Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it is
one of those hills that is 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 things to consider as you approach
a hill.
• 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 will not have to make turning maneuvers?
• Are there obstructions on the hill that can
block your path, such as boulders, trees, logs,
or ruts?
• What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an
embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out
and walk the hill if you do not know. It is 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. Do not use more power
than you need, because you do not want
the 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.
368
To Next Page
Loading...
