Website by Big Bird Design.
Firstly, many thanks to Biggles, Buzby and NickO who have created and enhanced a well recognised guide to laying hash trails. This guide is predominantly taken from the version of that effort on the Kirton HHH website and acknowledgements are due!
The essence of hashing is to enjoy a social run in the company of others of mixed ability. A cleverly prepared run will ensure that the pack is kept together by tricking the faster front runners with false trails. A hash is not a race! The following notes are meant to act as guidance for virgin Hares. However, a refresher could benefit us all from time to time.
In SH4 the marks are generally made with flour with sawdust occasionally being used. The marks are:
Dot The trail marker – other than after a check, there should be no confusion about where the trail goes, so once a correct trail is found hashers should never be out of sight of a mark until the next check is reached.
Check The invention of the check is what has made hashing so different from running with a running club – its purpose is to keep the pack together by having the faster runners go further by following false trails. Checks should be used as often as possible, but at least three per mile to indicate that there is a choice of directions available, e.g., at road or footpath junctions. Trails will be marked from here in various directions, but only one will be the correct route. Incidentally, since the purpose of a check is to bring the pack together again, it is quite superfluous to start the run with a check!
Back-Check (Back to Check) This is used to indicate a false trail from a Check and can follow any number of dots. When you find one you must return to the Check and try again. SH4 generally has only two dots before a Back-Check which rather limits the length of false trails. If you elect to have more than two dots before a Back-Check, do announce this at the pre-run briefing.
Check-Back (Checking Back) This can appear anywhere along the trail. Simply, it means that you left the last check in the correct direction, but you have missed a turning off the route. A dot or line on one side of the circle suggests which way you should look to find the correct trail.
Long/Short Split SH4 runs generally have one or two Long/Short Splits where the more athletic runners are given a long loop prior to regaining the trail taken by those who take the Short option.
Re-Group RG in a circle is used to hold the pack at a point and bring them back together, allowing the back markers time to catch up. This may also be used to allow time to look at a view, or even to have a beer stop!
On Home An OH is used, generally with an arrow, to indicate the way back to the car park. Those who are completely knackered at this point may be encouraged that the end is near. Or, as Hare, you may have been a real b*st*rd and marked OH a mile before the end!.
If you plan a trail on other than public footpaths and byways, DO contact the farmer/landowner to obtain permission (almost always willingly given) before you set the trail. And DO contact the pub landlord to obtain permission to fill his/her pub with thirsty hashers and, of course, to obtain agreement about free drinks for downdowns – again almost always willingly given.
Running the trail Whenever there may be doubt about the route of the trail and you are on it, do call ON ON loudly, especially after a check. Similarly, call Back to Check or Check Back as appropriate when you reach these marks.
It is customary to kick out checks (to show the correct direction) once the right route has been found to help slower, later runners. That said, it is a sign of a poorly laid hash if the slower runners always arrive at a check after it has been kicked out – they're on a run rather than a hash which is supposed to keep the pack together!
If there are two hares, one can shortcut to get in position to assist if necessary at splits or parts of the trail which may be ultra confusing. And the other can "sweep" as back marker to ensure that nobody gets totally lost.
Hashing is fun . . . and one of the fun things is to lay a great trail for your fellow hashers!