Marking the Trail

Most, though not all Hashes use flour to mark the trail. One or more persons known as Hares go out and set the trail. A trail set while the pack patiently gives the Hares a head start is a "Live Hare" run. Should the pack catch up with a Live Hare, punishment varies but almost always includes the Hare having to down a beer (more on this later). Trails set ahead of time are, trails set ahead of time. While this practice is risky from the standpoint of floods, hurricanes, wind and local neat freaks who sweep the streets, it is used by hares who are slow and pose no contest to the on rushing pack.

	The trail is marked by blobs of flour which the pack follows. There are various and creative means for creating blobs; some use the plop right out of the sack method which works well except in high wind, others use spoons to met out measured plops, while those who like more control, coat a tennis ball in flour and bounce it as they go. Flour being white in color requires some accommodation for a trail on snow. Some hares tint the flour by adding Jello (for which there is always room) or tempra paint. Other hares use carpenter's chalk, or in some cases paint. The color choice is up to the hare. When the hare turns a corner the markings turn the corner too. Sometimes an arrow is used to make it clear that the trail turns or crosses the street or otherwise goes over/through an obstacle such as a raging stream. While it is common for the pack to get off trail, it is the hare's responsibility to set a trail that can be followed. Marks may be discretely hidden on the backs of trees, posts etc., but need to be findable. The pack communicates while on the trail, yelling "On On" when they see flour. Insecure or unsure runners can yell "Are You?" to which the response is either "On On" or "Looking!"
	Checks--periodically the trail ends and is marked with a "check." For the DCH4 a check is an X. A check tells the pack that they have to figure out where the trail begins again. It can begin anywhere back/forward, left/right, up/down from where the check is. In some Hashes runners use chalk to make an arrow in the direction in which they are checking. This way if they find the true trail those who are behind will know which way to go. If they find no trail or a false trail (more on this later) then they cross out the arrow. A crossed out arrow is not to be confused with a Hare's arrow (more on this later as well) (don't you just love foreshadowing?).
	False Trail--from a check flour is frequently found that does not lead to the true trail. A false trail looks like a real trail until you get to the end which is marked by a false trail mark. DCH4 false trails are marked by an X with a circle around it. Other Hashes use three lines drawn across the trail and still others "BT" for Back Trail. This is plethora of False Trail markings is motivation enought to pay attention to the chalk talk before the run. Some Hashes have a "rule" (see the rule against rules) that a false trail mark comes after no more than three plops of flour. For others there is no guarantee. Regardless when a false trail mark is encountered, the runners must return to the check and try again. Slow runners love false trails, cause the fast runners are usually running very fast in the wrong direction. Back Check #--Sometimes a mark like "BC#" is used, where # is a number telling you how many plops of flour to go back. This means the pack goues back that number of plops of flour and pretends there is a check there. It assumes the pack can count--which they usually do aloud for reinforcement.
	Hare's Arrow--An arrow with three lines drawn through its stem is a Hare's arrow and is used frequently after checks to indicate that this is the true trail.
	Beer Near--need I explain? On On--The runners yell "On On" when they see flour but also the post run festivities are frequently referred to as the On On. Post run festivities always include beer along with ceremonial activities and a song or two.

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