I just love the number 4, it brings me luck or so I think. So when I saw that run number 444 was coming up, you can imagine how pleased I was, and I definitely had to set it!
I will leave it up to you to decide whether this good Hash owed it all to its number, or to the presence of great hashers, the nice weather, the air and the beauty of the mountains, and the uplifting mood of it all.
Anyway, the pack gathered at Stalker to rejoice over the presence of many returners: Pink Traffic, soon-to-be-named-Ainash, One Man and All Inclusive, Sveta the newly wed and Temir Dick (hey, again a returner who sets the Hash, he just volunteered over the phone! hint!). And then, off we went all the way to Medeo, where we happily sang Father Abraham.

The runners started running immediately, away from the ice-skating rink and up the mountain. And the walkers bravely followed, at a much slower pace. After a while, I realized that One Man, All Inclusive and I were WAY ahead of the pack, and out of voice reach. So I invented a new sign, body language rather: put your hands on your hips and move your right foot, symbolizing impatience, exaggerating the movement to be seen from a distance, so that the walkers who pretend to be walking but are actually strolling about in a very contemplative mood understand that they need to hurry up.

The first checkpoint went all right, All Inclusive enthusiastically checking to the right next to the waterfall and beautiful flowers and rundown bridges, and Pink Traffic courageously checking a trail that was even more uphill than the rest! (‘It is part of the fun’ was this true hasher’s comment) At this point One Man was sitting down (hey I forgot, this is a violation!) and Pedfac actually thought of taking a taxi for the uphill part of the walk, for which she duly received a Down-Down later on. More bucolic scenes were admired, with cows and horses and the fragrance they leave behind. Pornographer cheerfully documented the walk, for she was acting Hash Flash. Ainash was very amused at my joy and pride as a Hare when the runners finished their first extra loop and returned to the main trail right on time to meet the walkers. And we kept getting higher and higher, soon reaching ecstasy just from seeing the mountains around us.

And then came the downhill part, which went a bit faster even if Pornographer and Sveta did a disappearing act and we had to wait for them. The trail went through the construction site of a restaurant that is going to have a magnificent view over the sunset in the valley, and was lined by the two kinds of pine trees that can be seen in these mountains, one original (the tallest) and the other imported by the Russians a long time ago (thank you Temir Dick for this factoid). And at the end was the circle. The run discussion had a theme: loneliness, because Stinkfoot is feeling lonely in the runners trail with only the Hare with him (runners anywhere?). I was still feeling inventive so I punished Pink Traffic for ecology infraction: she picked up a very strange flower only to throw it out at the end of the Hash. Remember that our best runs are not in the city, so respect Mother Nature!

For the second time in two weeks, we had an On-In at Stalker, while discussing the future of the Hash, and I am sure it is because it was run 444 that I could feel the Hash spirit still alive! ON-ON!

Next hash is going to be set by a surprise hare and yours truly again, for it might be my last Hash in Almaty and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. The following Hash, on Sept. 19, will be set by Stinkfoot and Pedfac.