Hot Line:  407.678.7810

General Guidelines - Haring

 Hashing has no rules, but haring does.

 Use common sense!  The whole point of the hash is for everyone to have fun and make it to the end.

 Virgin hares should hare with an experienced hasher.  Remember O2H3 is, “All live all the time.”  This means all trails are live trails.  No dead trails for this group.

 Hash Start.  The start should allow sufficient, safe parking without tickets, towing, etc.  Be sure the anticipated crowd can be accommodated at the parking area and the start.  Don’t put the pack out in the middle of a busy street.  The start should be within walking distance from the car park.

 Kit-Kar/Hare-aid.  Don’t just expect that someone will be there to keep an eye on the gear if it cannot be safely secured.  Everyone wants to hash, so don’t expect someone to volunteer to stay with the kit-kar.  If someone is needed to look after the bags and such, make arrangements ahead of time.  The sick, lame and infirm are usually good prospects.  If the gear is in a locked vehicle then no problem, lock up and take off.

 Hash End.  The end needs to be in an area where beer is legal, and where the hash can congregate without interference.  If light is necessary lanterns, etc. will need to be provided.  Don’t put the hash in an illegal area where the police are going to run us off.  Get everyone to the finish in about an hour or so.  Avoid traffic, crossing busy intersections and respect “No Trespassing” signs.  

The Home Depot parking lot is bad.  A parking lot in an industrial area that is not in use is good.  During the summer if you can find a shady spot or covered area you'll be hailed as a hero.  A pool is good in the summertime.  A lot will be forgiven if there is a pool at the end.

Lost Hashers.  The hares are responsible for finding any hashers still out on trail by the time the circle is over.  This is an incentive to lay a well marked trail!!  The search party starts with the hares.

 Beer Near/On-In.  Pick an area where we can be ourselves and not get arrested.  Ideally the site should be removed from the general public.  Considering the weather here in Orlando a covered area is highly desirable.  Having the end at a place with a pool will keep the hare in good graces with the pack after a long, hot trail or a poorly marked trail.  A lot will be forgiven when there’s a pool at the end.  The hares need to provide transportation back to the start to pick up a couple of large vehicles to shuttle people and gear back.

 On-After.  Choose a nearby eating establishment that serves BEER, reasonably priced entrees and, if possible, an outdoor patio area where the hash can segregate and make noise.

Planning.

 Beer and sodas will be provided by the Beer Mistress.  If you plan on having a beer stop along the trail it is up to the hare to provide drinks, cups and anything else that is needed.  Always provide water at beer stops.  Always.  The Beer Mistress will meet the hare at the start and transfer the coolers to the kit-kar.  It is always a good idea to coordinate with the Beer Mistress ahead of time.  Any hare that shows up without providing the pack with their cold, tasty delights will probably be tarred, feathered and run out of town on a rail.  At a minimum they will be made to hare until they get it right.

 Hares are responsible to provide a kit-kar large enough to transport the bags, beer and snacks to the end.  ARRANGE THIS AHEAD OF TIME.  It is the Beer Mistress’s responsibility to bring the beer to the start, not to the end.

 It is the hare’s responsibility to transport the hashers back to the start.  Several trips may be necessary or take a couple of hashers back that are willing to shuttle people and gear back to the start.

 Directions.  Provide adequate directions for people to find their way to the start.  Provide directions from at least 2 major roads.  Don’t assume everybody knows where your favorite watering hole is located. 

 Publicity.  Please get word to the Butt Bullets and Iva at least a week in advance so directions can be posted on the hot line, emailed to everybody and posted on the calendar.  Be sure to include any special directions.

 Special Arrangements.  Please do NOT plan any time changes, extra charges or other deviations from normal deviant hash behavior without advance approval from the mismanagement. 

 Runs should include a beer check half to 2/3’s through the hash.  It is the hare’s responsibility to coordinate on providing and manning the beer check.

The Trail.

 Run the entire trail and time it to get a feel for the overall length.  If the hash is at night, run it in the dark to avoid loosing your way while haring live.

 Hares should select a hash start location and notify the Trail mistress at least 2 weeks in advance.  Scout your trails beforehand.  If you can scout the trail by vehicle you should probably be thinking of a different trail. 

 Trails should be approximately 3-5 miles in length (or in a Butt Crack universe where all trails are 3-1/2 miles long) depending on terrain and weather conditions.  Be creative, you’re not catering to any special interest group, especially competitive runners!  A regroup at a beer check, overlook or whatever is a great way to allow the slower hashers to catch up.  The point is for everybody to finish and have fun.  Checks, Count Backs, etc., should slow the FRB’s and allow the not so fast runners to catch up. 

 Trail markings should be flour, chalk, toilet paper (preferably unused) or any suitable biodegradable material or means.  Toilet paper may be used when flour or chalk arrows cannot be seen.  Don’t skimp on flour.  It is far better to lay a trail that is easily followed, but a challenge to traverse than the other way around.  

Flour is easily colored using chalkline chalk or tempra paint.  Chalkline chalk is cheaper and goes much farther.  Just a hint from experience, blue flour cannot be seen at night.  (The hash is still slagging me off for my Blue Moon hash.)

 Hash marks should be placed approximately 30 yards (25 paces) or so apart, closer at night (20-25 yards).  If the weather is crap, use vertical surfaces.  Remember chalk doesn’t write very well on wet pavement and flour quickly washes away.  BRIEF THE HASH ON ANY SPECIAL MARKS OR MATERIAL USED ON TRAIL.

 Prior to the start make sure somebody gives the virgins and visitors a chalk talk to familiarize them with our way of marking trail.

 Turns on trail should be clearly marked. 

 Checks.  Checks tend to bring a strung out hash together.  As the FRB’s search for true trail and cause hate and discontent in the neighborhood, the rest of the pack catches up and waits for a clue as to where to go next.

 A trail should have enough checks to make it a challenge, but not so many as to make it a chore.  Fewer checks could make the hash a foot race (race:  bad, bad 4 letter word) or boring while a lot can make for a longer run.

 True tail should start up within 100 yards of the check, as the crow flies.

 The true trail may come out of a check in any direction, 369 degrees, but generally within 100 yards of the check.

 A trail should be fairly easy to follow when you are on trail.  Flour placement can be clever, but shouldn’t be continually hidden.

 Use interesting checks to keep the pack together, not obscure trails.

 Trails should not go through private property without the owner’s permission

 Dangerous places such as swamps at night or high traffic areas are best avoided.

 Beer checks are a good idea and should include plenty of water and soda.  Long and/or hot trails should include extra water.  Runs should include a beer check half to 2/3’s through the hash.  It is the hare’s responsibility to coordinate on providing and manning the beer check.  Hashes anticipated to last more than an hour should have a beer check.

 False trails off of a check are normally marked with a “YBF”, | | | , or a CB (count back).

 Trail Length.  Keep the trail to 3-5 miles.  Longer or shorter trails are acceptable, but should be the exception not the rule.

 If a longer trail is desired then a turkey/eagle split is a nice touch.  No one should have to run more than 4 miles if they don’t want to.  Hey!  After all, this is hashing.  It is supposed to be fun, not marathon training.

 Stash flour and other marking supplies on trail to avoid carrying a heavy bag.

 Runs should include a beer check half to 2/3’s through the hash.  It is the hare’s responsibility to coordinate on providing and manning the beer check.

 Hash Budget.  The beer budget is separate from the trail budget.  Hash Cash will reimburse you after your hash.  Please provide a receipt for your purchases.  No receipt, no reimbursement. Se we can keep costs under control hash cash purchases the snacks for the week.  The hare only needs to provide materials for marking trail: flour, toilet paper and chalk.

 The budget is based on a fee of $6.  If you need more cash you must make arrangements for a higher run fee with the Trail mistress when you sign up.  This is discouraged, but there are exceptions for occasional themed hashes and other special events.

 Items the hare will need:

 Gypsum wall board works well for chalk.  Pieces cut into 2”x4” are a good size (don’t be anal retentive and use a ruler).  Lowe’s or Home Depot will give you broken pieces.  Better still is to get the dunnage used in shipping wall board.  Again Lowe’s or Home Depot will give it away and is easily cut to size.