CaribSeek Kaleidoscope | Grenada Hashing by Michael DeFreitas

Once there, we all signed the hash roster (to account for everyone at the end of the hash) and received last minute instructions from Paul. Then it was off to the starting line and what would prove to be a difficult hash. The trail started near the Grand Etang National Park entrance and skirted Grand Etang Lake, before heading southwest towards Point Salinas. The trail was narrow and it didn't take long before the group was well spread out over a mile or so of marked trail. It stayed that way until we regrouped at the first "checkpoint."
Checkpoints are usually located at the junction of a number of intersecting trails and is marked by a circle of paper on the ground. Front-runners head down each of the intersecting trails to see which is the correct one. Each false trail is marked with an "X" about a half-mile down the trail. Correct trails have no "X" so once front-runners realize the trail is not false they yell On! On! On! And the group follows.

If you plan to hash, you should know a few phrases. On! On! means you can see the trail markers, usually small bits of colored paper. When you can't find the trail but see someone else, you can ask "Are you on?" "Checking" means the trail has all of a sudden disappeared and you are trying to find it again. When front-runners reach a large "X" in the trail they yell, "On Back" to warn others not to take that trail. When you see the On in sign, it means you are nearing the finish line and cold beer.
After skirting the lake, the trail descended into a fertile valley, and then crossed a narrow side road, where someone had placed clothes on the hot road to dry. Onwards we ran through banana fields and rain forest, stopping every so often to listen for the cries of On!On!, Checking, or On Back. After three hours of heading down false trails and stumbling over tree roots, the group was beginning to spread out again, but the hares had done their job well. Near Salinas Airport our group finally broke through the heavy under brush into a cow pasture where the main portion of the group were anxiously searching for the correct trail.

Before I had time to catch my breath the call of "On!On!" came from low shrubs to the west and the group was off again. From the pasture the trail crossed over Petit Cabrits Point, then across the beach, humanely ending at the "On in" sign near the Aquarium Beach Bar. The hash had taken a grueling four hours and it goes without saying we were all dying for a cold Carib beer.

Without a doubt, the most important aspect of the hash, is gathering at the pub afterwards. Here you rest aching muscles and swap exaggerated tales of the chase with anyone who will listen. The difficulty of the hash is directly

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proportional to the amount of beer consumed, and the better the hash, the taller the tales. The hares had done a great job that day, so the tales were tall and vast quantities of beer was consumed.

Hashers come in all shapes, sizes and ages (I'm living proof), and the Grenada chapter attracts a good mixture of locals and visitors. Worldwide there are some 700 HHH clubs with over 80,000 members. The Grenada chapter meets every other Saturday and for a $1 donation (which usually goes for beer) you too can dash off madly through the forest yelling "On!On!On!"

GUIDE BOOK
For more information about hashing in Grenada you can contact Paul Slinger at his home (473) 440-3243 or work (473) 440-3343. There are HHH chapters on other islands including Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua and Guyana. Antigua's HHH also meets twice a month and the contact is Neil Keeling at (268) 461-0565 or (268) 460-4523. On all other islands check with your hotel or the local tourism office for contact details.

If you want to find out more about the organization and their chapters, contact their international headquarters at, Harrier International, GPO 1670, Bangkok, Thailand, 10501. You can also try any British embassy.

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