BFMH3 tips for laying trails

Guidelines and General Rules

Two a block: Hares should put down at least two marks per block. Any fewer than that and we’ll have a very lost pack. They’ll be a very sullen pack when they traipse back to the bar, quite frustrated; giving up on what could have been a great trail. It’s best to toss them down every 30-50 feet.
Arrows: If you’re crossing a street or turning a corner, and aren’t using a Check, you should put down an Arrow. Use these any time the trail direction is a bit confusing (unless you put down a Check). The mob gets spread out and lost enough without out any help from a lackadaisical hare.
Don’t cross back over: Creating a full loop in the trail, before getting back to the bar, is a bad idea, unless you use subway stations, bridges, or other means of physically separating the two segments of trail (it’s best if harriers can’t even see the two segments). If you violate this rule, you best be a hare of great ability and stature, like the mighty G.
Falses: You don’t need to mark all of your falses. But, if you do start a false and don’t mark it with an F, then don’t put down more than two Marks down. Also, try to space your marks consistently. Laying two marks off of a check with 50 yards between them will piss off the mob. Try to space all of your marks consistently.
No flour in the Independence Mall Area or in the Subway system: Sometime in the past, some authorities said it’s okay to pass through these areas but have been advised to only use chalk or tape/ribbon to avoid people calling in suspicious/hazmat calls. If you want to keep hashing, please don’t leave flour in these areas or we will risk getting arrested.

Methods to Laying Trail

Dispensing container: Most folks use some sort of bag, like a plastic grocery bag or two, or a reusable grocery bag. Some people use a detergent bottle, or condiment bottles, or a more creative dispensing device.
Ball: A tennis ball makes laying trail easy. Dip it in flour/chalk and bounce it. If you’ve got enough flour on it, it’ll leave a perfect circle on the ground. It’ll also make it easy to keep r*nning while you lay trail.
Colored Flour (Chalk): When laying trail in the snow, it helps to mix the flour with carpenter’s chalk so it stands out. This also helps it not look like a dangerous white powder, if that’s something you’re worried about. Jello and Cool-aid also work pretty well.
Chalk: Actual chalk (sidewalk chalk) works pretty well if the trail is on pavement, concrete, etc. It’s really good for making quick Arrows and Falses. It’s not so good if you are trying to mark trail on grass or dirt.
Ribbons: Red, pink, orange, or yellow construction ribbon works pretty well if you are marking trails in woods, fields, etc. They especially work well if there’s a lot of rain, snow, or wet/muddy trail.
Masking Tape or Stickers: If you decide to set any trail in a subway, this or chalk is the only way to go.

Extra Tips and Considerations

Don’t go straight: You stand a better chance of eluding the mob, and creating an interesting trail if you don’t lay a bunch of straight sections. Three to five blocks in a row are plenty.
BN/Beer Check: It isn’t actually required, but most Thursday night trails have at least one beer check. Typically, this is at a park, and you are responsible for providing beer (and if you’re nice, a gluten-free option. And if you’re really ambitious, an NA option). If you’re feeling particularly generous and want to escape the weather, you can always shell out for a round to hold a beer check in a bar.
Shorter trails with no BN: Are you broke but still want to hare? No problem, you don’t have to leave a BN every time, even though we love them. Just don’t set a trail longer than about 3~ miles so we can get back to circle earlier and start drinking sooner. If you lay a long trail with no BN, your pack may give up on trail and go on-in or just make up their own impromptu BN.
Hidden marks: This is a style choice. Trail is already harder than you think to find, but if you really want to make it harder, toss marks on the backside of objects or just behind them. Try to make sure your marks are spaced consistently, and the majority of your marks are not hidden. If all your marks are hidden and hard to find, the mob will get frustrated and lost, and eventually short cut back to the bar. You might want to use this to conceal true trail out of a check, but it would be unwise use it for the whole trail.
Length: Two-and-a-half to five miles are about right (excluding falses). Much less than 2.5 isn’t a big deal, but you could get a name for it and we don’t need the extra drinking time. Much past five and: (1) you’ll drink for being an overachieving ass-clown, (2) the mob will be prepared to short cut the next time you hare.
Getting back to the bar: Don’t know where anything is at in the city? Not to worry, pay attention to your cross streets Front Street and Columbus/Delaware Ave. are next to the Delaware River, the numbers go up as you head West some where around 30th you’ll cross the Schuylkill end up in University City. South to North major streets are Snyder, Washington, South, Market, Vine, Spring Garden and Fairmount. Get lost? Walk into a bar or store and ask them to point you towards the bar cross streets.
Catching the hare: Should you get apprehended by a FRB, keep your pants on (if the FRB doesn’t get to them first), chill out, and give the new hare a five (three) minute head start.
Moderate your use of flour: Five to ten pounds of flour should be ample for a trail, try to avoid dumping it all out when you mark a Check (if you have actual chalk this is a good use for it). Don’t be too stingy though we’d rather find the marks and have a short trail than end up trying to follow crappy marks made by some a**hole scratching out things with a rock
Volunteer: Want to participate in a good hash? Check out the area ahead of time and volunteer to live hare, just don’t tell anyone you scouted things out (you’ll have to drink for that). Want a whole lot of time? Volunteer to set a dead hare trail. Scout it out a day or more in advance, set it a few hours early, and have a BEER. The mob loves a well-laid trail with a BEER check or two.

Other Concerns

Don’t know the neighborhood? No worries, if you’re new to the area, talk to the GM you’ll likely get someone to lend a hand.
Concerned about safety? Talk to the GM, you’ll likely get a trail laying partner but try to keep your trail away from the ghetto. The mob is concerned about their safety too. If you know you want to go somewhere a little sketchy but worth it – let the group know ahead of time to use the buddy system and leave no hashers behind.
There’s so many things to pay attention to? No worries, we’ve r*n good trails and bad. Try to follow some of the tips and have a good time. If you do, the mob is sure to have a good time too.