You go guy!
That's the way to climb hills. Keeping your knees is more important than powering up a hill. I use all those stages on my daily commute across one end of the Ouachita Mountains.
There is one stage you forgot though. If the hill is so steep that your ligaments complain, get off and walk. At our mature stage, it's no shame. I have one hill like that on my commute. I can make it up, the legs and the heart have no problem, but the knees complain so I indulge them, they have been so good to me for so long.
I don't attempt to pedal down that hill either. No need. Wheeee!