Does Hashing teach anything ?
I suggest something it teaches
7/19/20262 min read
We have all been there, or will be there on a hash in future. You solve a check, you find the true trail marks and call out ON ON and hear the pack repeat your call and start to follow you. You are THE LEADER - you feel increased confidence and run a little faster to the next check, you consider the alternate paths - select what you think will be right and run off to check and again you find true trail - with whatever marking scheme the hare has used. Another confident call of ON ON and the pack again confirms they are all following you, but probably from further back now. Two consecutive checks solved - you are clearly on a roll, tuned into the hares plans - at this rate you will be first to the bucket and on your second beer before anyone else crawls in.
So the third check - this is easy - you know the hare will have done here, obviously left. So with increased speed and confidence you pull ahead of the pack just needing to see that inevitable mark to confirm your brilliance at checking , but this seems to be a deeper check, obviously the hare wanted to test you. So another 50m will confirm the trail, that wall, or post ahead will have the marking - but there is no mark.
And then there is , a check back mark. You are on the wrong trail, your infallibility disappears instantly. You might even faintly hear another hound call ONON , from another path.
This is where we are gently reminded that we make mistakes, we rejoin the pack which has a new leader, perhaps we are even at the back. You were only ever ahead due to some measure of chance. It is easy to start walking and have a low mood, but this is a Hash event not a race. Catch up, talk to those around you, press on and after a few more checks you might find yourself at the front again.
On the Hash the worst mistake is absence - be there, challenge yourself to move a little faster, have a laugh with new friends.
This is the 'character building' part of hashing. tGH
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