A social event with two parts: the trail and the religion (meaning drinking singing and debauchery).

The Trail

A trail leads the pack (you and everyone else who did not lay the trail) through forests, along city streets, over rivers, inside buildings, etc. Trails are typically 2-6 miles long, and usually take less than two hours to complete. There may be a Turkey trail (2-3 miles) and an Eagle trial (3-6 miles). The hares (the person or people who did lay the trail) use chalk, flour, or toilet paper to mark where the trial goes.

Along the way, the you will discover decision points, places where the trail goes in many directions. The goal of the pack is to find the true trail that will lead them to the finish, which might be at or near the start, or it might be miles away.

The Drinking, Singing, and Laughing

After you have finished the trail, The Hash comes together for what we call religion. The ceremony is conducted by the Religious Advisor or R.A. We honor the Hares and welcome the guests. Down Downs are awarded for exceptional acts of hash honor. Down Downs are also awarded for any violations of the Hash traditions.

Violations:

1. Calling a fellow Hasher by his mortal name once he or she has been given his Hash name

2. Any actions or comments that suggest competition

3. ANYTHING else that grinds your gears, gets your goat, burns your A$$, Whatever!

4. Pointing with your hand outstretched (taking your beer to the farthest  point away from your mouth) HASHERS, if they must point, Do so with their elbow.

5. Plus MANY others (if I were to list them all, how could the R.A. give anyone Down Downs when they violate the traditions accidentally)

Down-downs are a form of ritualized drinking. When you have a cup, can, or bottle of the beverage of your choice, the pack will sing a song with the words "drink" or "down" in it. At that point, you should start drinking. You will continue drinking until one of two things happen:

1. you finish the beverage, and you turn the cup over on top of your head to show that it's empty, or
2. you don't finish the beverage, and you pour the rest over your head to show that it's empty.

Remember, even though most people use beer, you can use soda or water or whatever else there is to drink.  That leaves more beer for everyone else.