Hashing Facts

Check out this information on Hashing:

What is Hashing?

The hash run is designed for a group of individuals (normally referred to as the "Pack" or "Hash" or "Harriers") to follow a trail (true or false) set by two or three other individuals (normally referred to as the "Hares") from a start point to a finish point. The distance varies from 3-7 miles and the finish point is fairly close, or not so close, to the start. The hares jog out in advance of the pack and set a course marked by hash marks: splashes of white flour, paper strips (normally pink or red), toilet paper, and chalk marks. The hares get a 15 minute head start and the pack will follow their trail and try to catch the hares. If one or more of the hares are caught, they are penalized by having to perform a "down-down."

Jhavelina HHH Traditions (aka the Rules)

The Run

The hares are given a head start of twelve (12) minutes prior to the pack starting. The pack will walk three (3) minutes and then start running. The pack can work together to make the run an easy fun run for all involved. Each person in the pack may carry chalk to mark the trail (see " Pack Arrow"). When a mark made by the hare(s) is spotted (distance between marks should be no more than 50-100 meters) the individual can either say "on-on" or give two short blasts on his/her whistle. This alerts the pack that they are on trail.

When a "decision point" (or intersection ) is discovered, the front runner(s)/walker(s) mark their direction from the "decision point." If a "BT" (Back Track, or Bad Trail) is spotted, the individual will give one long blast on their whistle and wave his/her hands in an X pattern over their head and shout "BT" or "Bad Trail," alerting the pack to return to the last decision point and mark the BT. If a  Check back  is discovered the finder returns to the decision point and marks the direction with "ON CB".  This procedure is followed until a true trail is found.  Harriers should mark a "?" at a decision point if they searched a direction but gave up on it without proof of it being a good or bad trail.

Thus from a decision point, hares can lay four types of trails:
    1.  Three hash marks or fewer - this means it is a Bad Trail;
    2.  Seven hash marks or greater - this means it is the true trail;
    3.  Any number of hash marks followed by a bad trail mark;
    4.  Any number of hash marks followed by a check back.

Beware of marks; they can be made with powder or chalk, etc. and can be on sand or gravel, or on the road, sidewalk, telephone poles, curbs, trees, signs, building, fences, under vehicles, on walls and on other structures. Also the trail does not necessarily have to go straight, and the hares can use a "turn on powder".  That is, the trail can take off at any angle from a hash mark.

HSPACE=20 height=48 width=64 align=LEFT>Hares may also draw a map or write a message to indicate the trail (normally to change directions or cross open areas or roads). For example, "Go to the third building and go left."

Remember that members of the pack can mark the trail with an arrow for the slower runners if there is doubt of the trail direction. No one except the hares can mark true trail arrows.

Short-cutting is leaving the trail and trying to find the trail by a shorter distance -- taking a short cut. These individuals usually get lost or return to the start because they were outsmarted by the hares. However, if a hare is spotted still marking trail he or she may be tagged and the spot marked by a sign indicating

Hare Snare: Time: _____ by: ____.
The hare will be totally embarrassed, degraded, verbally abused and lose his or her hare license. However, the hare must be released and given a ten minute head start to finish the trail.

When the finish is found by the pack they can expect to see the proud hares waiting and with refreshments for the ceremony.

Use of Whistles

Every Harrier, after his or her first run, is required to have a whistle at all hashes (except hares.) Also everyone is encouraged to use their whistle.

Down-Down Ceremony

After the last runner has come in, not to include those who are Dead on Trail (D.O.T.), the Hash Master will signal the beginning of the Down-Down Ceremony. A down-down is the chug-a-lugging of a twelve ounce beer, soda, or water from the Hash Mug. Once the signal is given to begin, the Hasher may drink until the mug leaves the lips or the beer, soda or water is depleted. Either way, the mug immediately goes upside down over the head (who said Head?) to demonstrate to the Pack which is the case. Down-Down's are normally given in the following order for the following reasons:

Hash Terminology

Back Track, or Bad Trail ,
A back track is used to indicate a bad trail or false trail.
Beer Check
"Beer Check" is written to notify the pack that a break in the action is approaching and refreshments are near.
Beer Near
"Beer Near" must be written just before the finish notifying the pack the end is near.
Caught Hare (aka snared hare)
A hare is caught when a member of the pack touches him or her and says "Hare Snare." The hare must be marking the trail and must have either chalk or flour in his or her possession before being considered caught. A caught hare must be released immediately. Caught hare(s) are awarded a "down-down." One hare caught implies all hares are caught.
Check Back (aka count back)
The hares will mark a CB followed by a number.  This indicates the finder must count back the number of hash marks given to pick up the true trail again.
Decision Point (aka DP)
Sometimes known as Checkmarks/Intersections. "Decision points" are chalked or printed at any location where there are two or more possible trails or paths. The decision point can have the following meanings:

Down-Down
Tradition requires down-downs be conducted after each hash run a down-down of one can/bottle/mug of a 12 ounce drink of the drinkers choice. A down-down is performed for any indiscretion of the harriers of the rules of hashing. See the section on Down-Downs for more information.
Down-Down Act
The Hasher will follow the directions of the Hash Master or whoever is conducting the Ceremony. Once the drink leaves the Hasher's lips it is to be turned upside down and the remainder contents poured over the Hasher's head. Other Harriers may assist the drinker to keep cool by pouring water over the Hasher's head - do not waste hash money by using beer or soft drinks. NOTE: Junior Harriers will not assault their seniors.
Hash Cash
The Harrier who keeps the Hash Funds in the sock.
Hash Mark
A hash mark is a splash of flour, paper strips, or other marks which will not litter the area, used in marking the trail.
Hash Note
The note that is sung by one of the Harriers to get everyone off key for the Hash Song.
Hash Song
To be sung by the Harriers loud and clear during the Down-Down Ceremony. The song is as follows:
Drink it down you JHavelina,
Drink it down you stinky (or dirty) PIG.
Drink it down you JHavelina,
Drink it down you stinky (or dirty) PIG.
After the song is sung, the Down-Down Harrier(s) must prove that the drink is finished by holding the container upside down over the Harrier's head. The following is sung after the song:
Why are we waiting,
Why are we waiting.
Until the Down-Down Harrier has cooperated or has been drenched by other Harriers.
ON-ON's
On-On's are conducted after the hash run at a local restaurant/bar or whatever. The purpose is comradeship and a general BS session of the Harriers. All Harriers are welcome to ON-ON's.
Other Hash Terminology
Words indicating direction or encouragement are chalked along the rail to remind harriers that the hares are of sadistic minds and believe they will not get caught (otherwise they wouldn't waste time chalking graffiti on public thoroughfares.) Common terms: "on-on," "on-up," "on-in," "scenic viewpoint," "Ha!Ha!" and "Beer Near."
Pack Arrow
A pack arrow is used by the members of the pack to indicate the direction the pack went. They may be accompanied by the sign of the harrier that made the pack arrow. A pack arrow is not always true trail.
True Trail Arrow
True trail arrows are drawn (usually with white chalk) indicating the proper direction of the trail. They are drawn by the hares only!
Whistle Check
Whistle check is conducted to ensure all Harriers have their whistles. All Harriers are required to have whistles except first time runners and hares.

Originally signed into law by the power of the JHavelina Hash House Harriers on May 25, 1994.
                Subject to change at the will of the JHavelina Hash House Harriers.

Hash History

The origins of the Hash House Harriers can be traced back to those far more relaxed days of 1938 in Kuala LamPur.

Mr. Gispert, either Australian or British, (who knows which) has been described as a splendid fellow who was certainly not an athlete, but rather a sportsman who placed as much emphasis on the subsequent refreshments and entertainment as on the running itself. He belonged to Kuala LamPur's famous Selangor Sports Club.

One Monday, following a particularly social weekend, Gispert decided to sweat out some of his excesses by jogging around the fortress. Soon after, this became a regular Monday evening activity and others joined him. Running within the confines of the fortress became boring. The fellowship, using flour and paper, began laying trails through the countryside, adding false leads and loopbacks just for the hell of it.

As so often happens, good intention can lead to an evil end. Close by the fortress was a Chinese eating establishment known as "The Hash House." It soon became a custom for the Chinese manager to greet Gispert and his friends with quantities if ice cold beer at the end of each run. What began as a run, developed into a regular Monday evening social event.

The Chinese manager, realizing the group had strayed from the fortress and rather than lose this lucrative business, adapted to their running habits by following the trail and pack of runners outside the fortress. He would load his truck with cold beer and was waiting for the Harriers as they completed their running exercise.

From such simple beginnings has mushroomed a form of Monday evening physical and social activity that is followed in many parts of the free world with almost identical "tradition."

The "Hash" does have variations, from the "male only" Harriers, which are copies of the original (generally dominated by British and Australians) in places like Kuala LamPur, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Seoul to mixed or family hashes in Okinawa and Honolulu (where women may sometimes be in the majority.)

For more versions of this history, see the Hash House Harriers Home Page.
 
 

Go back to the Jhavelina Hash House Harriers Home Page.