Dear tyrone_40,
If you are experienced and driving for at least 6 months, you might be well familiar with engine brakes!!
Pedal brakes wear out drastically when you use them to slow your car down therefore the proper way to slow your car down is to slow it with the pedal brakes along with engines brakes, this releases a bit of tense work from the pedals, no harm done to the engine.
Going downhill will require you to go at a constant speed no decreasing.. therefore select the gear which allows your engine not to go to a constant RPM of around 2,000~2,500.
While going uphill your car would require more power so a higher gear 2 or 3 is recommended! but this depends on the degree of rise!
Best of luck for your journey downhill!
Regards,
Akif.