That article seems fine as far as it goes, but it doesn't give any special insight into losing 3 pounds per week vs 1 or 2. I didn't say it wasn't possible, just that it isn't easy and perhaps isn't healthy (according to some sources). Just to throw out some numbers, if the OP's maintenance calorie intake is 3,000 calories per day, he would have to cut it to 1,500 per day, which many people would find to be a hardship. The exercise helps, of course, but a 9-mile round trip would burn maybe 350 calories, and he's not doing it most days. (Although maybe he can fit in daily exercise some other way).

You're correct that losing weight would help the OP get up the hill. I'm all for losing weight (I'm doing it myself). I just think people should have realistic expectations of how fast they can accomplish it, so they don't get discouraged when it doesn't happen that quickly.