- Your Start, End, & On After should be in close proximity to each other: Keep in mind that we do not want to put our fellow hashers at risk for a DWI.
- Pick a Start Location: Pick a spot that’s pretty easy to find with ample parking or near a metro station, such as parks, commuter lots, schools, shopping centers.
- Find a Place to End: A discreet location is needed…alcohol usually can’t be served on park grounds or at schools. Keep away from neighbors who may call the police at the first song. Out-of-the-way office building parking lots are good spots! When selecting locations, consider if that spot would draw attention to a large, rowdy crowd of drunken morons.
- Beer Checks: You should have at least 1 beer check. Beer Checks should also be in a discreet location. You provide the beer for the pack and get reimbursed with the day’s hash cash. Please select a variety of beers and non-beer substitutes (i.e. water) that will appease beer snobs and light beer aficionados alike.
- Leave No Trace!: Clean up after the pack. We want to leave a location cleaner than when we arrived. Respect our public spaces and ask our hashers to do the same.
- Shot Checks (optional): The hare(s) may provide the pack with a shot check in addition to the beer check. Maybe you want the pack to enjoy the sewer gas emanating from that broken pipe, you want everyone extra drunk, or need more time if you’re live-haring.
- Plan your Long Trail (Runners or Eagle): Typically 3-6 mi long (in extreme weather, keep trail short.)
- Plan your Short Trail (Walkers or Turkey): Typically 2-4 miles in length.
- Mapping the Trail: Google Maps in “Street View” lets you look at a neighborhood remotely. Google Maps via “Satellite” shows streets & satellite photos. This is good to look for shiggy, streams, brush areas, etc. Anywhere a stream goes under a major road, there’s probably a tunnel. Use Google – My Maps or Map My Run or another suitable navigation app to determine trail length.
- Scouting the Trail: Scout thoroughly before setting trail, preferably with all the hares present. Run/walk the entire trail at least once so you know you haven’t set a death march. A hash shouldn’t be a long, fast, wide-open asphalt road race. If you can’t figure out how to get us off the street and into a park or trail or mud bog or storm sewer or landfill, you need to pick a different spot! Variety is appreciated!
- Rule of Thumb for Timing: If you walk your trail, including checks, false trails, it will take the pack about half the time you took to walk it.
Next: Reimbursements