For those unfamiliar with the area, this is a bit of a plateau on the crest of the Pennines in Yorkshire before going over the top towards Lancashire. When I say plateau it will be apparent that there is a bit more to it than that from the photographs, as they hardly illustrate a plateau!
It is very rough going in places with peat hags, gullies, rocks and all sorts of ankle wrenching traps. The day was windy, strong gusting wind that got even more exited when some back clouds overshadowed us; so near horizontal sleety rain lashed down for quite a while. There was little to shelter behind on this exposed moor and it didn't seem to matter how hard you tried to find a spot less exposed it still came and got you. It was very testing for waterproofs. My fancy country style lined breathable waterproof 'Shellbrook' trousers complete with membrane, (pants to the Yanks I suppose since many look on here), declined to perform beyond the first few minutes. I could feel the water running down into my boots despite long
gaiters. The barrier of two socks prevented it getting beyond my
ankles. But after the rain the 'pants' felt comfortable again inside despite the outer layer being wet through. The Brasher Superlite boots used to leak a bit after I had had
them for a while, but I solved that with applications of Waxoil car
stuff sprayed on and warmed in, and also the odd good spray with WD40
now and then since. But I can't complain as one hardy youth, a farmer's son, turned out
in a thin shirt and flimsy looking sweat shirt thing on top, which would have
frozen me to death before I got out of the car. He was striding about
after the rain, his flimsy attire, now clinging self-adhesively black with water, totally impervious to the
cold gale, and his only concession was to wring out his cap.
Getting out of the truck
Working beagles, ours anyway, look somewhat different from the stud type beagles one buys for a pet at great expense, or to demonstrate at dog shows as the latest thing in perfection. But then ours are athletes with stamina and skill, able to cope with high stone walls, barbed wire and sheep netted fences, and a wide variety of very testing terrain. - and of course our weather!
Don't know what our huntsman is doing in there!
Anticipation building.
What can you read in this face I wonder?
Ears blown back by the wind.
Pensive anticipation I suppose.
Waiting for others to trudge down the track from their vehicles before setting off.
Waiting for others to trudge down the track from their vehicles before setting off.
Trudgers
I nearly missed them setting off.
Then it is a case of trying to keep up.
A bit of sun helps.
There are debates about dogs on the 'hunting field', Some take the view they shouldn't be there. We often seem to get as many with us as there are hounds, but they are welcome, suitably constrained. And we get 'Hoodies' too!
A long fell stick with an antler top. Wonder if he made it himself?
Fortunately a bit of sun now and then made it all worth while.
