Rules, Rules, Rules

It’s been said that the only rule of the Hash is that there are no rules. But, of course, to just about every rule, there are exceptions. And we actually do have just a few little rules which help the running of a Hash go smoothly.

When You’re On, You’re On.

OK. We all know that the Hash begins with the sounding of the horn. And, we also know that this usually results in about 20% of the Hash taking off and running around aimlessly in circles (at least this is the way it appears to the other 80%). Of course this apparent chaos is, in fact, a concerted somewhat unscientific effort by the few, in service to the many, to find the correct trail.

If a Hasher finds three consecutive dots of flour along a trail, road, gap, field or whatever, then he is on the right route and, in Hash parlance, this is known as being ON.

As long as an additional dot can be found along the same route then he continues to be ON. Now it’s the job of the Hares, those unmentionables that set the run, to screw up the runners and keep the whole group together. They may do this by simply taking a turn and hope that you miss it, or they may use a number of weapons in their arsenal.

An Arsenal Of Weapons

The Check

The main purpose of a check is to slow down the front runners (FRBs) and allow the slower Hashers a chance to catch up. Checks, as indicated by a circle of flour with a dot inside, are usually placed at a point along the route where there are intersecting trails or roads.

At this point your trail of dots will cease to exist and it’s the job of the Hashers to spread out and find the new route, otherwise known as checking.You may find no dots, one or two dots, or an X. However, only one direction can have 3 or more dots of flour and, of course, this is now ON.

The Back Check

One of the more frustrating variations on a check is the back check. This is where you have a check but the proper route is behind you rather than in front. At the check, if the FRBs run off checking on various trails but can’t find any routes that have 3 dots, chances are you’ve run into the dreaded back check.

Turn around and go back along the trail that led you to the check, count back one or two dots of flour (two seems to be preferable, but one is legal), and then take off on a side track, trail, road, gap, whatever, and begin to look for dots. If you’ve gone back 2 dots then you only need to find one to be ON, two if you’ve gone back only one dot.

The False Trail — Do Not Cross!

False trails are marked with an X. It’s really only acceptable for the Hare to use an X after a check. So if you find one just along a trail, you may have missed seeing a check. Hashers are not allowed to cross over an X. You must turn around and go back the way you came.

Calling (or Is Anybody Home?)

The Hash relies on calling. We have the Hash Horn, whose job is to stay in the middle of the pack and act as a beacon, but the whole thing falls apart if we don’t call.

Everyone should participate in calling, from the front runner to the last of the bunch.

The Calls Of The Wild

“ARE YOU?”

This is the only call that is a question. And, because we’re a somewhat simple-minded group, it’s the only question that we ever ask. All other calls are a response to the question, “ARE YOU?”

“ON-ON!”

Music to a Hasher’s ear. This is the correct response if you are on the right trail. In addition, when already on the right trail, Hashers should call “On-On!” each and every time they come across an additional dot of flour. It’s important that all hashers call the ON – it’s our primitive communication system that alerts everyone down the line the proper way to go.

“CHECKING!”

When you approach a check, or if you are checking and have not found any dots, you should call this loud and clear.

“CHECKING ONE!”

Call this when you are checking and you find one dot or if you’re checking and someone else calls to you “ARE YOU?” and you’ve found one dot.

“CHECKING TWO!”

Call this when you are checking and you’ve found two dots or if you’re checking and someone else calls to you “ARE YOU?” and you’ve found two dots.

“LOOKING!”

If you’re looking for flour, but are not at a check, then the proper response is “LOOKING!”

“ON-IN!”

Call this when you see the ON-IN written on the ground.

“YES, R.A!”

This is the proper response to anything our beloved R.A. might ask of you. Penalties for creative answers might range from an ice cold shirt to a free drink.

Good Luck!