TIPS FOR THE HARE

RULES FOR THE PACK

Small blobs of paper not more than 20 metres apart less in difficult terrain or thick bush. Can be on the ground, on trees or any convenient     place, they don’t have to be very visible, can be partially hidden, so they are only seen from one side, but they must be reasonably visible.

While looking for paper shout “Checking”. Shout “ON ON” when you see the paper (unless you suspect a false trail, in which case call “checking” until you are sure, see False Trails below).

Remember, if you are on paper you may not be on the true trail, but at least you are not lost!!

Arrows. Are used to make sure the pack follows the proper trail and are not used for false trails. They may be used for loops which form part of the trail. Useful if there is a danger of the trail crossing to keep the pack away from the other trail. Use arrows when you are near home, to make sure that the pack starts running the right trail, (a hare’s nightmare is for the pack to run the trail backwards).

Arrows must be followed at all times, at risk of getting seriously lost, perhaps even missing the Beer Stop!!

Check Point. A circle drawn with paper with a cross. Used to get the pack together, make sure no one is lost or injured, give new instructions and to let walkers and runners rejoin, and perhaps change groups if they wish. Set Check Points at a cross roads or where there are a lot of different possibilities but they can also be used in an open field. Check points should be between 1.5 and 2.5 kms apart. The hare must wait and confirm all the hashers have arrived before telling the runners they can start checking by calling “Check it out”

The next marker may be up to 100 metres away from a check point. False trails are allowed from a Check Point but in that case they should start within 50 metres of the check point.

When you find a check point you must wait until all the hashers have arrived or until the hare tells you to check. When you restart after a check                        point shout “Checking” and search for the next paper. Do not shout “ON ON” until you have found paper.

False Trail. Where there are two or more possible ways to go the hare is allowed to set trails on each of them. Only one will be the true trail, and the others are false. False trails are used to slow down the front runners, so the bigger gap you expect between the fastest and slowest runners in your pack, the more false trails you set. A false trail may be barred off by a line or an X drawn across the path. This is a good system if the running hare is alone or worried that he may not keep up with the runners, but it usually means that the runners will be back on trail sooner, so the false trail will be less effective. The hare may decide not to bar the false trails. There are two systems. One, he may decide before setting the trail that after a number of marks (usually 3, 5 or 7) the false trail ends. Any mark after that number is “on”. In this system the hare must tell the pack at the start how many marks is “on”. This helps if there are less running hares than fast runners, so that they do not always have to chase the runners, and it slows the runners more than using a bar. If false trails are not barred, crossed or numbered the Hares must be sure that they are fit enough to follow all the runners to call them back be calling “Check Back”. In any case, it is the hare’s responsibility to call back runners if they appear to be getting lost. Hares should not call runners back just to save them from looking for the trail for themselves. Hunting for the trail is the whole point of the hash, and keeps the pack together.

If the hare gave you a number of marks to “on” you call “Checking one” “checking two” etc until you reach that number, then you call “on” at the next mark.

If bars or crosses is used for false trails then if you come to a cross or a bar shout “Check Back” and follow the trail back to the last divide and  start looking for the True trail.

If at any time you hear the Hare shout “Check Back” run back to him unless he is running towards you.

Song Stop. This is a check point with an “S” drawn in it. The pack has to wait at the stop and sing until the hare tells them they can go. This check is used for fun, and to hold up the front runners after a long stretch so the walkers can catch up. There can be themes at song stops, eg Christmas songs etc.. 

You must stop at a song stop until told by the hare to go on. Sing what you want, it usually makes a good show for the passers by.

Beer Stop. This is a Check Point with a “B” drawn in it. This is where the beer wagon will wait. Make sure it is accessible to the wagon, and in a nice place for the pack to stop and have a beer. Remember that before the start of the run you must tell the beermiester where the Beer Stop is so he can get the beer there. Local bars can also be used for beer stops, but remember to organize cash. Beer stops need to be authorized in advance by Hash Cash. Better place a Beer Stop towards the end of the run, as not many people feel like running far after the beer. About 2/3 or 3/4 of the way round is OK.

Beer Stops are obligatory Check points. You may not check until the hare tells you