Leg 10 - Byrness to Kirk Yetholm
Peaks:
⛰️ Ravens Knowe (527 m)
⛰️ Brownhart Law (508 m)
⛰️ Mozie Law (552 m)
⛰️ Windy Gyle (619 m)
⛰️ Cairn Hill West Top (743 m)
⛰️ The Schil (601 m)
We hike along the road for a couple of miles, then start climbing through a forest toward Cheviot Hill. As we emerge from the trees, the sky brightens, and we pause briefly to enjoy the views before continuing the ascent.Once on the snowy tops, we stop to adjust gear. It’s calm and silent, with no wind, making for peaceful conditions. Clarens moves more efficiently through the snow, and after observing his technique, I put on my snow spikes, which helps improve my footing. We maintain a steady pace, working through the snow-covered terrain.We come across an older hiker struggling with his GPS, and Clarens stops to assist while I take a quick rest. Later, we reach the first safety hut, where we check in with a mountain rescue worker who provides weather updates. After a brief chat, we continue on towards Windy Gyle, mindful of the changing conditions.As we ascended the Schill, we were maintaining a steady pace when we heard someone approaching quickly from behind. We stepped aside to let them pass and continued our hike. The terrain became steeper, but the weather remained stable, with good visibility, allowing us to follow the path without difficulty.After reaching the top, we began the descent, which was initially steep but manageable. We kept checking the map and compass to ensure we were on the correct route, as the terrain started to feel repetitive, and tiredness was setting in. Once we reached a flatter section, we hit a long stretch of road that seemed to go on for longer than expected, but we stayed focused, checking our progress regularly on the map.Throughout the hike, we managed our pace and energy well, stopping occasionally to adjust layers and take in fluids. Upon reaching the end, we reflected on the day, reviewing the map and route to ensure we’d stayed on course and managed the terrain effectively.This marked the end of an epic journey.
Blog: https://estr.im/category/blog/spineblog-2023/
