1997 GMC Suburban Owner's Manual - Page 201

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. Steepnesscan 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 Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surfice 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)? 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 there a constant incline, ordoes the hill get sharply steeper in places? Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible tothe effects of erosion. 4-19