Returning yet again to the scene of his misspent youth, the hare was blest with freezing weather and 8-12" of day old snow, crusted with ice. The weather took its toll on attendance. Only those with no life whatsoever showed up. And of course, the hare planned both a whiskey check and a beer check. Promptly at six-thirty, fearing a late appearance by Bondo or WIPOS, they were off.

Trail was marked in colored flour. Not that it was really needed: footprints were more than enough. They left the back of the school parking lot on the crosscountry trails and headed uphill. With each step, the ice caught their shins just above the ankles. So the run quickly became a competiton to see who could avoid leading the pack, and let the others break up the ice. Climbing northeast, there were a few checks. At first it was obvious: pick the trail without footprints. The hare had been using the bushwhack-to-leave-no marks-on-the-true-trail technique. How clever! As they wound up the hill, they came to a rock and a whiskey check. There was plenty of whiskey for all present.

Warmed a bit, they resumed trail, and continued east and downhill. The stream was crossed easily, and after about a half mile they came to the beer check. There was plenty of beer for all present. A few songs were sung as the hash defiantly tried to proclaim to uncaring nature that they were in fact having a good time and were not merely pathetic losers running in the snaow because they have NO LIFE! But I digress.

Moving on, Basket's true nature came out as he tried to find trail northeast and uphill. WHO, having set trail here before, found the right path southeast, and tied to get the hare and Concrete to turn off their lights and keep it quiet in the hope of losing Basket. No such luck. He caught up just as they came back to the school.

They circled up. Ratings for the run: Fine shin-bruising ice shiggy, plentiful alcohol, and no Bondo stacked up against no Bimbos, and no one lost. Total: +0.69. Hashit: Concrete Feet. Why? WHO knows. On they went to Tucks, where they had a quiet evening meal at their usual table, although their usual waitress was missing. Pathetic! Just like this write-up.