Although it is possible to get the run further away yet remain in the valley, there’s not too many places other than this, the site of Run Crafty and Yogi’s Run 1268, where it is possible. However, the excellence of the territory had a few of the diehard pack looking further afield for new runs from the later holding checks. In this case, however, distance clearly did not lend enchantment as it was a rather depleted pack that was assembled by the appointed hour.

The briefing was comprehensive and confidently delivered – eleven checks with three of them holding (4, 9 and 11 I believe was what we were told), river crossings and false trails. The GM explained what it was all about to the virgins and the first paper was pointed out. The run was so beautiful that it deserves a tribute in verse, so:

The Hare once again was called Yogi
The assistant was happy Dinesh
The site was miles out of the city
And the pack was unusually less

The briefing was hardly exciting
We knew what was coming to us
With those hills and the temples above us
And no way of taking a bus

So off we set down through the river
Then round and about and across
Back over the river to Check Two
With most of the pack at a loss

Confusion reigned over the false trails
Too many for most to detect
But Rotter found paper eventually
Going up to a nice holding check

We contoured around before climbing
With Fast Forward well out at the front
But he chose the wrong trail from the next check
And ended up right at the back

The next holding check was a classic
But the beer was quite clearly in sight
A sin like this prob’ly deserving
The award of the wondrous Hash Shite

Nobody believed we went downwards
So all of us checked up above
The Hare had eventually to guide us
On tiptoe ‘cross paddy field bunds

The same story was at check seven
The FRBs all went on high
But Yogi again, he had fooled us
So back down we went with a sigh!

Check eight, in the middle of nowhere
More paddy destroyed on the way
A river was crossed at the bottom
And then we were all well away

Holding check nine was a pee break
For many of the knackered pack
Then Yogi said check it out that way
And cleverly stayed at the back

Check ten was a little bit obvious
Still heading away from the beer
No-one was going to go straight on
So off to the left we did veer

The climb to eleven was a bastard
Coming that late in the run
.Fast Forward and Towed were the vanguard
And Pakesy was left on his bum

At the check we all waited in anguish
But the Hare, he just failed to appear
It transpired he forgot all about us
In his urge to get back to the beer

So the GM allowed us to check it
And off we all set to the south
With the beer as a powerful magnet
And the taste of it set in our mouth

The walkers we met on the way through
The virgins got left on the trail
The FRBs don’t give a monkey’s
As long as they get all the ale

And after that staggering tale a period of respite was required. Shrivelled was just about throwing up after his usual quiet Friday night in Thamel and the local audience had time to gather for the spectacle of yet another Rotter circle. A brief interlude was allowed whilst refreshment was taken and the wonderful Run 1400 T-shirts were on sale (WE HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY LEFT SO PLEASE RUSH NEXT WEEK FOR YOUR LAST CHANCE TO PRETEND THAT YOU ACTUALLY DID RUN 1400) before the GM called proceedings to order and the Hares into the middle.

There was surprisingly limited comment given the amount of crop bashing and the fact that if the pack had had to wait for him at Holding Check eleven, we’d all still be there. However, the views were good and the trail was excellent in parts, so they got away with a substantial score of 9.9.
Next in were the virgins, Flora and Christophe from ICRC all the way from Nepalganj, who had been dragged along by Shrivelled, plus a delightful young lady from Japan who had turned up with a Moosette-less Yoshi.
A welcome was then given to newcomer James from a former hashing life in Maputo (we’ll ignore the blindingly clever remarks about next week’s hair etc.,) before returnees Gregoire and Tuna Dip (who said she was leaving for good after Hash 1398) were called in. It should be noted that Tuna Dip is getting too much publicity in the circle of late – the records show;

Run 1397 – returnee
Run 1398 – leaver
Run 1401 – returnee

So what do we expect her to do next week?

Not too much more happened after this. Crashers Rotter, Dave and someone else were given a down-down for their sins and an attempt was made to make a name change for Fast Forward, given a noticeable lack of pace combined with middle-aged spread. However Shrivelled extensively referred to the rules, Hash Bible etc (none of which exist, of course – THERE ARE NO RULES), and Fast Forward managed to hold it all in whilst consuming his down-down, so the attempt was foiled and he remains as Fast Forward.

The Hashit was then awarded to the GM, although I’m not too sure why. Probably, like the mountain, simply because he’s there. (I can't, to be honest, remember why myself - GM)

Thanks to Mrs Rotter for the hash catering and to the Hares for an excellent run.