Wherein he offers a modest haring guide in four easy steps . . .

1. Scout the Trail

Hash trails vary quite a bit, but in general they cover 3 to 5 miles in distance (time for average hasher would be 45-60 minutes) for true trail; and, the Walkers trail should be between 2 to 3.5 miles (time for average Walking hasher would be 30-45 minutes). If either trail is significantly longer the pack should be pre-warned at Start. This is most important; Practice run your trial to get distance and time on trail. Haring by ZEN does not work and only hurts the hashers running trail.

*Plan out your hash trail so that it does not encroach on private property unless coordination with the owner has been accomplished.  

What to look for in a prospective trail:

• Parking — Allow for sufficient parking at the start of the hash run. Make sure that the parking area does not have the possibility of cars being towed. Encroachment on private property will be coordinated with the owner prior to trail start.
• Accessibility — People need to get to the start after leaving work, so don't make them drive too far. Most hashes are within the bounds of I-95 but stay in the general area of Prince William County South and Central on Wednesday nights but we do venture out into Fairfax. Sundays we like to expand our boundaries but not too far.
• Comfort — Make the trail as shitty as you wish, but the On-In, whether outdoors or indoors, should be somewhere people can relax and have a good time.
• Feasibility — The trail needs to be doable for hashers of all levels of ability. Remember that not everyone will actually r*n your trail (some hashes give extra down-downs for anyone actually r*nning a trail).
• Novelty — Hashers like to go places they've never been before. Unusual terrain features, ingenious locations for beer checks, and interesting On-In locations are always appreciated.

Over The Hump Hashes are usually A-to-A or A-to-B — which means that the hash either finishes where it starts (A to A), or pretty close to it (A-to-B).  The A to A hashes eliminate the need for a vehicle runs to carry dry bags and get people back to their cars. The A-to-B hash (finish and start are at seriously different locations), will require a bag vehicle to transport the beer coolers and hashers dry bags. It is the responsibility of the Hares to furnish a bag vehicle to transport the beverage coolers, snacks and hashers dry bags to the finish. There is no dedicated OTH4 Hash Vehicle.

Hares will provide a suitable finish for down-downs. Noise made by hashers at the down-downs should not disturb local residents in the area. Walking distance from finish to start should be approx 10-15 minutes (1/2 mile or less unless the hares have made plans to furnish transportation for ALL pack members).

2. Post Directions to the Hash Start

As soon as you've decided on a start location, EMAIL the Start Location & directions to the Hare Razor Hare’s who sign up for a trail need to provide their trail start location to the Hare Razors 2 weeks in advance if possible.

Hare’s who do not provide trail start location and directions to the Hare Razors 2 days prior to trail start will forfeit their trail to a pick up hash and will be violated over and over and over again with the hashit and will not be looked upon favorably when they want another trail.

 You don't have to finish scouting every aspects of your trail before posting the start location. All you need for posting is the start location. Work out the trail details later.  

 3. Get Supplies

Hares will Buy/obtain a sufficient amount of White Flour / Chad / Chalk to lay a well marked trail. 

For planning purposes, one average shopping bag (approximately 5 pounds) will mark approximately 10 minutes of trail. During summer months (May-Oct) provide water stops & beer checks - especially on long runs. One water stop/beer check per each three miles (approx 30 minutes) of running is a general guide. Beer Checks are to help you the hare, by slowing the pack down, good beer means more time that the pack spends at the beer check. Bad Beer means well you do the math.

Your shopping list will usually include:

• About ten pounds of Flour per Hare for the trail
• Chalk to mark pavement and sidewalks
• Chad for laying in thick shaggy or bad weather
• Beer check beer — for this, taste is a feature.
• A few nonalcoholic beverages for the beer checks, Sunday’s juice bags for the kids.
•  Don't forget water if the weather is hot.

Hares are not reimbursed for their expenses, but they do not have to pay for trail up to a reasonable anount of Hare’s on Wednesday Night and on Sundays. Some exceptions may be made by prior arrangement with Mismanagement for special occasions and extenuating circumstances.

In fact, it's not at all unheard of — though always voluntary — for hares to spend more than they'll be expected for in the pursuit of that truly memorable hash. In the past, we've had swanky liqueurs, barbecues, and homemade desserts — all manner of earthly (and unearthly) delights.

This is not the norm, of course, but those are the hashes (and hares) that people talk about long afterward.

PAID ON-ON-ON’s

On the Second Wednesday of every month OTH4 has a paid ON-ON-ON which the hare that is signed up for that trail will need to coordinate with an eating establishment for food only using a budget of $100.00. The hares then need to provide the location and directions for that eating establishment to the paid ON-ON.

4. Set the Trail

Every hare seems to follow a personal vision all their own, but all can agree that laying trail is part craft, part artistry and some down right sneaky.

The Craft of Trail Setting

Every hash trail should meet these minimal qualifications:

• Keep the pack safe and more or less within legal bounds while following trail.
• Lay a trail that the pack can follow. This seems obvious, but hares are too often swept up by a spirit of craftiness, or are just afraid of getting caught, and as a result they set a trail that results in the pack milling around, lost and unhappy.

So use lots of flour. Checks are the accepted method for slowing the pack down, but in between checks, mark the trail clearly.

• Keep the pack together. Set enough false trails, circle jerks, beer checks, or other diversions to ensure that the front runners don't get too far ahead of the DFLs.
• Make sure the trail's length and difficulty accommodate hashers of all levels of physical ability.

All markings are made with dollops of flour unless you specify otherwise at the start of the hash. You may want to use strips of toilet paper to mark trail in tall grass or dense undergrowth. You may want to use chalk to color your flour so to avoid anthrax hysteria.