Hare Guide

CoMoTION HHH Guide to Haring
Prepared by TuTu Fairy

General Info for Newbie Hares
If you have never hared before then you should seek help from experienced hares. This doesn't mean you need an experienced co-hare, though this can be helpful and fun, but a veteran should go over the start, route, beerchecks, appropriate marking placement for your trail (where would be a good false trail, where should there be checks, etc), quantities of beer/munchies/layers of shorts you'll need, appropriate amounts of and difficulty of anything other than normal pavement or trails, etc. It's hard to lay a good trail. You'll never please everyone. Invariably, you'll screw something up. But remember, haring a great hash is an awesome feeling; haring a great hash after your last one sucked feels even better.


Picking a Location and Scouting the Trail
The ideal location has easy parking, is easy to find and get to, has great shiggy, beerchecks with spectacular views, and if needed a bar with good beer and loose women. Of course, this rarely exists, but try and find at least a few of these traits in the area you set your hash. Hash trails vary quite a bit, but in general they cover 2-4 miles and the pack is on trail for roughly an hour and a half. Obviously, you need to scout the trail in advance. You can use a GPS, online pedometer, or Google maps (click on My Maps) to help gauge the length of your trail. Another option is MapMyRide.com, which allows you to draw your trail on the map and keeps track of distance.


What to look for in a prospective trail:
*Accessibility - Don't make them drive too far. Most hashes are within 10-20 min of downtown Columbia. Keep in mind that while waiting for the start hashers tend to mill about and socialize. So, try to stay away from places where it is clearly posted that booze is prohibited, our presence will be closely observed, or there are people likely to get perturbed.
* Comfort - Make the trail as shitty as you wish, but the On-In, whether outdoors or indoors, should be somewhere people can relax and have a good time. If it’s a bar, make sure it will be “hasher” friendly.
* Feasibility - The trail needs to be doable for hashers of all levels of ability from walkers to marathon runners.
* Novelty - Hashers like to go places they've never been before. Unusual terrain features, ingenious locations for beer checks, and interesting On-In locations are always appreciated. In addition at appropriate times during the year, host a themed hash (e.g. Superbowl, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, St. Pat’s, Cinco de Mayo, 4th of July, Halloween, X-mas)

CoMoTION Hashes are usually A-to-A or A-to-A' — which means that the hash finishes where it starts (A-to-A), or pretty close to it (A-to-A'). These hashes eliminate the need for a shuttle van to carry dry bags and get people back to their cars. Also, late finishers and DFL's (Dead F’ing Last) are not stranded and cold at the On-In. If you do decide to do an A-to-B hash (finish and start at seriously different places), state this clearly when you post directions to the start, and tell people they may need to bring a dry bag.


Post Directions to the Hash Start
As soon as you've decided on a start location, post directions on the website (http://comotionhhh.org) or ask the Webmaster or Hare-raiser to edit the Event Entry in the Receding Hareline. Note that you don't have to finish scouting every aspect of your trail before posting the start location. Later, when you post more complete info for your hash, you should include any other pertinent details: e.g. stroller friendly, dog friendly, special clothes or equipment needed like headlamps for tunnels for example. A few days before the run, make sure to send out a message to Group Email List (http://www.comotionhhh.org/group/groupemaillist) on the website and encourage them to RSVP via the Event Pages.


Get Supplies
The CoMoTION HHH will provide $60 for your trail. This is primarily to cover trail and circle beer. Anything over that is at the discretion of the Hares. In fact, it's not at all unheard of, though always voluntary, for hares to spend more than they'll be reimbursed for in the pursuit of that truly memorable hash. If everyone volunteers, hosting will be more equally distributed and not a burden on any few hares. Try to estimate how many hashers will be attending your trail. So far typical CoMoTION trails have had 20-25 hounds. Your shopping list will usually include:

* Flour – You will need ~10 pounds for the trail and chalk if recommended downtown and in neighborhoods (so civilians don’t think it’s anthrax)
* Beer Check Beer - usually a mixture of light and decent beer (and some water if it’s hot) at the discretion of the hare and enough to please the pack (at least ½ beer per hound is a good estimate). Beer check beer need not be all beer all the time. Variety is the spice of life. Live a little.
* ON-IN, Circle Supplies - A 24 or 30 pack of cheap beer for the down-downs (maybe some na’s and some water as well) and some simple munchies for circle.
* ON-AFTER Beer - if hosted at a bar, make sure there will be enough room for the pack. If at the hare’s house, up to them how long they want the pack to hang around. The hashers will stay as long as there is still beer. Food also provided at the discretion of the hare.


Setting the Trail
Every Hare seems to follow a personal vision all their own, but all can agree that laying trail is part craft, part artistry. Every hash trail should meet these minimal qualifications:

* Keep the pack together! Set enough false trails, circle jerks, beer checks, or other diversions to ensure that the FRB’s (Front Running Bastards) don't get too far ahead of the DFL’s (Dead F’ing Last). The more diversions you set (mostly checks), the closer the pack will stay together! Avoid long straight-aways, which allow the faster runners to really break away from the slower ones. Remember: It's easy to set a totally confusing Hash (Hashers, as a rule, are not really smart you know); it's harder to set one that's challenging and fun.
* Keep the pack safe and more or less within legal bounds while following trail. If you desire to cross private property of any type, it’s best to ask permission first.
* Lay a trail that the pack can follow. This seems obvious, but hares are too often swept up by a spirit of craftiness, or are just afraid of getting caught, and as a result they set a trail that results in the pack milling around, lost and unhappy. So use lots of flour. Checks are the accepted method for slowing the pack down, but in between checks, mark the trail clearly.
* Make sure the trail's length and difficulty accommodate hashers of all levels of physical ability. You should be aware of roughly how long your trail is. You can use a GPS, online pedometer, or Google maps (click on My Maps) to help gauge the length of your trail. A typical CoMoTION hash is around 2-4 miles.


Trail Marks
All markings are made with dollops of flour unless you specify otherwise at the start of the hash. You may want to use strips of toilet paper to mark trail in tall grass or dense undergrowth. You may want to use chalk downtown to avoid anthrax hysteria.

MARK = single dot . or blobs of flour (keep following)

CHECK = X (trail can go in any direction, typically 2-3 options, might need to look a bit to find marks and 3 marks tends to be true trail unless clearly marked false) The pack should mark true trail for the slower runners, so they can catch up.

ARROW = ---> (follow trail this direction, typically true trail... unless it ends in a marked false)

HARE’S ARROW = -|-|-|-|--> (makes an HHH and indicates definite true trail)

FALSE = F or 3 dots/blobs close together (wrong way, go back to the last check)

BEER CHECK = B or a BN (beer near for when you start getting close)

TURKEY/EAGLE SPLIT = T and E (often described as "Tough and Easy" by deceptive hares! "E" leads to a harder "Eagle" trail; "T" leads to a more straightforward "Turkey" trail. Pick your poison)

END = ON-IN is typically written to indicate you have reached the end and BEER, snacks, and religious salvation are just around the corner!


ON-ON!


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Footnote: This is a compilation from many sources, many thanks to the following sites:
Portland Humpin' Hash Guide to Haring, West London HHH Tips for Hares, Tour de Puke's Guide to Haring… and others!