>>>> Experienced
Hares please skip to the WALKERS section.
A GUIDE FOR HARES - PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PLANNING YOUR TRAIL
THE TRAIL ITSELF:
Choose an area that doesn't involve too much road running. The idea of the hash
is to get out of the city into the countryside once a week, so try to avoid
"road runs" where possible.
When choosing the start point, make sure there's plenty of space for parking
cars.
A basic hash consists of a large loop. No part of the loop should come within
250 metres of another part, otherwise hashers are likely to cross over and shorten
the trail.... particularly in the case of fast front runners searching for the
trail from a check circle.
Ideally, the trail should take between 45 minutes and one hour to complete.
As a rough guide, it will take around two hours to lay a one-hour trail.
There should be no more than 10 minutes running between checks or falsies so
that the pack is kept together. A one hour trail should therefore include 6-10
checks or falsies.
The normal space between blobs of flour is about 25 double paces (right foot
to right foot). In difficult countryside (i.e. when off-track) each blob should
be visible from the previous one.
A check is laid in the form of a large circle. The next blob of flour should
be laid some 100-150 meters (80 paces or so) after the check in open country
and less if there are no obvious tracks to follow. Most beginners make the mistake
of laying checks which are too short and which are therefore found immediately.
Longer checks keep the pack together and give backmarkers a chance to catch
up.
A falsie is marked with a large "F". This means the pack has to retrace
its steps (i.e. follow the trail backwards) and look for the trail proper off
to the side. The "F" prevents the front runners from continuing to
search and so possibly short circuiting the trail.
Keep checks and falsies separate (e.g. do not lay a false tail directly from
a check). Make sure there are several hundred metres between checks/falsies
(see examples overleaf).
It is a good idea to end the trail with a long "ON INN" to give runners
the chance to stretch their legs. Flour is not normally laid after the ON INN
sign unless the way back is confusing or the terrain is rough.
You can buy blue paint powder ("Loulaki") at any large paint shop.
Mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of blue with 2kg of flour and transfer to empty water
bottles. Each kg of flour will fit in a 1.5L water bottle and 2 full bottles
should be enough for an average 1 hour trail. (Take one or two spare bottles
if laying a trail in particularly rough off-path terrain).
(NOTE: One hare must act
as 'sweeper' and stay at the rear of the pack to ensure that no hasher gets
left behind /lost - particularly in the case of injury &/or in mountainous
terrain)
>>> WALKERS: To enable the walkers to enjoy part of the trail, at an
appropriate distance along the trail a large "W" surrounded by a circle
-plus- an arrow should direct the walkers back to the ON-INN. Lay flour blobs
or arrows showing the walkers the way back, if possible. Please give the walkers
directions at the circle before the run starts and maybe appoint a walk leader.
Sometimes hares lay a separate trail (in white flour with no checks or falsies)
for the walkers.
THE TAVERNA:
It is the hare's responsibility to arrange the Taverna. However, it is best
NOT to book precise numbers in advance as there is always uncertainty about
how many people will turn up. Just say it's a Sports Club (they will understand
this) and give a wide range of numbers, say from 10 to 30. Mention we are a
bit noisy so that they can give us our own section. At least they will have
been warned!
Choose a Taverna that is cheap and cheerful. If the Taverna has real cloth tablecloths
it is too up-market for the hash. Ideally the Taverna should be quite close
to the run-site. Cost should be about Euro 10-12 Euros a head. To keep the price
down, order many starters (Orektika) and only 1 or 2 (if any) meat dishes.
Remember we have one or two vegetarians, so will require some vegetable dishes.
EXAMPLES:
(Thanks to The Bookmaker for the main guidelines & the diagrams)
ADDITIONAL NOTES (Important!):
The hare should contact the Hash Secretary with directions from the North and South of the city to the run meeting point and include where the hash-signs will begin. This should be done ideally two weeks in advance but not later that a week before the run -- to be included in the Hash Trash circulated e-mail for that week.
(E-mail: Sharon.SilverwoodRobson@fco.gov.uk)
It is the hare's responsibility to put signs up AND take them down. You will need to arrange to get signs from the previous week's hare.
The hare is responsible for bringing the DRINKS. Reckon on:
BEER:
Summer: 2-3 cases cold beer -plus- 2 cases beer at room temperature (for "down-in-ones").
Winter: 3 cases of beer
SOFT DRINKS:
Summer & winter: 1 case of sprite (or, better still, 2 x 6 Sprites, 6-Cokes, 6-Fanta 'still' oranges)
WATER:
Winter: 1/2 - 1 case water.
Summer: 2 cases water
ICE:
Winter: 0-3 bags ice.
Summer: 5 bags ice (best stored in a Cooler/Esky) [Can use the Hash cooler].
NOTE: 1 case = 24 cans or bottles (not 12).
DON'T FORGET to bring:
(1) Large container -or- large bowls to cool drinks in [Hash has these]
(2) Large plastic bag (or several medium-sized ones) for the empty beer cans & trash.
Hash cash will reimburse the cost of drinks, ice, etc. on production of RECEIPTS.
It is also the hare's responsibility to wash the Tankards from the previous run & pass them on to the next hare. They are most hygienically and easily cleaned in a dish washing machine. The Hash Bugle's mouthpiece should also be well cleansed.
The "blue" is made by mixing one packet of blue powder paint obtainable from paint shops (or can use 1/2 - 1 Kg "cement colouring" powder available in some hardware & paint stores) with 3-to-4 Kg of flour in a plastic bowl. Some hares prefer to put the flour into plastic water bottles (water bottles have wide mouths). Two or three such bottles of flour will be required to set a trail (mountain trails - may take up to five bottles - so buy extra flour & colour + take rucksack!). Note: Use a wide-necked funnel as possible for filling the bottles as flour jams in narrow necks.
Easy / lazy but messy way to lay trail: Pour the flour into a supermarket bag, dip-in hand and drop flour. Best to wear rubber (or surgical) gloves for handling coloured flour + old clothes. Carry spare flour in a rucksack (or use co-hare).
NOTE: It is the obligation of hares to make every effort to attend the hash prior to their own. This is so they can pick-up the HHH signs, tankards, hash horn, plastic bowls, cooler, and surplus beers and soft drinks for their own hash. Failure to do so may result in their entrails being extracted with a rusty Swiss Army knife, and fed to stray dogs along the trail.
If you have any problems or need supplies / equipment, etc. OR, you do not own a car (and would therefore have a problem transporting beer, etc.) please contact the TRAILMASTER ASAP:
Dialling codes
Remember: After 3rd November, 2002 dialling codes change in Greece.
010 changes to 210 and on Jan. 1st 2003 mobile phone numbers start with 6 instead
of an 0.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (Post 27 Jan. 2002 events). In case of Accidents or Sudden Illness
The Hares should carry mobile phones & preferably have the Hash Committee members & the other Hare's mobile numbers entered into their phone (else, carry a phone list with them). One Hare or the Hare should follow up at the rear of the pack (the Sweeper Hare) - behind the last straggler, to ensure that no hasher is in trouble. The sweeper Hare should ideally carry a First Aid kit & water. They must carry an Aspirin or two to be administered in case of a Heart Attack (assuming no allergy or stomach ulcers) as the blood-thinning effect of aspirin increases the survival rate by 25%! In the case of such an incident it is important to call for a vehicle & help - to get the hasher to hospital ASAP. Only the State Hospital "on duty " will have emergency staff available & admit patients, so you should look-up the duty hospital for that area & for that day in advance (in the International Herald Tribune, or Tel: 106 or, Tourist Police 171), note the phone number and know how to get there.
To call for an Ambulance to take patient to a State (duty) Hospital, Tel: 166
PRIVATE Ambulances (expensive): Athens Medical Centre Tel: 210-686-2393, Hygia Tel: 210-686-7000
Please look at the hash Website, on the Medical Information page for information on heart attack & cardiac arrest symptoms, etc. (http://www.athenshash.com)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (Post 11 Sept. 2001 events): Upon being challenged by a member of the public, or a public order representative while setting a trail, simply say the word ALEVRI (meaning flour), take a handful of the (blue) flour and taste it / eat it. The person issuing the challenge will either: (a) accept it is a harmless substance, or (b) run away from this mad person who eats Anthrax by the handful.
Either way the hasher will then be free to continue setting the trail in peace.
In the event that this strategy fails, phone Clitoria on her mobile (0932-120442) or at home (210-806-7988) and ask her to talk to the person detaining you (she has successfully dealt with this problem before). Make sure you take a mobile phone with you!
CONTACTS:
JM Brian (Strawberry Foreskin)
Kirman 694 69 69 15 4
JM Robert (Mad Dog) Horne 693 25 11 33 9
RA Ramon (Playboy 2) Singh 693 24 43 56 6
HS Sharon (Clitoria) Robson *** 693 21 20 44 2
HC Angelos (Mtn Goat) Kilaidonis *** 697 29 21 90 0
Note: *** Fluent Greek speakers