Let Snow Hash

Run #1131, December 3, 2007

Hare:  WIPOS

Location:  WWI Memorial Park, North Attleboro

Weather:  High 20’s, Icy

Present:  Async, Dr WHO, Concrete Feet, Amish It Head, Basket Boom Boom, Scatwoman, Just Sean.

The Run:

It was a fine night for a hash. Brisk and clear, with lots of ice covering a small amount of snow. But then again, remembering that WIPOS was hare, the cold chill you get is not from the ambient temperature. Async made one of his rare appearances, obviously desperate. Just Sean and Scatwoman showed up, but they don’t know WIPOS. The rest had no excuse. Even Bondo knows enough to stay away with this hare. But at 6:30 they were off.

Trail led straight out from the end of George Leven Drive continuing southwest. WHO led as they hit the first check, and turned right. Three marks and bushwhacking, he called the rest on. Basket and Async continued straight, but the rest remembered the following Basket rule and turned north. This of course, led to a prolonged circle jerk into Plainville, and recurving clockwise back to the cars. Trying again, Amish led the chagrined pack back out to the check and out to some powerlines. True trail was found turning southeast.

The pack distance was widening, and the marks were few and mostly white or very slightly-tinted flour on white snow. A system sure to please! At least it’s better than little white paper squares stapled to trees. Amish and Concrete plowed ahead, trying to catch up with the FRBs. Trail soon turned west on a smaller powerline and came out to a neighborhood. A check led to a brief bushwhack at the end of a cul-de-sac off Blue Jay Drive. Some continued on the powerlines, the rest followed WHO (who was following the hare by this point). Trail led southwest crossing the powerlines, skirting a playing field and then turning up hill on an overgrown path.

Unfortunately for all concerned, this turn led to the discovery of Basket, Async, and Concrete, all milling about aimlessly. The hare tried to be helpful. He said it was all bushwhacking at this point. He couldn’t find his own marks. But he suggested that whenever a hill was encountered, it should be climbed. Using this dubious advice, the group gradually came together, finding one or two random marks at the top of hillocks, heading generally northeast. They crossed the powerlines again and came out to Elmwood Street. Trail then led to the picnic/BBQ area of the WW I Memorial Park. Climbing the final hill, they came to the overlook next to the ski slopes. They found trail leading down and to a “B” under the overlook.

The beer was found and opened. Basket was sent to the overlook. He was too dry to make water on those below, and the beer was not to be moved to the more scenic spot. So they huddles together at the edge of the woods below the rock outcropping. The acoustics weren’t all that great either. Finally sick of this, the hare gave further instructions. He said there were no marks back. He suggested just following the ski lift path down and turn left on the powerlines. So down they went, slipping and grabbing at the J-bars as they went. At the powerlines, Concrete turned right. The rest turned left. But one powerline pretty much looks like another, so it was only because Amish was paying attention that they found the check where they had previously entered. They turned left.

Back at the cars, the first in had a bit of a wait. Concrete finished his tour of the powerlines and arrived. Just Sean and Scatwoman apparently enjoyed the circle jerk so much the first time that they decided to repeat. But finally all were there and they circled. The run was rated. Virgin territory, a fine circle jerk, some bushwhacking through briars with a lost hare, and white flour on white snow were all favorable factors. But all made it to the BC and no one was permanently lost so the total: +0.69. Hashit went to Amish for no reason other than he wasn’t paying adequate attention when his name came up. The circle was closed. They drove off to LA Roberts, where they have crap beer, but the hare likes the clams, Basket likes the liver and onions, and they seemed to have forgotten us from the last time. And between the darts and the Patriots game, the group was well-behaved enough that they can probably return the next time they’re in the neighborhood without risking immediate ejection.

On On