October 12, 2014

Hare School

What do hashers want from a hash trail?

Question

Keep the pack together on trailGive the hashers a fun, safe, social timeAllow hashers who want it the opportunity to

run

Objectives of a good trail

Laid out in a box or oval shape3-5 miles long for day hashes, 2-4 miles for

night hashes. One beer check somewhere around the

middle of trail

What does a trail generally look like?

Start/end/beer checks should:Be public land or private land with permissionHave ample parkingBe away from high-traffic areas where cops or

horrors are.Themes, costumes, decorations, hash tags, or

gimmicky items that wanks wear can all be incorporated into the day. Think creatively. Just make sure it doesn’t

distract from laying a followable trail.

Trail Considerations

Don’t skimp on flour!Buy at least 5-10lbs of flour per hare for trail

Can use other markers:Chalk

Some colors do not work as wellToilet paperTrail marking tape

Accessories:A good flour bagTennis ball for marking urban trailModified jugs to drop flour

Marking trail

Use more flour/marks in difficult terrainOpen fieldsDense shiggyLots of anglesEspecially dusk/night

Where to markLook for high contrast areas

Marking trail

Keep all marks visibleForce the FRBs to solve trail as a teamUse mixed terrain to keep it interestingSplit the pack when there are 2 good trails to

get to the same place: one longer/more difficult, and one shorter/easier

Hare strategies

Use enough marks that the next one can be seen from the previous oneRule of thumb: 20-25 steps on paths and

pavement, 10-15 steps in shiggy, every few steps if you “flour around a curve”

Hare Tactics

Basic rule of thumb: use checks with BTs that are around 150 feet or lessThe idea is to keep the pack within

communication range of the hasher who is checking the trail.

Space out the next TT marker (checks and hare’s arrows) at least slightly farther than BT distance.

Hare Tactics

Lay marks in a straight line Look back now and then to make sure of this

Hare Tactics

Lay a T/E split now and then if there’s a fun way to shortcut These along with lots of checks keep the pack

together.

Hare Tactics

JUDICIOUS use of BCs Generally speaking only 1 or 2 per trail

Use YBFs occasionally as a much longer BTThe threat of a YBF keeps wanks solving

checks instead of just blindly following their favorite hasher.

Hare Tactics

Use lots of checks to slow down the FRBsSwitch up which direction true trail goes from

checks.If you always have straight as the true trail every

time the FRBs will pick up on that and blow through it.

This is the best way to keep the pack together.

Hare Tactics

Avoid laying long straightaways, especially with regular markings and no checksThis lets FRBs run and the pack gets stretched. NOTE: don’t HIDE flour, just space it out so

only 1 or 2 marks visible are visible from any other mark.

Hare Tactics

Keep parts of trail far away from other parts, especially first and second half to avoid getting hashers lost Don’t cross the streams!Ideal trail looks like an oval or boxHashers should never be able to see marks for

another part of trail.

Hare Tactics

Pick sheltered areas for start/finish/beer check spots in inclement weather.Shelter/fire in the winter especially!

Hare Tactics

Use special marks that have the whole kennel or part of the kennel stop somewhere to regroup. Shot checks (you provide a libation for these)Hash halts (usually for a photo op)Group hugs (just a hash halt where everyone

hugs before moving on)Song checks (how many songs does our kennel

know? not many) or maybe joke checksAnd even though they aren’t so popular with

Bloomingfools, boob, package, and moon checks (self explanatory, hopefully)

Hare Tactics

Hiding marks! Notable exceptions:

BT marks. These shouldn’t be immediately apparent to make the scout go the whole BT. (but put the previous mark VERY close to the BT mark so the scout doesn’t pass it by).

Flour off of a BC or YBF – this SHOULD be hidden, but only the first 1 or 2 marks should be hard to find. Here, DEFINITELY use a straight line.

If pre-laying where marks may be visible, try to hide marks from passerby sight but still visible to those running trail.For instance, using street trees can make it possible to

have marks visible from the sidewalk without being visible from the street.

Generally Bad Ideas: confusing

Really long distances without beer (3 miles tops, preferably shorter)

Generally Bad Ideas

Putting a mark with a high probability of disappearing.Removal by mugglesLawns that need mowingParking spaces that may be parked inAnything that will get rained on and wash away

if it rains.Snow in streets and drivewaysetc

Generally Bad Ideas

Laying trail through slippery surfaces, especially wet rocks or muddy slopes, loose rocks, deep water or any possibility of flash floods, excessive elevation, unreasonably heavy shiggy.These might be fun for you, but they could be

impossible or dangerous for others. Keep it reasonable!

Generally Bad Ideas

Don’t lay checks between BN mark and beer check. Lay a BN before the beer check is visible, but

only flour/chalk dots and MAYBE a hare’s arrow should be laid after the BN.

Generally Bad Ideas

90 degree turns on trail without proper markingUse a check, hare’s arrow, or multiple dots

Hare Crimes

Laying very difficult sections without a turkey trail.Remember, we have wanks with all kinds of

ability levels, and we love them all.

Hare Crimes

Contradictory marks A hare’s arrow pointing into a BT mark will get

you flayedFollow the rules!

Hare Crimes

Laying trail on private property without permissionSTAY OFF!

Hare Crimes

Not scouting. Get out there and test it before you lay it.

Hare Crimes

Incomplete trail. Sometimes you can’t do it all because wanks

may see it when driving to the start or it is too close to other parts of trail.

But it MUST be done by the time they get there.

Have a plan. For example, a BT near the start can be changed into a hare's arrow.

Hare Crimes

Being a dick. Haring is about providing a fun time, not about

being overly tough or devious. You can use your cunning to create a puzzle,

but laying an intentionally confusing trail is frustrating at best, possibly dangerous, and no fun at all for the hashers.

Hare Crimes

Not marking when diverging from an established trail/road. Even if the hash trail runs straight off the

road/trail, make sure to mark it.

Hare Crimes

Getting the number on a BC wrong. DOUBLE CHECK!Lay several dots close to the intended BC

target in case the number is off.

Hare Crimes

Using marks that are not very visible. Colored flour is great in winter on snow, but

some colors are pretty shitty most of the rest of the year as it diminishes the reflective visibility of the flour.

Hare Crimes

Find a co-hare and sign up on the harelinePlan your trail. Start with where you want to have

circle, then determine a good beer check location. Make trail a large oval that doesn’t pass through

any private land. Scout your trail - first with a map, then by hiking

the area and making sure it will work as a trail. You may hear wankers say that they don’t do this -

they are the hares that regularly get people lost.Alert the Joint Masters and/or Beermeister of

your plans.At least 5 days beforehand create the FB invite

Haring Timeline

The FaceBook invite should contain:Names of all haresTime

3pm winter, 4pm summer. Mismanagement will decide for you.

Start locationPlease include address, map coordinates, and/or

directions.Any information/warnings needed for the trailWitty writeup is optional but encouraged.Theme, if the trail has oneCost

$6, free for virgins

Hash Trail Invitation

Lay trail. If live laying, pre-laid portions should be done

on the same day.Meet up with Mismanagement at start. They

will check people in and get the beverages flowing.

Give chalk talk, point the pack in the right direction, and get the beer to the beer check.

Haring Timeline: Day of the Hash

Hangover trail/ Fat Boy trailThese are short (usually no more than a ¼

mile), walking trails that generally only have beer at the beginning and end. These are usually laid to offer an additional trail at the end of a hash weekend or for a midnight trail during a campout.

Types of Trail

Bar CrawlThese are pay as you go trails that lead wanks

from bar to bar in a contained area. You can use trail markers to provide a bit of

fun between bars as they won’t know which bar you’re going to next, but the trail won’t be where they’re spending the majority of their time.

Types of Trail

LarrikinsEveryone picks straws at the beginning of the

hash.Short straw is the hare until that wank is

caught or they get to a beer check location. Then the wank who caught the hare or the first

wank in lays the next bit until THEY are caught or reach a BN.

Continue until you get everyone back to their cars.

Types of Trail

Clue HashesThese are a series of clues that when solved

tell people where the next “check” is. When they get there, there’s another clue. You can give people envelopes to open, leave

the clues at the checks (in a finable but secure location), or use technology to deliver the next clue.

Types of Trail