Approaching
a
Hill
When you approach a hill, you need
to
decide
if
ti’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 tip, 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
Is
there good traction on the hillside, or will the
sharply steeper in places?
surface cause tire slippinq?
Is
there a straight path up or down the hill
so
you
won’t have
to
make turning maneuvers?
Are there obstructions
on
the hill that can block
your path (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)?
0
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 firm 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.
Turning or dri
-
--Jg
across steep
I....s
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.
Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of
the hill.
Attach a flag
to
the vehicle to wke you more
visible
to
approaching traffic
oc;
trails
or
hills.
4-20
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