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.
0
e
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get
sharply steeper in places?
Is
there good traction on the hillside, or will the
surface cause tire slipping?
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)?
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.
e
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 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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