Black plate (13,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011Driving and Operating 9-13. Are there obstructions on the hillthat can block your path, suchas boulders, trees, logs, or ruts?. What is beyond the hill? Isthere a cliff, an embankment, adrop-off, a fence? Get out andwalk 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 exposedrocks because they are moresusceptible to the effects oferosion.Driving UphillOnce you decide it is safe to driveup the hill:. Use a low gear and get a firmgrip on the steering wheel.. Get a smooth start up thehill and try to maintain speed.Not using more power thanneeded can avoid spinningthe wheels or sliding.{ WARNINGTurning or driving across steephills can be dangerous. You couldlose traction, slide sideways, andpossibly roll over. You could beseriously injured or killed. Whendriving up hills, always try to gostraight up.. Try to drive straight up the hill ifat all possible. If the path twistsand turns, you might want to findanother route.. Ease up on the speed as youapproach the top of the hill.. Attach a flag to the vehicle tobe more visible to approachingtraffic on trails or hills.. Sound the horn as you approachthe top of the hill to let opposingtraffic know you are there.. Use headlamps even during theday to make the vehicle morevisible to oncoming traffic.{ WARNINGDriving to the top (crest) of ahill at full speed can cause anaccident. There could be adrop-off, embankment, cliff,or even another vehicle. Youcould be seriously injured orkilled. As you near the top of ahill, slow down and stay alert.If the vehicle stalls, or is about tostall, and you cannot make it upthe hill:. Push the brake pedal to stop thevehicle and keep it from rollingbackwards and apply theparking brake.. If the engine is still running, shiftthe transmission to R (Reverse),release the parking brake, andslowly back down the hill inR (Reverse).
