Law Kneis, GM/SS-168 - 499m ASL - NT 292 130 - OS Explorer 330 - 1 SOTA point            

Wednesday 7th September 2022 - Ward Law GM/SS-119 & Law Kneis GM/SS-168

After Ward Law GM/SS-119, we drove down to Ettrick, where we followed the B709 for a further mile or so.  Here was a spacious parking area and wide logging road entrance.  We left the car here and set off walking up the track, initially over a bridge over the Tima Water river.

The track was easy going, gaining height very gradually.  After about a mile of walking North / North-West, we turned right to almost double back on ourselves, and head South.  This was now about 2 miles walking, meandering and contouring between 350m and 400m.  At Gatecleuch Sike NT 28834 12752, it was time to leave the track, and climb up a firebreak on the left.  This was very steep, and on difficult slippery ground.  I really did not fancy descending this way!  It was a huge relief to eventually emerge from the trees as the ground started to level off.  We knew from here, only 50m of vertical ascent remained, over about 400m to the summit.

Jimmy MM0HGY/P managed only two VHF contacts on this occasion, and so took a session on my set up to add a further three QSOs on 20m SSB.  I had already qualified easily on 20m CW.

After packing up, I insisted that we headed for the other side of the clearing, close to the 426m spot height.  Here we entered the forested section and found the ground underfoot much easier to progress along.  We descended quickly and easily back to the track, from where we had the long (about three miles) but easy walk back to the car.

Evening meal and beer again at the Tushielaw Inn, and a good night's sleep ahead of heading to Rubers Law GM/SS-210 in the morning.