For virgin hares it is essential to know what the markings mean. This may seem self evident, but after enduring a multitude of fucked up runs it is apparent that many people are sheep ( not that there I don’t like that ) and just follow someone in front of them having no idea what the markings mean ( in some cases still being clueless after 100 runs ). In Vancouver the run markings are as follows-
a circle is a check- a check means that the trail stops at that point and you need to search all possible directions ( including any trails that brached off just before you got to the check ) to find where the trail starts up again. There can be more than one trail leading away from the check. Only one of the trails leading away from the check will get you closer to the beer. If you follow a trail away from the check and find an x across it, that means it is a false trail ” falsie ‘. Return to the check and try another direction. If you find 2 parralel lines across the trail away from a check, that means a backcheck. A backcheck means that the trail diveregd from the trail you are on somewhere beteween the backcheck and the check, usually the last trail you past. An NB on the trail means you are getting near the beer. A BC on the trail means you are at the beer check. Other hashes may have slightly different markings but the basics are the same.
If you have a co-hare make sure you are both aware of what the markings you are using mean since it is quite common for new hares to have one hare marking falsies with an x and the other with 2 parrallel lines.
When haring a run use lots of flour. Try not to use chalk unless you are in an area that someone stupid might feel flour is anthrax and report you to the authorities. Chalk has the definite drawback of being hard to see until you are right ontop of it and also disappearing at the first sign of rain. Flour on the other hand sticks up from the ground making it easier to see and also lasts for days in the rain if used liberally. 10 kilo bag of flour is good for an hour run in the bush. you can get away with less on the streets.
If the run will be at dark or near dusk use more flour and space the marks closer together. Put a blob every 10 steps or so. Remember, the trail is supposed to be easy to follow except at checks. If you turn a corner, mark the turn with blobs or an arrow. If you want people to check at the corner make it a check instead of just turning the corner and going a half a block with no markings to indicate the pack should of turned.
If it is raining or looks likely to rain do not lay the flour in the lowest point. It may be underwater or washed away before the pack gets there. Try setting it on trees, rocks, lampposts etc, off the ground. Do not try and hide the flour, the idea is for the pack to see the flour. The checks are meant to keep the pack together, not searching for every blob along the way.
When setting the trail be careful of setting the trail so close to a later part of the trail that any shortcutters who blow through your falsies or backchecks will find themselves on trail again.
If you are setting your first run it helps to do it in an area you know well. If it is an area you don’t know you should reconoiter it once or twice first so you have a plan when you start setting it. Also download google earth and use it to survey your run from the comfort of home ( general overview only ). A good guideline for length of run is 2 hours walking presetting the trail = about 45min-1hour for the pack running.
Thats all I can think of for now. Time for another beer.
OnOn Shagger
