizzard or car trouble that has your car stopped, the State Patrol will help, Buchholz said. The State Department of Roads also has emergency courtesy vehicles to help strand ed motorists, according to Buchholz. He said window signs like "need gas" or "send help," available from some motor clubs, help in indicating a problem to a road crew or other motorists. Opening the car hood would be the best signal of car trouble. Getting stuck in snow can happen even without a blizzard, and when it does, the best way to get unstuck is to clear snow away from the front tires, Buchholz said. Scooping with big hubcaps or simply stomping down the snow to clear the wheels will work in the absence of a shovel. He cautioned against rocking the car (as it could damage an automatic transmission. Buchholz said people should listen to the radio or call the State Patrol before; they start out in bad weather. Safety is left up to a motorist's common sense much of the time. Lincoln travel agencies of fer answers, services, tours By Mary Jo Pitzl Lincoln may not be the pivotal point of the world, but travel agencies inside the Capital City offer services that can jet, boat or transport eager travelers to just about any point in the world that their dollar can buy. According to Hal Mischnick, manager of the group department of Lincoln Tour and Travel, tours are available. "I don't think there's a place in the world we don't offer trips to," Mischnick said. 'They can range from a two-day foot ball trip to a 27-day trip to Alaska." Mischnick said Tour and Travel is run like a counseling center, with travel agents on hand to help customers plan their trips. "Almost everyone has some desires," he said, adding that if customers wish, Tour and Travel will handle all arrange ments at no extra cost. Mike Bennett, travel consultant for Travel Unlimited, said his company pro vides the same free services. Bennett ex plained that travel arrangements can be made free because the travel agents work on commission, earning money for each flight they book and ticket they sell. Only special circumstances, such as a lot of last-minute long distance phone calls, will add to the customer's travel package cost, Bennett said. According to the two travel agents, their globe-spanning travel services keep business moving at a fairly busy clip. Mischnick said Tour and Travel sponsors about 200 escorted tours, several hundred group tours and about twice as many in dividual tours each year. Bennett said it is difficult to estimate 5 BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS" 19th & Ow The World's Finest Bike The Treasure of Japan Compare Quality! Compare Price! Compare Warranty! We Repair AD Makes & Brands how many tours Travel Unlimited arranges every year, but added that the tours are evenly split between group and individual trips. Lincoln's long-term cold spell has been an incentive for some travelers, according to Mischnick. "People will get so sick of the cold that they'll call up and ask to go anywhere that's warm," he said. Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and the Caribbean are popular choices for these winter-weary Lincolnites, Mischnick added. Although it doesn't offer free booking services, the Overseas Opportunity Center in the Nebraska Union has. an expanding library of travel resources for students, ac cording to Christa Joy, program assistant. 4We offer a lot of information and help the student decide for himself," Joy said, adding that most people would prefer to plan their own trips rather than have a travel agency do it. The office has information to help stu dents work, study or travel in the United States or abroad, but summer vacations in Europe are the most popular, Joy said. "Even though it's more expensive now, the same amount of people travel now as in the past," Joy said. A European excur sion is becoming a popular and prestigious thing to do while in college, she said. The "roots." syndrome is another com pelling reason for European travel, accord ing to Joy. She said that an increasing amount of people want to trace their an cestry, and that usually requires a trip to Europe. "Some countries are more anxious to help people trace their roots," Joy said. Sweden and Germany are among the coun tries that willingly offer church records and books to inquiring travelers. Joy said the OOC library includes guide books for specific countries as well as general travel guides. Insurance pamphlets, maps, customs rules, hotel information and some transportation schedules are provided free. Joy said the three-member OOC staff can help students arrange plane flights, transportation within the country of their destination and limited hotel accommoda tions. The OOC office also sells Eurail passes, youth hoste' passes, guidebooks and International Student Identity Cards. A list of resource people is available to any student who would like to talk with other UNL students or faculty mem bers who have traveled abroad. A further service of the office is a travel match-up, where potential travelers can find other students headed for the same destination. Joy added that now is a good time to start planning for any summer travel. . stock mmerica Jfgl A pubhc rwic el ttiit publication Take me along with you Don't leave your camera at home. Take it with you. And before you leave on your trip see Max Miller Cameras for film and accessories. After you're back, drop off your film at Max Miller for speedy processing of your prints and slides. max miller cameras 1434 "O" 477-9503 mm BaxkAmerm 1847 ua ri 4774711