Hunting Saturday December 22nd, 2007 10:00AM
Valley Green Farm

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell

Whips: Jill Wagenknecht, Gene Deutsch, John Korenack, Tess Fleishli
First Field: Mary Hensel (fieldmaster), Robert Mihlbaugh, Stephanie Milbaugh, Leslie Ayers, Jane Liesmann, Sarah Zenisek, Leslie Granger, Michael Murphy, Mary Smithing, Ron Ausman

Jr. Field: Lei Ruckle (Fieldmaster), Diane Begemann, Mckenzie Bussard, Beverly Stevens

12 ½ couple hounds

GPS readings 8.61 miles 1 hour 50 minutes moving 1 hour 9 minutes stopped. Total time 2 hrs 59 minutes. Max speed 18.8 mph
Moving average 4.7 mph

We had not hunted since the second of December due to rain, snow and other weather conditions. The footing was sloppy and although rain had been forecasted, it held off and was actually sunny most of the morning. The temperature was a warm 55 deg. F when we started out and warmed up to 59 deg. F. The Barometric pressure was falling and clouds started closing in the afternoon. Everything was very wet as the humidity was high. Winds were light and from the south.

We headed North from the clubhouse along the back fence of the horse pasture. We cut through the pasture and up the hill toward highway HH. We then went down toward the natural bridge and went along the high bluffs. Some of the hounds were speaking at times here. We circled around past the bluffs and across the creek. We headed east and north again. The footing was very slick and there was even some snow on the ground here and there. We watched the hounds work along the top of the bluff while we were down below. It was really neat to see them. Not much action overall though. It was probably for the best considering the footing conditions.

Robert and Stephanie had prepared Chili which really hit the spot afterwards. Made for a lovely brunch.