Hash turns out for trash

The longest meeting organization in the CNMI got together once again last Saturday, but the members of the Saipan Hash House Harriers had more than a run in mind over the weekend as they donned their gear and headed down to Forbidden Island for one of the most taxing beach clean-ups in the Marianas.

Running through wooded areas, climbing rugged hillsides, and creeping through candlelit caves is standard fare for the “drinking club with a running problem,” and they put their boonie-stomping experience to the test as nearly 20 rough-and-ready trash removers made the journey down to the beach along the winding trail to gather up a truckload of trash.

According to Hash historians, the hashers have freed Forbidden Island Beach from its trash every year since 2001, and as a result of their diligence they were able to tackle some of the larger items.

“The first year we had about 40 [hashers], but since we’ve been doing it for six years now, there’s a lot less trash. The first year we had way more than would fit in a truck bed. It had to be put into a dump truck. This year, we had only about half a pickup truck bed. This allowed us to haul out some of the bigger pieces we have had to leave at the bottom for the last few years, including a heavy, rusty spare tire. That one is finally gone now,” said seasoned hasher Brian Bearden.

After rustling up all of the refuse from the beach, the hashers gathered for their traditional “most unusual piece of trash” contest, and the winners received gift certificates from Hamilton’s Bar and Restaurant as prizes.

Later the same day the hashers met for their regular Saturday run across Saipan as the trail blazers set a course that took them around the upper areas of Mount Tapochau. Following the post-run festivities, the hashers went to Hamilton’s where they presented a commemorative plaque from their six years of cleaning Forbidden Island Beach to the proprietor of their unofficial home base.

While the Hashers roll up their sleeves once a year for the challenging task of removing trash from some of the most difficult places to access, they are up to the task of doing it again before they return to Forbidden Island next April.

“We’re always open to doing it more often, if there is a need or a special request. We’ve also done Old Man by the Sea a few times, through special request to the DEQ ‘Beach Brigade’ cleanup program. The Hash takes special pride in cleaning up remote beaches that are difficult to get to, and that are littered primarily with ‘marine debris’ that has floated in from the ocean. We go where the other clean-up groups fear to tread,” Bearden said.

Just like every Saturday, the same people known for running across the world shouting “on-on” and “naked bronco cooler riding” are at it again this weekend, and to participate in the run, show up to the Bank of Guam parking lot in Garapan at 4pm.

The cost to participate in the hash is $10, and first-timers are advised to come equipped with their entry fee, running shoes, and a cross between running and hiking attire.