WHAT IS GRADIENT RESISTANCE?
The resistance associated with gravity acting on a casualty’s entire static weight. As a casualty is on a grade and is being pulled, the gradient resistance will increase depending upon the degree of the grade.
ASCENDING A GRADE
When a casualty is pulled up a grade, a percentage of the casualty’s total static weight is then ADDED to the surface resistance.
DECENDING A GRADE
When a casualty is pulled down a grade, a percentage of the casualty’s total static weight is then SUBTRACTED to the surface resistance.
REMEMBER
An easy way to remember what percentage of the casualty’s weight you are winching is to picture a clock.