Hash Guide
A Guide to Laying a Trail
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.
Introduction
Most Hashes look to run trails of about 1 hour, a guide distance for an hour would be about 4-5 miles in the summer and 3-4 miles in the winter when running in the dark with torches reduces the pace considerably. Distance will also depend upon the chosen terrain – for example, flat and even footpaths can be covered much quicker than rough and hilly moorland. Within most packs there is a wide cross-section of abilities, so the Hares need to be especially devious in order to keep the pack together. This is fundamental to Hashing, as it is a social, group activity and not meant as a race.
Choosing a Location
You will need to be aware of where you can and can’t go. Being able to use masses of public footpaths and open spaces is ideal. Often farmers and landowners will permit you to cross or use the edges of their fields (failure to ask for permission may compromise future runs in that area). Also look for choices of direction – a coastal footpath or beach is all very well but can be limiting when it comes to placing checks. Ideally choose a pub to run from or alternatively a FREE car park that is easy to find, and within your agreed hashing area. Consider the weather. Is it really wise to head for High Dartmoor in the winter? Once chosen stick to your venue – changes in venue cause confusion.
Choosing the Pub
Choose a suitable pub for the ‘On-Down’. The pub must be willing to have us and be big enough to accommodate the expected numbers without upsetting the regulars, especially during the winter, when sitting outside is not an option. Give them at least a week’s notice of the intended visit and expected arrival times will also help. Don’t forget to mention the initial bar rush when we first arrive and the need to provide Cheesy Chips!
What to use to mark the trail
Flour, sawdust or wood shavings are most commonly used. Chalk and flour may be less bulky, but if you lay the trail the day before using flour, and it rains, the marks are likely to disappear. The best option is to buy compressed wood shavings as used for pet bedding – less than the price of a pint of beer to lay a trail.
Laying the Trail – The Marks
Dot
2-5cm. This is the usual trail marker. The second or third dot (up to the Hare) following a Check indicates the correct route, or “On-On”.
Check
~30cm. Used as often as possible, but at least 3 per mile and usually more, to indicate where there is a choice of direction available. There will be a number of dots placed around the check to indicate directions to check for the correct route.
Back-Check
~30cm. This is used to indicate a false trail from a check and will also follow 3-5 dots. When you find one you must return to the check and try a different direction. Also used to indicate a ‘no-go’ path, e.g. onto private land for which you do not have permission.
Arrow
20-30cm. Indicates correct route after a check. There will usually be 3-5 dots between a check and the arrow marking the correct route, so the hashers checking have to run some distance to find it.
Check-Back
~30cm. This can appear anywhere on a trail. Simply it means that you left the last check in the correct direction, but you have missed a turning somewhere and are now going the wrong way. An optional dot or line on one side of the circle suggests which way you should look to find the correct trail.
Long/short splits
20-30cm. On occasion, the trail will fork in two directions to offer the hashers a longer or shorter option. These two routes will then converge back into one after several hundred metres. These marks can appear anywhere on a trail, or commonly after a check, in place of the arrow or back-check marks.
Change of Direction
Three closely spaced dots (within 1-2m) are used to indicate a change in direction where an arrow might not work (roadside or narrow paths).
Regroup
~30cm. ‘R’ 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!
Fishhook
~30cm . The fishhook indicates a U-turn and is typically placed at the top of a hill or at the end of a patch of difficult terrain. The runners return to the last check and whilst they have been away the Hare will have placed a new route from the check. Can also be used after a Long Short divide, to make the long runners return to the check then follow the short route.
On-home
An ‘OH’ is used, generally with an arrow, to indicate the way back to the car park and usually terminates the actual trail, i.e. there are no further checks etc.
The Trail
Plan your trail well in advance, preferably with a suitable map!
Always get permission from the landowners and farmers – they may even point you towards some very special terrain! [Note: although much of our terrain is public access land, the owners must be consulted before we visit – there may be some parts they do not want disturbed at various times!]
Footpaths and bridleways are always a favourite – but try not to be too obvious.
Take plenty of sawdust or shavings (preferred) or flour with you. A few sticks of chalk are also useful if tarmac is used.
Lay at least 2-3 checks per mile – you may actually want to use many more than this.
Put in extra loops (Longs) for the fast members of the pack or be prepared to short cut the back markers to keep the pack together.
Try to include features like river crossings, rough terrain, muddy areas and tunnels.
Avoid too much road and long uphill sections without a regroup.
Avoid damage to hedges and crossing dry stone walls – a stile probably isn’t far away.
Respect ALL crops – remember hay is a valuable feed crop to farmers, don’t trample it.
During torch-lit runs, avoid river crossings more than knee deep, and don’t take the trail too close to the edge of cliffs, quarries etc. Summer is different!
If you bring the outward trail close to the homeward trail remember to place back checks so they can be seen from both directions. It’s as bad to find you’re On-Home early as it is to find you’re running the outward route again!
CHECK where TVH (www.tvh3.co.uk), Drake (www.drake3.wordpress.com) and Plympton (www.plymptonh3.org) are running so as not to clash with them (or double book the pub)
Top Tips
Remember to make your marks clear to avoid confusion
Put them where they can be seen.
On open country and for night runs you will need to put down more markers. Ideally the next one should be visible from the current one, especially in dense woodland, except after a check.
Where there is no obvious path keep the markers closer together.
If it is windy, place markers on cow/horse pats, mud or hoof imprints. Press down with your foot to embed in the dust.
If it is raining find ground where it won’t get washed away (especially if the route includes roads).
Place at least 2-3 checks per mile and especially at the top of a hill to allow slow runners to catch up.
Do not plan a route across rivers when there has been heavy rain.
Beyond, but not behind, a tree is a good idea if you don’t want the trail to be found until the last moment.
The Calls
So that the other hashers know what’s happening, there are a series of calls used.
'On-on' or 'On dust' – called when you think you’re on the correct trail.
'On left' or 'On right' - When the trail changes direction sharply, and following hashers could miss the turn. Or after a check to indicate the correct direction.
'Checking' - is called when a check is found.
'Are you?' - The hashers following those doing the checking call inviting a helpful reply – anything else can cause confusion for those checking.
'Looking' - When you have lost the trail, and are walking around aimlessely trying to find the next, or last piece of dust
“Back-check” or “Back-to-check” - If a cross is found.
“Check-back” or “Checking-back” - If the cross is in a circle the call is accompanied by “Left” or “Right” if the hare has marked it.