The Bellinghamster Hash House Harriersis the local chapter of the international running club, the Hash House Harriers.
Nestled lovingly between the twin-peaked bosom of Mt. Kulshan and Mt. Shuksan, the Bellinghamster Hash House Harriers follow 3-5 mile, beer-soaked trails anywhere from the Canadian border to the outskirts of Seattle. At least once a month, you can find us exploring from the moist nether regions of the Nooksack all the way down to the verdant and virile wilderness of the Chuckanuts.
Although athletic ability of the Bellinghamster hounds often ranges from brisk walkers to marathon runners, strategy and collaboration is valued higher than “winning the race.” Different from standard long-distance trail running, “hashing” typically involves treasure-hunt style trails marked by flour or chalk interspersed with opportunities to stop and socialize over adult libations. Sorry kids, 21 and over only!
Hash House Harrier roots extend back to the old English schoolboy game of “Hares and Hounds,” in which some players, called “hounds,” chase others, called “hares.” Founded in 1937 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by British expatriates, hashing can now be found all over the world and in most major cities.
The philosophy of the original Hash House Harriers from the 1938 charter:
- To promote physical fitness among our members
- To get rid of weekend hangovers
- To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer
- To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel
Hashing is steeped in tradition, with a long history of unusual trail marks, drinking songs, and post-trail gatherings. For more information about hash traditions and history, please see here.
Join us once per month on Saturdays at noon. We meet at various locations throughout Whatcom and Skagit Counties. We also often hash with our friends at other PNW nearby kennels from Vancouver, BC, to Bremerton, Seattle, Tacoma, to Portland. It’s a blast!
