Haring

Hares
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The individual(s) designated to set trail are called hares. A hash run can have one, or more hares. One of the hares should be designated as the lead hare and the other as the helpers, or co-hares. Up to three hares maximum will not be charged, but they are responsible for purchasing all marking materials on their own.

Trail Philosophy

Keep the Pack Together: First and foremost, you should try to lay a trail that keeps the pack together! Setting a trail that takes the pack through some really cool shiggy, or so they can view some really neat sites, is all well and good. But if by doing so, the pack winds up getting spread out over a long distance apart, you have failed at laying a good trail. What's fun about hashing is that you're out there with a group working together trying to solve a trail together. There are methods you can use to try to keep the pack together and at the same time make it interesting and entertaining. We do this  through the use of checks, which ways, count backs, doo loops, hash halts, beverage stops, hash notes, turkey/eagle splits, short cuts, two dotters,or even a map handed out to the known slow members so they can find the end quicker. The hare should always have a map of the start, beverage stop(s) and the end to give to the beverage truck driver and a sweeper.

Skill Level: Trails should take into consideration the skill level of the attendees and should generally try to provide for all levels. A fast runner should be able to follow trail easily to keep up their speed and get a good work out. The slower hashers should be able catch up, by trails end, through the use the techniques described above. 

Trail Markings
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Markings to be used on trail are determined by the hare. The hare is responsible for ensuring that the markings to be used, along with any other special instructions, are briefed just prior to the start of the actual run. This briefing is commonly referred to as a "chalk talk." The following are some possible examples of commonly used markings and what they stand for.   Hash. Hash markings consist of individual splotches of baking flour, or other easily recognizable substance that can be used to mark a trail. Hash markings should be laid very, very often in hard to see areas like grass, dirt, rocks (known as shiggy) and not so often on flat easy to see areas like sidewalks, roads, parking lots, etc. Some hares choose to lay hash markings in wide open view to the pack, so it is very easy to follow. Others hares have a tendency to hide it behind telephone poles, rocks, ridges, etc., to make it more difficult to follow. Easy to follow trails will generally please the faster runners because they can get a better work out and go faster. Concealed hash marks tend to slow the pack down, but do not necessarily allow the slower runners to catch up. If faster runners get so far ahead that they become out of sight of the slower runners, a hard to follow trail can sometimes spread the pack out even further because then the slower runners have to rediscover all the hash marks for themselves. For this reason, easy to follow trails are usually best. The strategic placement of checks, which will be discussed later, are the more preferred method of trying to keep the pack together. A variety of easy and hard to find hash marks probably works best. The most important thing to remember when laying hash marks, is to mark all turns with some sort of an arrow, or a check. When hash is discovered the hasher should either yell "hash" or toot once on their signaling device (whistle, horn, etc.) to alert the rest of the pack. 

ON ON. Designated by the letters "ON ON." Means you are on true trail.  If the letters read "NO NO" you are on true trail but you are going backwards. When ON ON markings are discovered, the hasher should either yell "On On" or give two toots on their signaling device. Anytime you give two toots on your signaling device, its like saying On On, meaning you are on true trail. Hare Arrows. A hare arrow is a straight or curved line with an upside down "V" on it pointing in the direction that the trail goes. An arrow indicates which way the current trail goes, but not necessarily true trail. A hare arrow means the same thing as a hash mark, plus it points you in the direction of the next hash mark. Arrows should always be used when a trail turns, unless there are so many hash marks that the turn is obvious, or if the trail is following a path or road . When a hare arrow is discovered the hasher should either yell "hare arrow" or toot once on their signaling device. When you toot once on your signaling device its like saying "hash", or "I'm finding trail, but it might not be true trail."  True Trail Arrows. Designated by a straight or curved line with an upside down "V" on one end pointing in the direction true trail goes. At the other end of the arrow are three perpendicular lines centered on the arrow stem. When true trail arrows are discovered the hasher should either yell "On On" or give two toots on their signaling device, meaning "On On, or, true trail". 

Checks. Designated by a circle with an X in it, or by four dots making a square. A check means that true trail may have turned in any direction, but you were definitely on true trail up to this point. Upon passing a check you may find one or more false trails. If there is a number outside the check symbol, it indicates which number check, in chronological order, you are at. There should normally be some sort of a check about every 1/4 mile. Checks help keep the pack together because the faster runners are the ones who will discover them first and have to scout out true trail. This means they have to cover more distance, thus allowing the slower runners to catch up. When false trails are discovered, they must be marked as such, back at the check. If false trails are not marked, the pack may become even more spread out than before, which defeats the purpose of placing checks and false trails along the trail. When a check is found, the hasher should yell "checking" or give two toots on their signaling device, meaning On On or "I was on true trail, and now I'm checking for true trail beyond the check". Even though you may not know where true trail is after the check, the check itself means the trail previous to that was true trail and that's why you should give two toots.

Ladies Check.  A circle with a dot in the center of it, or four dots making a square plus one dot in the middle (like a five on a pair of dice.  Means the pack must at least wait until the first lady arrives and attempts to solve the check.  A little discretion may be applied, depending if the lady is hustling or not. Ladies may also persuade gentlemen to solve the check for them by giving them some sort of reward for their effort.

Holding Checks. Designated by a circle with an X in it and the letters HC or HH for Hash Hold, or Hash Halt on top of it. A holding checks means you cannot proceed until either a dead hare, or a trusted agent (hound with limited information given by the hares), tells you to proceed. Normally you will not be permitted to proceed until you accomplish some sort of task, like singing a song, playing a game or some other kind of delaying activity used to allow the slower runners to catch up. A holding check also means you were definitely on true trail up to this point. When a holding check is found, the hasher should yell "Holding Check" or give two toots on their signaling device.

Hash Note. Designated by the letters "HN" This means there is a hash note hidden somewhere nearby. The note will normally tell the pack to accomplish some foolish time consuming function to allow slower pack members to catch up. A dead hare, or trusted agent, will usually show up soon to give further instructions about the trail. A hash note also means you were definitely on true trail up to this point. When a hash note is found, the hasher should either yell "On On", "Hash Note", or give two toots on their signaling device.

False Trails. Designated by three parallel lines, three dots, perpendicular to the trail, or by the letters "FT" for false trail or "BT" for bad trail. Normally a false trail will be no longer than three hash marks, or about 1/8 of a mile. However, if the false trail is through shiggy terrain, more than three hash marks may be used to keep you from getting lost. A false trail can also be determined when there are no more hash marks in that direction. If this occurs, the hare probably just forgot to mark it, so go back to the check and mark it yourself. When a false trail is found the hasher usually says something like "oh sh*t" or "ah f**k, which is self-explanatory. Signaling devices should not be used to indicate false trails. The hasher that discovers a false trail should return to the last check and mark that direction as false trail.

Check Back. Designate by a circle with a number in it. This means go back X number of hash marks and search for true trail in some other direction leading away from that hash mark. False trails should likewise be marked at the designated back check hash mark by the discovering hasher. When a back check is discovered the hasher should yell "check back X", where X is the number of hash marks to check back. No signaling devices should be used.

Two Dotter.  Two dots perpendicular to the trail.  Indicates that the trail has changed direction somewhere between the two dots and the last hash mark.  Beverage Checks Designated by a circle with the letters "BC" in it. Means you are at a beverage stop and a check, look for a cooler full of beverage, quench your thirst and then start checking for true trail again. A beverage check, or stop, also means you were definitely on true trail up to this point. When a beverage check is found, the hasher should either yell "On On" or "Checking" depending whether they are drinking or checking for true trail. Two toots on their signaling device will also surfice.

Which Way. Designated by two connecting arrows pointing in two different directions. Like a check, but there are only two possible directions to take. At least one of the directions is true trail, but both may be true trail too. A "which way" also means you were definitely on true trail up to this point. When a which way is found, the hasher should either yell "Checking" or give two toots on their signaling device.

Bear Near. Designated by the words "Beer Near", or initionals "BN".  Beer Near normally means you are within about 1/4 of a mile of the end and there are no more checks, false trails, etc., just true trail here On-In.  ON-IN. Designated by the words "On-In" or On-On-In, or On-Home.  Means you have arrived at the end.

Note: The above are just examples. The hare may use some, all, or none of these symbols. Whatever the hare briefs during the chalk talk takes precedence over these examples.

Trail Marking Substances

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Trails are generally set using baking flour, chalk, toilet paper, and other biodegradable substances, like skulls and bones, that can be used to leave marks on the ground for others to follow. Do not lay trail by dipping a tennis ball in flour and then bouncing it on the ground to leave marks. It doesn't leave a large enough foot print and it doesn't leave enough flour and the marks are hard to see. It can be easily blown away if its windy, or if a car passes by it closely and if it rains its gone after only a sprinkle. Suggest you preposition flour along the way so you don't have to carry as much flour with you.

Hare Responsibilities
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Hares should go out in advance and scout trail and not just make it up as you go, unless they are very familiar with the area and they have set at least a trail or two in their selected area beforehand. Hares are responsible for providing the beer truck driver and a sweeper with a map of their trail (or at least the start, beverage stop(s) and the end). Hares should find someone to act as beer truck drivers if they are unable to do so themselves, like during live trails. Hares are free because they are responsible for purchasing the trail marking materials out of their own pockets. Since they are expected to scout trail in advance they are also responsible for their own transportation costs to and from the trail location. If there is not an available Beer Meister, the hares are ultimately responsible for bringing the beverages, coolers, ice and snacks. The JRH3 normally does have a Beer Meister available, but you need to be prepared to self support if he/she is not. Normally, it will be made known in advance if no Beer Meister will be available for your selected hash.

Beer Truck Drivers

Beer truck drivers are expected to donate to hash cash unless they were also one of the hares. To be considered as a hare they must have contributed to the cost of scouting (transportation costs) and/or for marking supplies, they were involved in the planning and execution of the trail and they laid at least some portion of the trail. Since the JRH3 allows for pre-set/dead hare trails hash donations by the beer truck driver is a matter of integrity of the individual. If someone simply acts as the beer truck driver, does not consume any hash beverages or snacks and therefore does not donate to hash cash, they will be given a "O" for observer and will not be given credit for accomplishing trail. If the beer truck driver has done at least one hash trail before and they donate to hash cash, they will be given credit for trail.

Sweepers

A sweeper's job is to keep the pack from getting lost on trail and to give short cuts to slower hashers. Sweepers should also give alternate routes to the meek who do not like heavy shiggy, and/or water crossing, or hashers who are pushing a baby stroller, or walking their dog on trail. The hare should always provide a sweeper with a map containing at least the start, the beverage stops, the end and the approximate route. If the trail is a preset, dead hare trail the hare(s) may elect to act as sweepers. Sweeping can also be done by the hares who drive the beverage truck.

Chalk Talk

The hares are also responsible for conducting a chalk trail just prior to hares away time if its a live trail, or just prior to the pack away time, if its a pre-set, dead hare trail. Use the same materials you use to mark your trail as an example of what trail will look like. Actually laying out a miniature trail on the ground is the easiest to understand. The chalk talk should be conducted in the middle of where we circle up for everyone to hear and see. Do not do your chalk talk off to the side and only invite virgins. That disrupts the circle because the listeners have to leave circle and form up else where, just to circle up again once it is over. Plus, if you only invite virgins many of the new comers that are no longer virgins, who would actually like to hear the chalk talk again, will be afraid to go over and listen to it again because the don't want to be confused as a virgin. Everyone needs to hear the chalk talk, every time, especially if there are new marks or special instructions. There are no pre-Madonnas in the hash.

Where to start a trail

If the hares want people to attend the on after location they select, they should either start the trail from the on after location parking lot, or be able to see the on after from the starting location. If people have to get into their cars and drive to a distant on after location, some of them will likely just continue on home. If the hares start in a bar's parking lot, they need to let the bar know that we are a running club that would like to start andor end our trail from their parking lot and that we intend to come into their establishment afterwards and spend lots of money. We do not suggest the hares advise the bar personnel that we will be consuming our own alcoholic beverage in their parking lot. Its always easier to get forgiveness than permission. Plus if they know we're coming into their establishment afterwards, they are likely to look the other way, or claim ignorance, if the authorities interrupt us and contact them.

Areas to set trail

Weeknight trails should be set in areas that are central to Tampa, where most JRH3 hashers live. Click here to view the approximate area. If you set a trail outside of this area,  on a weeknight, you should expect low attendance and you should be prepared to bring the beverages yourself, as the Beer Meister may not be willing to drive that far. If your trail is on a weekend or the night before a holiday this area can be expanded to about 50 miles from Central Tampa (I-4 & I-275). Starting locations further than that need to be pre-approved by the JRH3 Mismanagment. Send an email to dab@jollyrogerh3.com for permission.

Length of Trail.
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The length of the trail depends upon the what day of the week it is and the general skill level of the hash. For weekday hashes, the pack should start following trail around 7:30 PMish and the last person to finish should finish by about 8:30 PM. Weekday hashes should be 2-3 miles in length, depending upon the terrain. This is so there will be time for a circle afterwards, so the on after bar will still have food, and so people can still get home and get to bed at a decent hour, so they can get up and go to work the next day.  Weekend trails should be 4-6 miles, less if there is heavy shiggy.

A to B vs. A to A Trails
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A to A trails are trails that starts and end at the same location. A to B trails are trails that end at a different location from where they started.  If the hare chooses to set an A to B trail he/she is responsible for ensuring that beverages, chips and everyone's junk (jackets, wallets, purses, condoms, etc) gets moved from A to B. The hare is likewise responsible for ensuring that transportation is provided back from B to A, so that nobody has to walk back to their cars afterwards. This can generally be accomplished by asking someone in advance to act as a delivery person and chauffeur. The advantage in choosing an A to B trail is that it pretty much forces the pack to follow trail.  A to A trails are a lot simpler, but, as aforementioned, hashers have a tendency to cheat on them, I know I do, especially if I get too far behind, or if I just become lazy. If you do choose to lay an A to A trail, recommend you keep it secret and don't advertise it as such.  Probably the most preferred method is an A to B trail, where B is close enough to A, so that transportation is not a problem. A variety of trails is probably the best of all to keep pack guessing.

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Live, Semi-Live and Dead Hare Trails
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When the hare(s) indicate(s) that a trail is to be a "live hare trail" it generally means that the entire trail will not be preset in advance of hares away time. However, realize that it is extremely difficult for only one hare to set an entire trail, including markings and false trails, etc., without getting caught. Therefore the hare should either be very, very fast, very very smart, very very experienced and do some very detailed preplanning, or get at least one other hasher to assist him/her.  Most solo live hare trails are in fact semi-live hare trails. Semi-live hare trails is when presetting of symbols, false trails, and placement of beverages enroute, etc., are preset before the show time for a run. The only part that is really set live is the actual true trail. Then there are those who only set a live hare trail to a point where they become out of sight to the pack. The rest, if not all of the trail, is preset before the advertised show time of the run. The previous two methods are pretty much acceptable. This method is not. If caught presetting this kind of trail, the hare can generally expect to do massive down downs later in the circle. But then again, there are no rules, just traditions. So, do what ever you need to do to set the best possible trail you can.  Just don't set a bad trail because you are are slow; and whatever you do, don't get caught.  Keep in mind that the purpose of which ways, checks, and false trails, etc., is not to slow down the pack to keep them from catching the hare, but to keep the pack together so that the slower hashers and the faster hashers all arrive at the end at about the same time. In other words, to stifle competition and to keep the hash from turning into a race.  For live hare trails the hares designate a specific lead time required to get out of sight and supposedly start setting trail. The lead time is normally somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes, as determined by the hare(s). If you set a live trail you need to either provide alternate routes on trail for slow people, or provide a map to a trusted person (sweeper) who will be following trail and will stay back with the slower hashers. It is also advisable to provide alternate routes around wet areas for those who really don't like to get wet!

Special Event Hashes

Special event trail, like Significant Run # Hashes (600, 700, etc), Red/Green/White Dress Hashes, Pick Up Hashes, Campout Hashes, Invasion Hashes, Cruises Hashes, Supersoaker Hashes etc, that are out of the ordinary from regular, standard hashes must be pre-coordinate with and overseen with by the JRH3 Mismanagement. Since these are signature events and are likely to draw large crowds and even visitors from out of town, the JRH3 Mismanagement must be involved with planning and execution of these type of events in order to protect its reputation and ensure the finest quality of trail and on after are provided.

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Pick Up Hashes
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Pick up hashes are normally done when nobody volunteers to be the hare. The Hare Raiser identifies a starting location and brings two maps with the beer stop(s) and ending location identified on it. Next, the pack would randomly pick someone to be the hare. The hare is given one map and the beer truck driver is given the other. The hare is normally not given enough time to finish trail and is expected to get caught. If the first hare does get caught, he/she gives the map to the new hare and then the new hare continues to set trail until he/she either gets caught or makes it to the end. The hare keeps changing until one of the hares finally makes it to the end. Its a good idea for the Hare Raiser to identify a time that the hares should try to be at the end too so trail doesn't continue forever.

Advising the Authorities
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Some hares advise the police and/or fire department that they will be putting dots of flour around the neighborhood to lay a runners trail so in case the anybody thinks its anthrax and calls the the authorities you are covered. Make sure you get the name of the individual who you talked to and be ready to repeat it to the authorities in case they don't get the word. It could keep you from going to jail. Although, other hares beleive it is easier to get forgiveness than permission, so its your call whether you advise authorities or not.

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On Afters
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The hares need to pick an on after at a location where there will be food, hence the word "hash house" in hash house harriers. This can be at a bar, someone's house, a park, etc. If the hares pick a bar for the on after, it should either have a kitchen that serves food during the time we will be there, the hares make arrangements for pizza, or similar to be delivered, or the hares bring in food that they prepared themselves. To get reimbursed for food furnished by the hares, the hares need to request hash cash be increased by a reasonable amount, per head that they expect to attend. Then, upon presenting the receipts they got for the food purchases to the JRH3 Hash Cash, they will be reimbursed up to, but not to exceed the additional amount collected. If the hares overpurchase, or they miscalculate how many people will pitch in for food they supply at the on after, the hares will have to absorb the loss. So, the hares should probably purchase food that can be refrigerated, or frozen and consumed by their selves later to lessen the burden.

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Conclusion
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Whichever kind of trail is chosen, A to B, A to A, live, semi-live, Dead, etc., its up to the hare(s)--as Its their show, except for the circle, then its our turn to get back at them for not following these mucked up directions.  Oh yea; Never admit to setting an A to A trail, as it takes the incentive out of following it.

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Volunteering To Hare
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To volunteer to set a trail for the Jolly Roger H3 contact Dabadoo by e-mail at dab@jollyrogerh3.com, phone at 727-204-9837.

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