1997 Chevrolet Blazer Owner's Manual - Page 178

Traveling to Remote Areas It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going to a remote area.Know the terrain and plan your route. You are much less likely to get bad surprises. Get accurate maps of trails and terrain.Try to learn of any blocked or closed roads. It's also a good idea to travel with at least one other vehicle. If something happensto one of them, the other can help quickly. Does your vehicle have a winch? If so. be sure to read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch can be handy if you get stuck. But you'll want to know how to use it properly. Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. Oneof the best ways to control your vehicle is to control your speed.Here are some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds: 0 you approach things fasterand you have less time to scan the terrain for obstacles. you have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles. e you have less time to react. 0 a you'll need more distance for braking, especially since you're on an unpaved surface. Getting Familiar with Off-RoadDriving It's a good idea to practice in an area that's safeand close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and different driving skills. Here's what we mean. Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes. for example,need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands, feet and body, you'll need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce. IA CAUTION: When you're driving off-road, bouncing and quick changes in direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you to lose control and crash. So, whether you're driving on or off the road, youand your passengers should wear safety belts.