This short Trail Setting Guide has been created with the intention of helping all Hares in the art of trail setting. It has been compiled by BarcelonaHHH MisManagement Committee. The information here is therefore a combination of general Hash rules, local rules and recommendations.
The object for Hares setting trails for BarcelonaHHH is that the pack should remain together as much as possible. The lead runners and the last runners should arrive back at the beer within 15 or 20 minutes of each other in an ideal trail – and they should all be at the same level of exhaustion (this way nobody critisizes the quality of the beer). The run should be about 1 hour long for the front runners.
The BarcelonaHHH tradition has a 1 to 3 beer award for trails. The pack makes the vote during the circle with a 3 beer down-down or the “triple DD” obviously being awarded for a poor trail. It is emphasised that good trails really make good hashes (it is not only the beer that counts!) so it is really worthwhile putting in the effort to properly recce the site and plan the trail.
It is firstly reminded that one of the basic principles of hashing is that there are no rules. The guidelines here are provided as just that: guidance for the Hares in setting the trail so as not to irritate the Pack so much that they automatically give the “triple DD” vote.
The most common marking is the trail mark which is a dot of flour on the ground (mostly) indicating either a true or false trail. The distance between dots is at the discretion of the Hares but open terrain calls for fewer dots and rough terrain requires more dots. Please note that we do have a special “Cheapskate DD” for Hares who are stingy with the flour.
A checkpoint is indicated by a circle of flour with a dot in the middle as shown in the figure below. At this point the trail divides in a number of directions and each starts at some reasonable distance from the checkpoint. Only one of these trails should be the true trail and the others are false trails (see later). The number of false trails is determined by the Hares. If the Hares are feeling exceedingly kind they may mark the true trail by an arrow or an “ON ON” in flour but this marking is strictly reserved for the true trail (we do not recommend that this is used too close to a checkpoint as it sometimes helps the faster runners get away from the pack).
The end of a false trail is marked by 3 flour dots across the trail. This is the only place
that this mark is utilised since backtracking is marked differently.
A check
back is indicated by a number surrounded by a circle of flour. The Pack must then backtrack along the trail counting the dots of flour. When they have found the number of dots of flour that were indicated, they must check in the near vicinity for the true trail.
Since some Hares cannot write the numbers in flour properly it is possible to use the same number for all checkbacks along a trail. The checkback mark is then simply a circle with a single line across it (like a no-entry sign) and the Pack is informed before setting off of this special number.
A checkpoint that is marked with a cross inside the circle (instead of a dot) indicates that the whole Pack must gather before they set off along the true trail.
Another option is a checkpoint that is marked by 2 circles next to each other, each
with a dot in the middle. It does not take too much imagination to see that this means that only ladies may check the trails from this checkpoint (any other interpretation depends upon the ladies in the Pack).
A true trail may split into 2 true trails in which case one of these should be clearly marked with a WT in flour. This indicates that a Wimp Trail has been set for the wimps and a proper trail has been set for those who wish to test their endurance.
A simple BS written in flour indicates that a compulsory or voluntary beer stop has been provided. This may be in the form of a bar, a stop that has been set up by some non-runners, or some refreshment hidden closeby (but very closeby!). The Hares should not expect the Pack to pay for any beer at a beer stop (this should be arranged beforehand especially in the case of stopping at a bar).
If the trail involves using any form of public transport such as trains, metro or buses, it is the responsibility of the Hares to make prior arrangements regarding tickets etc.
Trails should preferably be set in the country and should try to avoid running on tarmac, roads or commonly used paths or tracks. If trails go along roads or tracks that are often used, the markings should be made in a way that they are not easily rubbed out by passing traffic or other people. Good places for placing the dots of flour are along the bottom edges of fences or walls, in gutters, at the bottom of trees or hedges. Checkpoints and other larger markings should be placed where they can not easily be rubbed out by other walkers.
A few notes on calling for the Hounds:
- Only call “On On” when you are on a true trail.
- Use “R U” or “Are you” to determine where the other Hounds are in order to find the correct way. The reply should be “On On” if the other Hounds are on the true trail. Please note that the use of “F U” is a DD offence.
- Call “checking” when you are checking a trail from a checkpoint and change this to “false trail” or “On On” when you are sure if you are on a false or a true trail.
In order to help the dreadful singing that we generally experience it would be useful if the Hares at least knew the Down-Down song, so here it is:
Here’s to “insert something” they’re blue
They are Hashers through and through
They are drunkards so they say
They’ll never go to heaven in a long, long way
Drink it down down down down … (until beer is finished or tipped on head)
We hope this helps all Hares in the setting of good fair trails. Good luck!
