VTH3 Trail #067: Hunt for Eggsellence — Saturday Run/Walk/Hike

When: Saturday, April 19, 2025, 1:00 PM HST
Where: Oakledge Park, Burlington, VT (furthest in lot)
Hares: 20 Gallons of Piss and Siren’s Thong
What to bring: $6.9 hash cash, a fun basket, leftover chocolate, dogs that can sniff our hares, your finest occult garb

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This upcoming weekend is a special one—while Jesus is stuck behind a rock and stoners prepare to sit on their couches all day Sunday, it’s the yearly return of Ostremar! This Saturday, join 20 Gallons of Piss and Siren’s Thong in Oakledge Park as we reenact some of the customs of one of Vermont’s least known occult groups and await the return of the “Thumping One”. It will be a day filled with lots of fun, frolic and folklore! Bring a basket to try and collect as many offerings for Ostremar as you can.

Not sure about our lord and savior, Ostremar? Fortunately for you I happen to obsessed with all things cryptid.

Excerpt from Vermont Obscura: Forgotten Folklore and Occult History of the Green Mountain State, 2nd Edition (1937)

• In the remote and largely inaccessible region of Addison County, near the border of what was once indigenous Algonquin territory, historical records and oral traditions suggest the presence of a fringe religious sect known as the Breadloaf Covenant. Active from the late 18th century through to the early 20th, this isolated community is believed to have practiced an esoteric form of ritual worship centered on a figure they called Ostremar—a hare-like entity described in surviving texts as “a great burrowing god with antlers of ash and a maw lined in shadow.” Early anthropological surveys, though sparse, note peculiar springtime gatherings marked by animal sacrifice, the distribution of dyed eggs filled with hair and teeth, and unsettling children's rhymes about a "Thumping One" who comes "from the roots beneath to reap the soft and slow."
• While mainstream historians initially dismissed the cult as an offshoot of Christian syncretism or a colonial-era fertility rite distorted by isolation, more recent examinations suggest possible ties to pre-colonial cryptid legends—specifically, Algonquin stories of a “white shadow hare” said to haunt thawing forest edges. Curiously, several 19th-century disappearances in the region remain officially unsolved, and local folklore continues to caution travelers against walking in the woods near Breadloaf during the weeks surrounding the vernal equinox. To this day, residents of nearby towns report strange nocturnal sounds: rhythmic thumping in the underbrush, and on occasion, egg-shaped objects found near doorsteps, still warm and inexplicably pulsing.

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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+.