Ramen Noodles,
I can tell you that it is possible to get into V.R. with zero rate of descent if the wind is flowing upslope, actually incipient VR is probably a more accurate term.
The conditions have to be just right and it a very rare occurrence, but it does happen.
There are many a longline pilot here in Canada that has spent years and literally thousands of hours hovering at 100-200 feet over steep hill/cliffs. On a rare occasion when all the planets align if you come into a hover on the edge of a cliff on windy days, it has the potential to get nasty in a hurry.
When I am hovering over a spot that I know is going to give me VRS problems, if I can get the empty hook into the spot and pick up the load I never have a problem flying away with it. This relates back to the Nicks statements on the light vrs heavy theory, he is correct.