Due to mismanagement cues in the past, we've had a single day's run set by as many as six hares. This time, two hares, Make Me Come and As Yet Unnamed Zaura, conspired together to produce the equivalent of three trails back to back to back, leading the hounds on an epic (for Almaty) 90 minute chase. Uphill. Both ways. In the snow. Well, no, not in the snow, but you get the idea.

Before that, however, the troupe was treated with a visit by exiled ex-Grand Master Jackmaster, visiting from the circle of hell known as Tashkent, where the hash has no beer. All this month, we'll be accepting donations to provide funds for these poor beerless hashers.

What's that you say? The Tashkent has no beer on purpose?

Moving right along...

Jackmaster, having thrown out his back trying a new sexual position, was unable to join the pack on their ambitious endeavor, but did manage to hoist a mug or two at Mad Murphy's before the run without straining anything essential. Red Menace also dropped by to let us know of her impending move to England. Do they have beer there? Hopefully Red Menace will report back soon on this pressing question.

Having (for the first time in many moons) a surfeit of automobiles due to the kindness (or is that gullibility?) of virgins, the pack set off in redplated SUVs to the median of Al Farabi, where the pack was warned that the trail which had been set was actually intended as an obstacle course for the U.S. Marines, meaning that it would probably be a little too easy for your average hasher. But nothing could have been further from the truth!

The trail to be followed led over the river, through the woods, and... no, wait, that was something else. Across Al Farabi, down by the river, in a white van... no, wait, that's something else again.

Over a river and back again, into the botanical garden, back across Al Farabi (yes, this is the one) and then up Almaty's own version of Heartbreak Hill, a construction road leading to an electricity transformer at the top and an absolutely gorgeous view of Almaty. The Hash Flash, of course, didn't bring his camera, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Then, instead of heading down the hill towards the circle, which would have been too obvious, the trail took a treacherous and wholly evil checkback down along the river path again, allowing the hare and the stragglers to pass the front running bastards on their way back to the circle, where the warm Tien Shan was felt well-deserved all around, except by the walkers, who had been waiting for an hour.

The circle welcomed several virgins, newcomers and returners. The GM charged the entire circle for failing to give HIM any violations recently. Hiking Beaver was given more than her share for violations various and sundry, and the sock check was mistakenly forgotten, for which revenge will be had soon, my pretties... you and your little dog, too!