In the Spotlight - Armenia
Hazukashii
In the Spotlight – Armenia
By Ed “Hazukashii” Howell
29 September 2022
Armenia (a.k.a. Hayastan) is one of four countries that make up the Caucuses (with Azerbaijan, Georgia, and a southern region of Russia), although some references include parts of northeastern Turkey, northern Iran, and the little known self-declared republic of Artsakh. Officially part of Azerbaijan, Artsakh (a.k.a. Nagorno-Karabakh) according to the World Atlas, is located in the southeastern region of the lesser Caucuses.
The capital city of Armenia has been Yerevan since 1920, where one third of the total 3 million population of the country reside. The city is highlighted by an extensive array of water fountains and parks. Like Azerbaijan and Georgia, the current region that makes up Armenia has at least once been a part of the Roman, Arab, Mongol, Ottoman, Turkish, Persian, Georgian, and Russian empire/kingdoms. Most recently a member state of the Soviet Union, Armenia declared its independence on 23 September 1991.
According to Wikipedia, the “Kingdom of Armenia reached its height under Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC and in the year 301 became the first state in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion.” Among many other items of note, although actually in Turkey, the picturesque Mount Ararat is clearly visible from the capital.
On 28 April 1996, Klaus ‘Cuming Bull’ Gehlhaar, along with the assistance of Dave 'Wrong Hole' Franz, Thomas 'Hang Loose' Wimber, and Keith 'Chicken Shit' McMahon, founded the Yerevan H3, as recorded in the HHH Genealogy. The Yerevan H3 has seen several periods of hibernation over the ensuing decades due to pack size participation, but the current iteration kicked off in 2021, still claims the original founding date in 1996, but recently hosted restart trail #11.
There has been a constant recurring level of tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with border skirmishes taking place on a recurring basis. After one such clash in 2020, things were so tense in the region, that any sort of conspicuous conduct by foreigner was scrutinized. This brought hashing to the attention of the local authorities, and they had to once again go into hibernation, due to the gathering pack, and flour and chalk marks on streets and sidewalks. The reborn hash in 2021 has utilized a more stealth pattern of posting the hash trail beforehand, and the hare guiding the pack through the run. Although lacking the thrill of actual paperchase, where the pack gets to search for trail, at least the Yerevan H3 gets to enjoy the overall essence of hashing.
I was lucky enough to join the Yerevan H3 for their most recent hash run that started on the hilltop overlooking the city, with the trail twisting its way through the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. We followed up trail and circle, with a delicious Armenia BBQ at a local taverna. Armenia has also hosted the regional INTERCOCK hash weekend, rotating hosting duties with Azerbaijan and Georgia. The recent pandemic and dwindling numbers of hashers in the region has put a hold on current INTERCOCK events, but there is hope that this event will resume in the coming years. So if you ever get the opportunity to go to Armenia, check out the website for future trails and enjoy the fun with a great pack of hashers.
For many more articles like this on the history of hashing, check out . . . http://gotothehash.net/history/inthespotlight.html