Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers — FAQs & Info
What Should I Bring?
Wear clothes you are comfortable moving around outside in—clothes that you don’t mind getting stained, and maybe even ripped, depending on how wildly you decide to run. Do NOT wear new shoes. Bring a change of clothes for afterwards. If the hash is listed as CONTRA, bring money on trail for the beer stops and food.
What Are Our Hashes Like?
Trails are generally of the pre-laid variety, though someone occasionally does the “live hare” thing just to confuse us (not hard to do). The average length is 3–4 miles, but you never know for sure. Rarely does a trail not have a beer stop, shiggy (mud, thorns, etc.), and hills. Typically, about 30 people show up for regular hashes, with slightly fewer for pay-your-own-way hashes (e.g., Full Moon hashes).
Membership — $20/year
While there are innumerable casual participants in our hashes, we also have an official membership who are kept in the loop for special events and help cover miscellaneous operating expenses. The Pittsburgh Hash has approximately 80 active members—about half male and half female. Inbreeding is popular here; there are several married couples plus a few stranger relationships.
Members pay annual dues to fund special events and cover miscellaneous expenses. Each member must “host” one hash per year—that is, lay a trail and provide food and beer at the end.
Not a member? Join or renew your membership for 2025: PDF
The Hash Discuss List
There is a Google Group for the Pittsburgh Hash. It is mostly deprecated, yet new at the same time (it replaced the old Yahoo group). The Discuss list occasionally has freewheeling back-and-forth chatter—not necessarily related to hashing. Tits and beer are perennial hot topics. The old Announce list and the old Yahoo group are now defunct.
Now that we’re well into the 21st century, the Pittsburgh kennels also have a lively private Facebook group. Befriend a local hasher to find out how to join it! Most trails are also posted as Facebook events.
Who Started Us on Our Road to Ruin?
The Pittsburgh HHH was founded in 1980 by Jay “Cap’t Lewd” Gore. Run #1 was June 14, 1980. Hashes were originally held every other week, but now run weekly. Jack “No Code” Brillman and Mary Jane “Sprain Brain” Brillman hared the first Full Moon hash in September 1989; Full Moon hashes continue to be held on every full moon. Go figure.
About the logo: It was designed by Sharon “Outhouse” Newman and first appeared in the newsletter handed out at Run 217 on September 22, 1986 (with the writeup of Run 216).
A Testimonial
A little bit of history. Before H5 ever existed, there was a Pittsburgh Hash. They were the first, and premier hash event of the Spring. They had the band (Jill West Blues Band), the hot tubs, and the Midnight Nude Runs. Not to take anything away from H5, because I also think that Stinko is the best, but Pittsburgh was THE model for a hashing/camping weekend. This will be my 21st year of attending PGH’s Analversary, and I’m very happy to see we’re getting more and more H5ers.*
— tubslut, March 22, 2011
Laying for the First Time?
Check the Hash Calendar and then contact our Hare Raiser. As soon as you have a venue picked out, send them directions to be posted to the site calendar.
Advice for Laying Trail, courtesy of Folker.