climbing sowny hills

[Even Steven]

I fail to see how you can possibly think that a driver can ALWAYS stay in control simply through proper driving skills and techniques.

I never said that.....I never even suggested that. My whole point was based on the idea that locking the brakes while sliding down a snowy fill was a bad thing to do because that causes a loss of steering control.

I have reversed/slid down hundreds of snowy hills and been able to steer and have braking abilities, its not hard, BUT I have also experience several times where conditions are such that all traction and steering is lost. Last winter at Paragon I was unable to make it up a very steep hill after several attempts. At the point where I stopped I stayed stationary for about 30 seconds and my passenger got out to help with setting up snatch straps. When he closed the door I began to slowly slide backwards. I released the brakes to help regain traction but my snow and ice clogged tires were now slicks. Steering was completely ineffective because the tires could not get any traction. I slide about 4-5 car lengths down the hill until I ran off the track into a snow bank.
I've had many other occasions where similar lack of traction results in loss of control. Even Steven, if you have never found yourself in these kind of situations then thats fantastic, lucky you, you're a skilled driver and your vehicle is well equipped, but you have to accept that conditions will and do exist that result in NO TRACTION AND CONTROL, regardless of who's driving.

Here's the exact hill at paragon.

That hill looks similar to hills I've been on many times. But here's what I think is the problem with your situation--- Even if your tires were completely clogged with snow (making them like "slicks", as you called them), if you just let off the brakes and turn the wheel, your tires will still give you some measure of directional control in almost any conditions. In my experience, even a regular radial tire worn nearly smooth will act more like a ski (think snowmobile) even if it doesn't actually have traction in a typical sense. Call it a ski, a rudder, or whatever you want, but turning the front tires when they are freely rolling will still give you some directional control in almost any conditions, especially a low speed slide down a snowy hill.

 

[Falls]

Looks like a lot if ice on that hill , especially on the left side .

 

[Ulfr]

There are without doubt situations that the driver has no control what so ever.

But in 98% of cases, it's somehow possible to get some control.

It's all 'bout having control without having control.

 

[WillRunner05]

I kinda had a problem a couple years ago trying to climb a snowy/icy hill that wasn