Common Sense Hashing

Since we have a lot of new hashers, it is about time to pass on a few pointers on hashing.

First, the rules.

There are none. There are some guidelines, but hares can do whatever they want.

• If they want to run you through a swamp – they can.
• If they want to run you through a thistle patch – they can.
• If they want to confuse you with a weird array of symbols and lack of dots – they can!

These are just a few of the pleasures that make being a hare fun!

Here are the guidelines we use (other hashes may do it differently – they can!)

In general, dots should be about ten meters apart – more if you are following a road or a wide, well travelled trail, less if there are many criss-crossing, confusing trails.

Some hares use arrows to help you find the right direction, others make you look for obscure dots. Most will use arrows if they are taking you off of a road or wide trail to somewhere else.

If you happen upon a circle, that means that there are several trails from that point, and you have to find the true trail. Usually, three dots in succession identify the true trail. If you only counted two dots, you either missed one or you are on a false trail – go back to the circle and try another trail. Some hares mark an X at the end of a false trail, regardless of the number of dots you found – go back to the last circle and try another trail.

That’s about it for trail markings! Simple!

Now some common sense stuff.

1. hares will never take you through someone’s back yard, or a cultivated field, or through an animal corral – we always respect private property. An exception might be a field which is obviously not being used presently, even if there is a gate (remember to close the gate when you pass)
2. hares don’t like to get their shoes muddy any more than you do, so they probably won't take you through the middle of a swamp. Besides, it's hard to put flour dots on water.
3. same goes for dense underbrush with blackberry bushes or other thorny things (a few thorns are OK)
4. suppose you are following a trail, and the last dot you see is on the edge of a steep cliff. Where’s the next dot, at the bottom of the cliff? Probably not – try looking left or right along the edge of the cliff.

Orientation

1. always be aware of your surroundings – look for landmarks to orient yourself like mountain peaks, mosques, churches, rock formations, etc.
2. get familiar with your start point – you will ultimately have to come back there.
3. since most if not all hashes are a big circle or loop, find some identifying landmark and try to keep you eye on it as you continue along the trail. You should always be able to point to where the start (end) point is from anywhere along the trail. Practice this, and ask your fellow hashers if you are not sure.
4. use the sun to help you orient yourself. Since our hashes start around noon, the sun will be due south of you any time of year, so your shadow will point to the north. As you go along the trail, see what angle the trail makes with your shadow to understand which direction you are going.
5. if you haven’t seen any dots for a while, go back to the last one and see if you can find a different trail. It’s possible some of the dots have just disappeared – remember, there are animals out there that like to eat flour (this is why some hares like to put dots on cow piles – makes the flour very unappetizing!)
6. think like a hare. If you are a few minutes into the hash and are trying to decide which direction to take a trail, the correct trail is probably the one that leads away from the start point. If you are an hour out, the hares are probably taking you back toward the start point. Look at the terrain and try to guess how the hares will bring you back to the start point.

If you get lost ....

GO BACK TO THE LAST DOT! Don’t proceed ahead if you aren’t sure you are going the right way! If you are late and are separated from your group, follow the dots back the way you came.

Drink lots of water! A good rule of thumb is to drink AT LEAST one liter of water per hour. Drink extra water before you leave. You may have to pee on the trail and we’ll embarass you in the circle, but that’s far better than getting heat stroke or heat exhaustion along the way. If you feel tired or faint, sit down in the shade and rest.

When you sweat you lose not only water, but salts as well. I try to eat something salty – chips, peanuts, etc. – before I go. Another way to replenish the salts is to put 1/8 teaspoon of “lite salt” – sodium and potassium chloride – and a teaspoon of sugar into each liter of water you drink. That’s all that Gatorade and other such endurance drinks contain.

If you come to a point in the trail that SEEMS too steep or too slippery – it probably is. Find a safer way around or go back the way you came – don’t try to do what some of the more athletic hashers are able to do. You get no points for rolling down a cliff.

Don’t overexert yourself!

One way to see how hard your body is working is to take your pulse. A simple way to do this is to feel your pulse on your wrist, the way a nurse might do it, or press lightly with your thumb and forefinger on both sides of your throat, next to your windpipe. Count the number of pulses in six seconds and multiply by ten (try this at home while sitting down – your pulse should be between 60 and 80 beats per minute).

When you are on the trail, take your pulse several times. Beginners and those not in the best physical shape should not exceed 60-70% or their maximum pulse. If you are in great shape, you might go up to 80-90%.

We will spare you the math - on the top right of this page there's a calculator for finding out your limits. Fill in the fields, hit 'Calculate', and don't go over that number. If your pulse gets too high, slow down. If you are going uphill, take smaller steps, until your pulse drops to your target range.

If you are just getting started with an exercise program, you might find that just walking fast on level ground will bring your pulse up to its target range. As your physical condition improves, you will be able to exercise harder without your pulse getting too high. This will take months, so don’t expect instant results from just a couple of hashes!

Just remember – this is a fun, relaxing experience, enjoying nature with friends. Not a race. Not an endurance contest. Not a competition in any sense. Don’t overextend yourself. And only you know what your limitations are!

On-On!

Heat exhaustion

Hash 704 to the Pellumbas Cave was long and HOT! Several of our hashers experienced symptoms of heat exhaustion:

- tired muscles
- mild nausea
- feeling faint
- dizziness

This is your body's way of saying, "Time Out! Stop and rest before you die!"

If you ignore your body's warnings, heat stroke could follow. Heat stroke is often fatal unless the victim can be hospitalized immediately.

Here's what happens:

Our body's core temperature (internal temperature, as a doctor would measure it with a thermometer) can't vary by more than a few degrees from its nominal 98.6 F or 37 C. In cold weather, we can add clothing to maintain that core temperature even when the outside temperature is -40 C!

When it's hot, though, there's only so much you can take off! Our body's way of coping with heat is to sweat. If your body runs out of water (dehydration, because you haven't been drinking enough water), and your sweating stops, your core temperature will start to rise. When its very hot or humid, even normal sweating won't be enough to keep your core temperature from rising.

When your core temperature rises to about 102-104 F, you will begin to experience the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Your body has realized that you're too stupid to slow down, so it will slow you down as a self-preservation or survival measure.

When you experience the symptoms of heat exhaustion, find a shady spot and sit or lie down. Drink fluids immediately. You should rest for a minimum of 30 minutes, and then proceed to your destination SLOWLY. Working your muscles, especially your leg muscles, will increase the heat that your body must dissipate.

If there is a lake, stream, or other body of water nearby, immerse yourself in it. If the water is very cold, don't jump in but put in your legs and let them act as a radiator for your excess body heat.

Remember, heat exhaustion is a WARNING. If you don't heed that warning, the consequences could be very serious.

Trail Smarts

1. Dress properly - consider the weather and terrain. Wear "peelable" clothing. It may be chilly when you start, but as the blood gets pumping and you start to sweat, you will want to be able to remove layers of clothing. Wear shoes with good ankle support, preferably hiking boots or hi-top sneakers you can lace up tightly. It's no fun to twist an ankle, and your fellow hashers will not appreciate having to carry you back to the cars!
2. Take a bottle of water, especially in hot weather. (Two bottles in very hot weather.)
3. Don't hike by yourself - stay with a group. It's more fun to socialize and admire the views together.
4. Stay on the trail. You'll do less damage to the environment that way and won't get lost!
5. Stay off of plowed or newly planted fields. Don't pick the fruit - remember, it's probably someone's livelihood. Be friendly to the locals - learn a few simple Albanian greetings.
6. Don't over commit yourself. Only you know your physical limitations. This is not a race or an endurance contest. If you think the trail is too steep, rocks are too lose, or if you begin feeling tired or short of breath - turn around and follow the trail back!! No one will think less of you!
7. Don't keep everyone waiting! If you fall behind the rest of the group, about 45 minutes after your start time, turn around and go back!
8. We all love the sun and having a great tan – but!! Continued exposure to the sun can damage your skin permanently! Use sunscreen from April to October, especially if you have little natural headcovering, like some of us!

Finally .... Enjoy! Discover this beautiful country, and its warm, friendly people.