La Paz H4 #2024

La Paz H4 #2024 (not the real number, just what year) 🙂

Just ran the highest elevation hash in my life . . . 10,735 feet in Bolivia with the La Paz Highest H3 (LPH4) . . . eclipsing the trail I set in Ecuador for the Quito H3 a couple years ago at 9,872 feet.

For those unfamiliar with elevation, La Paz is the highest government seat (capital) at 11, 942 feet, while Quito is number 2 at 9350 feet. Since we were a little ways out of town, we dropped down to 10,735 feet today, but still very high. I have also run with the Baku H3 in Azerbaijan a couple years ago, the lowest capital city in the world, at 57 feet below sea level. What a contrast, breathing alone makes hashing in Bolivia a bit of a challenge.

The La Paz H4 has a long history dating back to 1988, more on that later, and has gone dormant on a few occasions. The last time they ran a hash was back in July 2022, so it has been a while. I have been in contact with Handy Job for nearly 2 years asking when the next hash would be, and got little encouragement for a visit. This time, I got a glimmer of hope, and said OK . . . I am coming in Dec, and we agreed on a trail for 14 Dec . . . and so it was today. Trail was beautiful, with mountains in every direction. We had only a hare and 4 hounds at the start, but we picked up one more, a virgin, to make it 5 hounds. Trail basically made a lap through the underbrush around the local zoo, and back to our hare, Handy Job’s house.
We had a rousing circle, and then drove back into La Paz for dinner. Another great day on the hash, for my 128th country to hash in.Read more