VTH3 Trail #060: Fancy Schmancy Schmanska — Saturday Run/Walk/Hike

When: Saturday, January 4, 2025, 1:00 PM HST
Where: Schmanska Park Parking Lot near 85 Grove St, Burlington, VT (44.484830, -73.184522)
Hares: Salty Cumpiss and ???
What to bring: $6.9 hash cash, New Year’s resolutions, New Year’s revenge plans, soup (it’s soup month!), friends, enemies, virgins

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It’s the first trail of a brand new year, which means this is finally Salty’s chance to hare the best trail of the year! 🙌 Expect to be mostly on and off trails that may be either muddy, frozen, or covered in snow. I can’t even tell with this weather anymore. And we’ll be starting from the parking lot that’s across from Schmanska Park. …which I still can’t believe is the actual name of the park. I genuinely thought Salty was pulling my leg when they said that was the start location but lo and behold, it’s a real place with the funniest name.

Ok, so according to the Internets, Schmanska Park was established by Pearl E. Schmanska in memory of her husband Frank on January 19, 1942. ❤️ Both Frank and Pearl Schmanska were avid supports of outdoor recreation and Frank was the chairman of the Chittenden County Fish and Game Club’s rabbit committee—I bet they would have loved hashing. Initially, the seven acre park had a playground, skating rink, sports field and barn but the rink and field were later replaced by tennis (now pickleball) and basketball courts. 🌠 The more you know!

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🏃What is Hashing?
What do you get when you combine running (or walking), a combination scavenger hunt, silly songs, inappropriate jokes, kilts, and beer?
Meet the Hash House Harriers, a non-competitive running social club. Hash runs, called trails, are non-competitive scavenger hunt-style events where you can enjoy a scenic run/walk at your own pace followed by a social gathering with food and drink. The route is marked on the ground with chalk or biodegradable flour. The "hare" is a volunteer who plans the run and marks the trail. The "hounds" are the other runners who follow the trail. Just like a scavenger hunt!

🤔 Do I have to run?
Nope! In hashing, the athletic and competitive aspects of running take a back seat to the social side of things. Hashing caters to all levels of runners, with a few walkers at each hash. Von Tramp hash trails are usually 3-6 miles; most even have a split trail for walkers or runners who wish to do a shorter distance.

🍻 Do I have to drink?
While we do enjoy a nice cold beer, consumption is completely optional. There is always water and non-alcoholic options. There is never any obligation to drink alcohol.

🌲 Who are the Von Tramp Hash House Harriers?
The Von Tramp Hash House Harriers (VTH3) was founded in 2021 by two thirsty hashers who did not want to stop being active during winter in Vermont. We run every other Saturday during winter (November-April). You can see when all of our upcoming trails are happening on our website. You can also join us on Facebook.

👋 Ready to give hashing a try?
Join us for a trail! All you need is some comfortable running gear. If it's a wet or wintry day, a change of clothes (or at least socks) is recommended.
We're a very welcoming and accepting group of lovable idiots. And who knows, you might even enjoy yourself. Plus, your first trail is always free!
BUT....... if you're still wondering if hashing is right for you, check out our blog post that covers everything you need to know about hashing with us here in Vermont.

❗This meet-up is intended to help reach out to new members.
Don't let the low numbers of people who RSVP on this site fool you: there are generally 15 to 20 hashers at every event! They're just all bad at social media.

All attendees must be 21+.