Jan 1, 2013

Hash Trash 2013 January 1 Run #494 New Year Hangover Psycho Path

Survivors of the New Year’s Eve run gathered for an early start to run #494 at Nimitz Park.  Moments before the scheduled start, it was raining and the temperature was a mere 3C.  The weather was cold and wet, but just as city sirens marked noon, the sun suddenly broke through the clouds.  Hashers present were Psychodrunk, Chainsaw Assacre, Free Ball Friday, AKAGay, SMG, Ju-On and his nephew NFN Tenma, and a visiting Nagoya H3 harriett by the name of Daikon-Do-Me.
As usual, Psychodrunk promised to hare a flat, short trail with a beer stop that included actual free beer a beer stop.  However he neglected to qualify his statement, by adding it would be the shortest, flattest trail “of 2013”.
From the USO, the trail headed straight out the main entrance of Nimitz Park and crossed International Boulevard where Pscyho placed an intersection.  True trail headed north towards the expressway entrance, then veered west along the north edge of Dragon Vale housing.  After ascending the long stairway next to the expressway entrance, Psycho took true trail west for several hundred meters of Imafuku-Cho and then the long climb began in earnest.  The trail followed several stairways and sidewalks upward, before leveling out at the Ubud Love Hotel.   From there the trail went westward on the main road for almost 1km and suddenly took a sharp right and plunged into the forest. 
Wet rocks and muddy soil made for a slippery trail, but gradually the pack followed it upward.  Daikon Do Me, Chainsaw, and Ju-On’s nephew led the pack through this shiggy, past abandoned terraces and home sites in the forest.  Much of the ascent was spent on open forest terrain, with only toilet paper serving as the guide.  With the wet conditions, pulling yourself up by grabbing on tree branches was critical.  Many hashers slipped and suffered hash gash, a muddy bum, or spilled minor blood on trail.  After about 45 minutes of a steady upward climb, the trail suddenly emerged from the shiggy at the base of the Mt. Yumihari Observation Platform. 
The beer stop actually existed as promised.  Psycho’s cooler was stocked with ice cold Yebisu at the end of one of the Yumihari observation decks.  Much of the wooden walkway was covered with a few millimeters of snow, and occasional snow flurries pelted the pack with snow pellets as they enjoyed their beer.
From the observation deck, the trail traveled north over the summit of Yumihari by the old artillery battery, then back down to the north parking lot.  At this point, the FRBs did a really shitty job of clearing an intersection, but after a few minutes your humble correspondent was able to find the true trail leading down an improved hiking trail to the northeast.   Other hashers apparently were less determined.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that AKAGay crossed through the park at the summit of Mt Yumihari, but upon seeing that the trail again plunged back into the forest, he, Ju-On, and Free Ball Friday decided to investigate other options to finish the run.  They walked to the Yumihari Hotel, and found that there was a free bus.  The only catch was that a minimum purchase was needed for the free ride.  They soon discovered that the hotel’s onsen spa was only 600 Yen, and decided to soak in the warm rejuvenating waters.  Meanwhile, back at Sasebo Park, SMG, Chainsaw, Psycho, Texas and NFN Tenma were standing out in the cold waiting for the DFLs to return.
On the way down from Yumihari, Psychodrunk let a much more civilized trail, keeping the trail mostly on paved roads.  Eventually, he took the trail back into the neighborhoods above the expressway entrance, descending along narrow sidewalks and stairways.    A few hundred meters above the expressway interchange, he laid one intersection too many, resulting in a hare snare.  Chainsaw and the NFN Tenma came across this intersection, snaring Psychodrunk as he returned from laying a false trail.
The pack followed the trail back to Sasebo Park without further incident, arriving at 1400.  As for the DFLs, they arrived at the finish at 1530.  Swing low was at 1600, followed by an OnOn party in Yonkacho.
OnOn, Texas T-Bag

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