Run #1499 of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers is in the books. Feedback on the trail I helped Hare was positive for the most part. Next week’s Hare, Leech My Nuggets called it a “pussy trail” but conceded it was well-marked. A few Hashers missed a critical junction, but others said they had no trouble finding it. The folks that like challenging climbs didn’t get one, but 7K pushed the boundaries for people used to shorter hikes. The truck ride out to the start was crowded and very uncomfortable, not to mention unsafe. I’ll be pushing the idea that we should hire Jeepneys for transportation at our next leadership meeting.
It was an interesting experience walking my own trail the day after we had laid powder, paper, and chalk to show the way. In my view, we did an adequate job, but there were places I thought the marking could have been clearer. I still believe there is value in making an initial trail setting the day before the Hash and then doing a follow-up on the morning of the Hash. That way, you could refresh powder where it had been washed or swept away and clear up any ambiguities in showing the intended path. I wasn’t able to convince my fellow Hares of the value of this approach, so perhaps in the future, I’ll be making the second trip alone. It’s all good; just looking for ways to provide the best experience possible for my Hashing brothers and sisters.
To the photos then:
The path we laid. Beginning at Bridge #4 on Sawmill Road, going around Easter mountain, and ending on Baloy Beach.The ride out to the start took about twenty minutes and was very uncomfortable.And also unsafe. At least the guys standing in front have a metal framework to hold onto. The guy holding onto the guy in front of him doesn’t have that stability. Losing your balance and falling out of the truck would likely be fatal.We had the good fortune to all disembark safely.“Gather round and let me tell you what’s in store for you poor souls.”And we are On-On!Through the open fields…Just follow the trail and see where it leads…Uh oh, a goat block! No kidding.They are all going My Way. Well, mine and Pubichead’s.No tolls are required for smiling faces!Making our way to the highway.Into this little shanty village…My kind of climb.And then back down again.Leaving my mark on the world. Well, on this abandoned suitcase anyway.On the wall.Chalk and powder show the way to go.You coming, Gasman?Going down for the last time.The empty sidewalks of this sleepy village in the foothills.The local watering hole. (the well on the right…that building is a sari-sari, but maybe they have the local brew, Red Horse, available there.The final stretch on the backstreets of Matain.Loading up the boat. A lot more comfortable than the Hashmobile!On the shore at Baloy Beach after a successful river crossing.On-Home at Da’Kudos.A roast chicken salad for my after-hike dinner.Chillin’ out waiting for the Hash circle to commence.Hares on the ice. The woman was a newbie who confessed to liking the trail. If you admit that, you join the Hares on the ice.Then they sang us this song: S-H-I, T-T-Y, T-R-A-I-L. Shitty trail (it sucked!) Shitty trail (it really sucked!) The Hares have laid another shitty trail. I would rather drink this beer than run your shitty trail. S-H-I, T-T-Y, T-R-A-I-LA newly named Hasher. Meet Harry Fucker.(someone had said he looked like Harry Potter)Deflowering a couple of Hash virgins.And then the sun went down on another Hash Monday.Hare today, gone tomorrow.
A well-done Hash. Kudos.