Many stories begin with “Once upon a time…” Mine always seem to start with my morning walk. So, this should sound familiar to you by now.
Last Friday, as I was to begin my morning walk into Soapstone Creek, I saw it – a small pile of lavendar-colored powder right in front of our house on our sidewalk.
I’d seen it before, though not this spring or summer. At first I thought it was a coincidence, but then I noticed the marks through Soapstone Creek trail. That’s when I realized what they were for.
Last year at this time, Pat Davies enlightened us about the Hash House Harriers, an international runners’ group that marks its routes with chalk and flour. They also end each run with adult beverages. (Editor’s note: Hashers were once described to me as runners who like to drink and drinkers who either like to run, or will at least tolerate the running for the beer at the end.)
After my walk, I noticed more markings up and down our street as I watered the newly planted street trees in front of my home (we have not had enough rain for our trees this week, so please water).
This lavendar-colored flour pile attracted a slug’s attention.
The markings must have been fresh. I did not seen any marks the day before, when I took a new friend (she has forgiven me) through what’s become an obstacle course due to the many downed trees along the trail. My friend was determined to get to Broad Branch Road, and even crawled under one of the tree trunks while I waded into the middle of the stream to hurdle over it to get to the next crossing. To our great surprise, we encountered a fellow who had managed to get himself and his bike through the trail. We were very impressed. He was trying to get to his daughter’s place in Petworth and had mistakenly thought this a bike path. Nope – this is a path for hikers… and Hash House Harriers.
Does anyone know who is in this group? Or have a photo to share?
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Ken Terzian says
Hashing is quite popular, many groups in the area do it, don’t know which group came through this time. It’s a lot of fun, with some variance in the culture of the groups (some open, some invitation only), yet common is the beer and ritual including chalk, flour, and similar trail markings left by the hare who sets the trail to follow (with trickery I might add to throw off the hounds). You might describe hashers as beer drinkers with a running habit.
Caroline Nugent says
Wow, sounds like a real mystery. This is the kind of thing you see in books and things. I wonder what attracted that slug….
BMatt says
Almost surely these folks: http://www.ewh3.com/2014/08/25/4324/