Approaching
a
Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it’s one
of
those hills that’s
just
too steep
to
climb, descend or
cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small
hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant
incline with only a small change in elevation where you
can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill, the
incline may get steeper as you near the top, but you may
not see this because the crest
of
the hill is hidden by
bushes, grass or shrubs.
Here are some other things to consider
as
you approach
a hill.
Is
there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply
Is
there good traction on the hillside, or will the
steeper
in
places?
surface cause tire slipping?
Is
there a straight path up or down the hill
so
you
Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your
won’t have to make turning maneuvers?
path (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)?
What’s beyond
the
hill?
Is
there
a
cliff, an
embankment,
a
drop-off,
a fence? Get out and walk the
hill
if you don’t know. It’s the
smart
way to find out.
Is
the hill simply
too
rough? Steep hills often have
ruts, gullies,
troughs
and
exposed rocks because
they
are more susceptible to the effects
of
erosion.
Driving
Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps.
Use
a
low gear and get a
fm
grip
on
the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the
hill
and
try
to maintain your
speed. Don’t use more power than you need, because
you don’t want your wheels to
start
spinning or sliding.
Try
to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If
the path twists and turns, you might want to find
another route.
I
A
CAUTION:
lhrning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous.
You
could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over.
You
could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills,
always try to go straight
up.
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