The Grenada Hash House Harriers is a group of locals that get together each week and create a running / walking obstacle course through the harsh terrain of the island (lots of muddy trails, river crossings, and sliding down steep slopes), open to anyone who wants to join. They call the event a "Hash.: Gene and I had heard about the Grenada "Hash" from a bunch of our friends that we've met along the way who've spent some time in Grenada. We learned that there are actually "Hashes" all over the Caribbean in many of the islands, and also many hashes in the US and other parts of the world. Apparently Grenada has one of the best hashes in the world.
We signed up for the bus to the Hash with a bunch of other cruisers that were also anchored in Prickly Bay. This particular Hash was located in the north-western side of Grenada (each week has a different location) so we were able to see much of the western coast along the bus ride.
The Hash course was pretty tough - lots of mud and steep hills, one river crossing. It's almost impossible to run the entire way due to the mud and hills. The total course is about 3 miles. The trail is marked with piles of shredded paper along intervals. Every now and then, you'll come to a circle of shredded paper where you need to choose the right trail - there are usually 3 or 4 trails leading off from the circle and only one trail is the correct trail. The incorrect trails have an "X" marked at some point down the incorrect trail, so you would have to run back to the circle and try again to choose the correct trail. Since much of the trail is steep muddy hills, you end up running in single file lines, and following the person in front of you. The advantage of this is that the person in front is the first to determine the correct trail.
The Hash Master runs the course along with the rest of the participants with his hash judges, and they make note of any "foul play" throughout the course. Foul play may be telling others the correct trail (or incorrect trail), making your own trail, stepping off the trail to pee in the forest, etc.
At the end of the hash, the Hash Master calls forward all of the "offenders" and forces them to chuck a beer from the "dotty potty" (basically a big pot).
Apparently there is no age discrimination with the hazing - here's a boy who tried to make his own path and ended up being forced to chug a beer.
More hazing by the Hash Master and his associate for foul play
The Hash Virgins are called out during each race to come forward and accept their certificate for completing the hash. While all of the Hash Virgins are huddled together in a big circle, the Hash Master and his associates shake and spray beer all over the virgins.
The beer shower- Gene and I are tucked somewhere in the middle of that pile.
Covered in beer but glad that we have passed our initiation to the Hash
Muddy feet and legs - the beer washed most of it off, so this picture doesn't really do it justice!
We went to a post-Hash party in Victoria, the Victoria food festival, where we got to hang out with the locals.
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