So off everyone set and scattered along the myriad trails leading from the check. Not sure who encountered paper first, but I do know that I was the last of the runners to find it, encountering Rodent standing like a true traffic policeman, hand outstretched pointing the way (and hoping someone would lay a hundred rupee note in it).

Check 2 was a back check which very successfully reversed the running order. After a while along this trail, The Fox expressed serious concern that not only were he and I were out front, but also that we were both still on paper some 15 minutes into the run. Check 3 was soon encountered at which point a degree of normality was restored and I saw neither paper nor The Fox for some time. The trail had been steadily climbing since Check 2 and continued to do so up to Holding Check 4 where I finally caught up with an exceedingly fit young hasher in long yellow shorts, and was followed closely in by Run Crafty.

Waiting for the rest of the pack to arrive, boredom set in and we were obliged to relieve it by taking gentle strolls along the available paths. Eventually the rest arrived and we were invited to check it out. With supreme confidence the three of us set out on what appeared to be the one remaining untested trail, only to encounter Xs in all directions. After a fair degree of scouting about it was Fast Forward who finally found the right trail leading up through the pines to the ridge of Tileshwar Danda. Up and up we went with the Front Hare Grumblewald exhorting us to greater and greater efforts. The effort was rewarded at Holding Check 5 with superb views across the Kathmandu valley to the north and down into the Lele valley to the south.

There was only one way from here and the yellow shorted youth had found it. Along the ridge to the east and a high point, according to Grumble, of 1808m. The trail then led down steeply to the road and Holding Check 6. From here it was pretty much a straight downhill thrash along the road, with a minor diversion near to the On-In to slow the FRBs down a bit.

On-On to the Down-Downs

The Hares suffered the normal abuse - run too flat, not enough paper - before being awarded a resounding 9.9. Virgins Knut, a grovelling Mariana and Luke, a guest of junior Beaufort Oliver were then welcomed in the usual way.

Proceedings were then briefly interrupted whilst Duckbill and Julie decided that they didn't really like each other that much. Once the snarling had stopped dog owners Fast Forward and Towed were duly chastised, along with Lao Lover for some reason - possibly for simply owning one of the other seven mutts on the hash.

Others to enjoy the blessing of the Master were;

Leila reports that, at the close, they returned to their car and were unable to find the key. She blames Pasi who had gone for a lie down after suffering the usual abuse from the Master, for leaving the key in the door lock. It's probably adorning the collar on one of the local goats now. Yellow-shorted youth, now known to be Ramesh, Leila's driver, was unable to hotwire the car so they were stuck. Griot, ever the chivalrous (and ever the last to leave) apparently came to the rescue and gave them all a lift home.

Thanks to the Hares for a beautifully set, scenic and bloody steep run and to Mrs Rotter for the Hash catering.