Run # 2045 The Cinco de Mustache Hash 5/5/25<br/>
Where: Escoheag Trail, Exeter, RI<br/>
Hare: Just the Tip<br/>
Hounds: PG, OOzing, WHO, WIPOS, Ass Quack, Just Pat, Shemale, Basket and Newb Just Anthony along with his wife and a dog named after a raindeer<br/>
Hashit: Just Pat<br/><br/>

Arriving barely on time due to some unexpected slowdowns I barely managed to maneuver the arrow (that I thought might be the pack) but did manage to figure the X in the middle of the road was for real. After descending to the lower lot - I missed a lot of the important information like: beer and circle are at the same place and there are old marks and new marks. Ass Quack and I navigate up and onto some wet boulders where pack and hare were traversing. There are already some sliding moves due to the conditions. Which were well telegraphed in the weather forecasts that the hare was somehow unaware of?<br/><br/>
Hare was also making live marks but not as a live trail - hare was mostly with/behind the pack. So we're told 'there should be a mark around here' and 'oh there it is' and Rusty and I go downhill (granted: "always maintain elevation"). We hear on-on and check from what appears to be in the direction we're going. We get to the end of the trail and find t[h]ree marks going up a boulder face. And see Oozing and Shemaleman at the top, with beers. Rusty took the direct ascent very successfully; I took the turkey trail [unmarked]. Found a four-pack of Captain's Daughter but the call of Escoheag couldn't restrain me so I grabbed a Daughter and ventured back to find true trail.<br/><br/>
After getting back to the split i chose the path more traveled (and marked by a new marked check) and instantly struggled to find marks. Marks (not checks) right before intersections. Marked checks barely in the vague direction of not the next mark but some future mark. Messy such that I figured I might just go for a hike to enjoy the delightful area but I could hear the pack occasionally so I held out hope and preserved. Once I heard WIPOS I figured I was close to the rumored W check. Indeed - I had just missed it. At the direction of the hare and with WIPOS we followed WHO and after a long stretch of no marks found a falsie. Hearing the pack and knowing basic pack moves we blew through the false and eventually found the check it was associated with. I caught up with Basket and we arrived back where I had been not that long ago at the bottom of the boulder.<br/><br/>
Having been shown up (and inspired) by Rusty the first time and figuring Basket's (rock climbing) inclinations I proceed on the direct (eagle?) route up the face. It wasn't fun, it wasn't funny, it was dangerous. And complicated. And had Oozing offering sticks to us. There were risks of me sliding into Basket and risks of Basket sliding into me. Thanks to our skill neither happened and with all of us together we made it up the boulder that the hare said he couldn't do/could barely do when it was dry. Great success.<br/><br/>
Beer check commenced and we sang a few songs and then the bitching about the beer commenced. While the 4-pack of Captain's Daughter seemed to be appreciated (certainly by your scribe) and even the below 5% Guiness was appreciated but the (also below 5%) All Day IPA was mostly panned. I was barely able to placate the unimpressed with a warm Second Fiddle.<br/><br/>
Circle commenced and had Basket asking the same questions to multiple accused. The visitor's partner managed to find the onin (seemingly more easily than pack) and brought a delightful puppy ('comet' IIRC). He (visitor - not the dog) sang a song regarding the 12 days of XMAS that was virgin to my ears and every/most hasher got into that I hope Basket captured.<br/><br/>
I don't know if the pack was done with the general shenanigans but hash shit turned directly to the person who mastered this trail as opposed to the one who committed the most egregious crime of alcohol abuse with a denial enhancement. It is a sad day when hasher-like behavior is second class to those who apparently don't have 'a running problem' and are willing to quit after '11 minutes' or less (or just go straight to beer).<br/><br/>
But that is not the takeaway. Summer is approaching and I suggest the hare attend remedial Trail Marking 101. And, perhaps, How Not To Give Everything Away To Pack 69, How To Check The Weather 420, and False Off Inappropriate Paths 6969.<br/><br/>
On-after was Tavern on the Hill and the Celtics blew a great lead with terrible late game shooting and lost in overtime.
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And watch [listen carefully] for echos. And in the words of CT: "trail should be well marked and interesting" [and beautiful/delightful - like this]<br/><br/>
Your Scribe,<br/>
JP

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<img border="0" src="https://rih3.com/Images/Escoheag.jpg" width="500" height="400"/><br/>