MKH3 Trails, Calls and Markings
Each Hash has its own way of marking a trail and calling out.
But whichever Hash you go to it will never be done properly!
Firstly the trail has to be marked out so that it can be followed.
Secondly the markings should tell the pack something about the trail.
On an MKH3 run the trail is laid by the hares before the run takes place. The pack then tries to follow the trail, the hares generally wander around giving the front runners false information and shepherding the knitting circle at the back.
We use flour to mark our trails, generally white flour but you can use coloured flour.
(How do you colour flour? Use non-toxic powder paint from an art shop)
We use flour because it is bio-degradable, non-toxic and most importantly, cheap.
The purpose of calling is to give the other members of the pack (both slow and fast) information about the trail.
MKH3 generally has two main ways of calling on trail, shouting or blowing a horn.
However, care must be taken when running past animals. In particular when running past horses there should be no calling out or blowing the horn.
On On
This is normally a single blob of flour, (unless Grizzler sets the trail then it will be dribble dropper markings). The On On may be on the ground, half way up a tree, behind a lamp post or on top of a fencing post. This means that you are on trail, but it does not tell you which direction the trail goes.
(Unless you are running towards a False or Check Back)
Where the Hares want to be specific they may put a line or an arrow to guide the pack, instead of a blob.
When you see an On On you call out On On, this indicates to the other Hashers that you are on trail.
If the trail temporarily disappears but there is no check then you call Looking or On On if the trail has been found.
If you want to know if anyone in front of you is on trail you call Are you? They should call back Looking or On On
On On is indicated by a regular single blast from the horn.
No No
This is the same as an On On but you are running the trail backwards and are probably lost.
Check
This is a circle (or as close to a circle as the hares can manage)
The trail stops and you have to find out where it carries on.
The idea is the fast Hashers have to slow down and find the trail while the slow Hashers catch up.
When you arrive at a check the call is Checking
Generally if you find three or more On On's after a Check then you are back on trail and you should then shout On On to let the rest of the pack know that you are on trail
Check is indicated by a double blast on the horn.
False
This is simply an F
This means the trail does not go this way.
Turn round and go back to the last check and call False
Hold
This is a Check with a H inside.
This means that the hares do not want you to go and look for the trail until the rest of the pack has caught up. Call this the same as a Check.
Check Back
This is a Check with an X inside it.
It means turn round and follow the trail back towards the last check. As you go back towards the last Check look for some other path that the trail might have gone.
If you find this beastie call Check Back
Beer Stop
This is a Check with a BS inside it
As the name implies this a point in the trail where you stop and have a beer.
On Inn
You will see the words On Inn, this will be found near or at the end of the trail and indicates that the run is almost done.
When you see this call On Inn.