Once you are assigned to Hare a trail, you will want to begin the planning process or scouting. There are no set rules for scouting a trail, and some Hares have been known to Hare a live trail without any prior scouting – with some rather less than desired outcomes.
One of the first things you will need to decide is where your trail will begin and where it will end. Some trails are A to A; that is, the trail begins and ends at the same general location. Other trails, A to B, end at a location that differs form the starting point. A to B trails are not as common and are usually associated with a trail that ends at a destination that the Hares want to keep a secret (like a hashers house for a post-hash BBQ). Sometimes a trail just doesn’t offer an opportunity to return to the starting point, so some attention must be paid to how hashers will be ferried back and forth between the differing locations.
The best place to start is online. Sites such as routebuilder.org provide street or satellite views of your targeted trail location. You can then click a start point on the map, and add milestones or waypoints along your intended route with each click of the mouse. The site will keep up with the total distance for you as well. An experienced Hare will create, save and print several variations of trail and take them along for a physical trail scouting trip.
You should make at least one physical visit to your intended trail prior to the hash. You don’t have to run or walk the trail, but driving is generally not the best option either. Many Hares find bicycles to be a great resource for physically scouting a trail. Bikes are much faster than walking and can go places cars just can’t (like shiggy). And, if you are laying a dead trail, many marks can be layed without dismounting your bike. Roller skates and skateboards are also common alternatives.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you physically scout your trail. Many a Hare has been snagged when the trail they mapped was unexpectedly blocked by a locked gate. It’s best that you identify the inevitable “trail blocks” before the hash and determine any alternate route(s) that are needed.
The physical scouting trip also helps the Hares determine what marks they may include. Some marks require a certain level of sensitivity as to where they are layed. If you plan on hosting any stops on trail (beverage, photo, clothing swap, etc.), make sure you are aware of Muggles and Aliens (Non-Hashers and Law Enforcement) and plan these stops accordingly.
At the conclusion of your online and physical scouting, you should have a thoughtfully planned trail that includes a general understanding of the location and type of marks to be layed. You will need to work with the Hair Raiser to update the hashing info about your planned trail with the starting location, Shiggy level, distance and other relevant info.