Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell
Whips: Jill Wagenknecht, Mary Hensel, Lil Lewis, Ann Weber, Jane Walters, Tess Fleishli
First Field: Roger Smith (field master), Tom Neese, Leslie Ayers, Leslie Granger
Hilltoppers: Annie Hoagland (field master), Bob Wilmott and daughter, Myra Taylor, Jane Liesman, Janelle Allton, one other.


I didn’t get a hound list but recognized, Vice, Patton, Scooter, Jive, Wonder, Nettle, Jester, Racer, Freedom, Nabisco, Versa, Twilight, Truffle, Daphne.

GPS readings 17.23 miles 2 hrs 42 minutes moving 1 hr 36 minutes stopped. Max speed 27.0 mph
Moving average 5.6 mph

After having a warm week, the temperatures dropped again for the weekend. When I woke up it was 22 deg. F but fortunately it warmed up to 33 degrees by hunt time. The temperature did not climb much more after that and only got up to 40 but it actually felt warm with the sun on us. Barometric pressure was gradually falling, it was bright sun all day. The ground was still hard from the recent cold weather. Winds were variable and changing but were pretty calm most of the day.

We started off North down the road and headed west into the corn field toward the Macoupin river. There was a bald eagle soaring over the river and a few hawks. It was a beautiful day. Within 15 minutes, Jill viewed a coyote and off we went on a short run that took us along the river toward the highway. Whips Jill, Ann, and Jane were there to keep the hounds from crossing the highway although a few did cross the river. We stopped there and Eleanor blew her horn to call them back across. We headed back to the southwest along the river and through the jump field toward the fingers. Eleanor asked us to wait on the far side of the fence. Shortly thereafter we heard hounds speaking in the woods and Eleanor was off to follow. I think this is when Mary viewed. We followed but Roger had to pull up as his horse was looking a little lame. Roger went on in and Jane Liesman accompanied him. After this short delay we realized we had lost Eleanor. I tried to reach her on the radio but the hounds had scattered and we could not hear her reply. We eventually found them near the Macoupin river bridge. Eleanor then drew the woods up above the quarry and we could hear one hound speaking but they never really took hold. We then decided to go in and Eleanor was looking for lost hounds along the way. We walked back in to the trailers and got back at about 1:45.