define: NORSAriffic

The results of the NORSAriffic survey are in! To define what it means to be a NORSA member, what standards are expected of NORSA events, and what you can do to be more NORSAriffic in your everyday life, we issued a survey to gauge public perception on a NORSAriffic scale.



Respondents were asked to rate a number of events on their degree of NORSArifficness. Below are the results. Averages reported (N=11).

EXTREMELY NORSAriffic!
9.78 Everglades Challenge (500 mile sailing race).
9.67 Cross-country bicycle trip.
9.67 Ironman triathlon (miles: 2.4 swim, 112 bike, 26.2 run).
9.00 Climbing trip.
9.00 Adventure race (biking, trail running, canoeing).

VERY NORSAriffic
8.89 Boston Marathon (26.2 mile run).
8.67 Half-Ironman triathlon (miles: 1.2 swim, 56 bike, 13.2 run).
8.67 Multi-night backpacking trip (winter).
8.44 Olympic-distance triathlon (km: 1.5 swim, 40 bike, 10 run).
8.33 Whitewater Kayaking trip.
8.33 Century bicycle ride.
8.22 Marathon (other than Boston) (26.2 mile run).
8.22 Sailing trip.
8.00 Half-Marathon (13.1 mile run).

Really NORSAriffic
7.89 Sprint triathlon (km: .75 swim, 20 bike, 5 run).
7.89 Whitewater Canoeing trip.
7.67 Multi-night backpacking trip (summer).
7.67 Hash run.
7.44 Duathlon (5 mile run, 31 mile bike, 5 mile run).
7.22 10 miler.
7.22 10 km run.
7.11 8 km run.

Pretty NORSAriffic
6.78 One night backpacking trip (summer).
6.67 5 km run.
6.67 Flatwater Kayaking/Canoeing trip.
6.56 One night backpacking trip (winter).
6.44 Car camping trip (summer).
6.22 Shooting trip.

Moderately NORSAriffic
5.56 Car camping trip (winter).
5.56 General road trip.


How NORSAriffic are you? Use the numbers above to calculate your own personal NORSAriffic rating.

NORSA ICE Conquers Another GWNF Peak

On January 17th, 2009, NORSA members convened for the annual Insane Cold-weather Excursion (ICE), an extreme camping trip in below-freezing temperatures. This year's ICE, though different in many ways from last year's, had much in common with ICE 2008. For instance, this year saw no more turnout than last year, and once again, ICE was confined to just three intrepid adventurers.

Repeat-offenders Tom, Steve, and Steven S., all from last year's ICE, coordinated and participated in the trip this new year. Furthermore, in what is becoming a tradition, the trio set out late and ended up hiking up the mountain partially in the dark. Finally, once more this year, as with last, 40's were purchased for summit consumption.

Upon hitting the trailhead, Tom and Steve, veterans of NORSA ICE 2004, remembered the parking area and quick stream crossing from the previous trip. The failed attempt to reach Duncan Knob in 2004 actually resulted in a camping trip at Scothorn Gap, and this year's group passed by the old campsite on this trip. In 2004, explorers from NORSA found the saddle pond along a trail which actually leads to Duncan Knob, but, without the aid of a map, they couldn't know that they were only about three miles from the peak. The 2009 ICE crew passed the pond in the waning daylight and pushed forward the remainder of the yellow-blazed Scothorn Gap Trail until it connected with the blue-blazed Gap Creek Trail that leads up to the Peach Orchard Gap campsite between Duncan Knob and the Middle Mountain ridgeline.

After reaching the white-blazed Duncan Knob Summit Trail, the troop set uphill to climb the peak, but instead deemed the final rock scramble to be to dangerous in the limited light. Returning to Peach Orchard Gap, they set up camp in the clearing and lit a raging fire to stave off the frigid, bone-chilling cold. Though not as windy as Signal Knob, the campsite at Peach Orchard Gap was not lacking for good fire wood and nature stoked the flames quite handily with some strong gusts. When the fire was out, the campers settled down to get what rest they could in long hours of the frozen night.

The next morning dawned rosily over the Massanuttens and Steve, Tom, and Steven S. set up the ridge trail to finish what they'd started. Duncan Knob, from it's perch on the peak of Catback Mountain, offers a spectacular 360° view of the George Washington National Forest and the surrounding area. To the east, one can see Kerns Mountain and Jawbone Gap; to the south, Waterfall Mountain and Scothorn Gap; to the east, the Shenandoah River and river valley is visible through Burner's Gap; and to the north, Duncan Hollow, Fort Valley, and Kennedy Peak. The climb to the peak is a fun rock scramble that involves some decent climbing skills and the payoff is rewarding when the view is great on a clear day.

Returning to camp and gathering their gear, the crew set off on the trail to return home. Along the way, though, they couldn't resist the saddle pond and it's enticing glassy surface. A solid six-inch thick sheet of ice covered the pond and petrified the clearing in a crystalline winter stillness. Some fox and deer tracks were in the sprinkling of snow that covered the icy pond's edge, and, following suit, the NORSA campers enjoyed some fun on the ice as well. Then, it was time to finish the hike and grab some lunch before heading back to DC. A trip to Front Royal brought the hungry trekkers to Mikado Japanese Steakhouse for some fantastic hibachi before heading back to the city and all the incoming Inaugural traffic.

ICE 2009 marks another big success in the pages of the NORSA extreme adventures. The 8° weather was second only to the 7° temperature of ICE 2004, and the night-hiking was equally, if not more, extreme as the night-hike of ICE 2008. With another year under its belt, who knows what 2010 will bring any adventurers brave enough to put themselves through the absudity that is NORSA ICE?

McTrouser Gravy Bike Challenge a ... success!

Long ago, NORSA cycling veterans Tim Josey, Alan Stewart, and Adam gathered over drinks and hashed up a new type of competition. This would combine elements of Ironman, the Krispy Kreme Challenge, and the Virgilinia Twelvety. A sort of Mythbusters crossed with Fear Factor, the event would require stamina, endurance, and perseverance. After many months of rescheduled dates and school conflicts, the team gathered this past Sunday to complete the McTrouser Gravy Bike Challenge.

Everyone knows that endurance cycling, McDonald's Quarter Pounders, and prunes all have something in common - they all create a similar effect on your body. The heart of the McTrouser Gravy Bike Challenge was to combine all three elements and see who could hang on the longest.



The team gathered Sunday at 11:00 AM (along with NORSA member and race supporter Taylor Hinson) and started with the pre-bike portion of the event. Over the course of an hour the competitors consumed a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and three cups of prunes (roughly 1.25 lbs), with prune juice being the only beverage alternative. Keep in mind that most internet sources recommend a daily intake a 2-3 prunes, with 4-6 being a daily maximum.

After an hour had passed and the members had consumed the burgers and prunes, they straddled their bicycles and began a bike ride on their traditional Bonsal training route. This bike ride mostly travels through rural terrain with many uninhabited stretches which would provide ample opportunity for the competitors to abandon the race and sprint into the woods.

A rule was set which mandated the crew hold a 15 mph average, but throughout the ride actually held an average of over 17 mph. As the miles ticked by, the crew could feel the dense mass of prunes ravaging their innards. Beginning as severe stomach cramps, the feeling later transformed itself into a pressing need to stop cycling.

Adam was the first competitor out of the race, bailing at the 17.8 mile mark. After being picked up by Taylor in the chase vehicle, they caught up to the riders just in time to see Alan abandon the race just past Bonsal at the 22 mile mark.



Showing a feat of inhuman strength, Tim remained in competition long after he had to. "I couldn't s@#% even if I tried" Tim reported as Alan made a dash behind a set of railroad tracks. At this point, the team got into the chase vehicle and returned to Adam's house, where Tim continued to compete for approximately another hour.

The team learned a few things from this endeavor. 1) Prunes and prune juice in massive quantities do not taste good. 2) The cramping is the worst part of the competition. 3) The effects of the competition continue for many hours longer than you would like them to.

The challenge was formally completed and at the end of the day, win or lose, everyone was a loser.

Sunday Afternoon Hiking on the Billy Goat Trail

On Sunday, January 11th, NORSA members gathered to hike the Billy Goat Trail along the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Steven Splitek, who is preparing for the Bataan Death March Memorial Marathon in March, was the impetus behind the trip, and carried a rucksack with 35 lbs of text books and water along the hike. Joining him on the trip and starting off down the C&O Canal Towpath to the trailhead by Old Angler's Inn were Matt White, Nora Hoffman, Tom Saffell, and NORSA newcomer, Emily Paladino.

Despite the trailheads being closed for flooding, the troop was not discouraged and checked all three trail entrances to be certain the trail was actually closed. The third trailhead was open and it turns out that the park stewards had merely forgotten to remove the trail closure cordons from earlier flooding that had since receded. Despite the chilly weather, the hike was pleasant and provided the NORSA folks with some very nice views of the river, some cold-weather kayakers, and some interesting wildlife including a deer, some beautiful avian specimens, and various other critters.

The Billy Goat Trail is a moderately challenging day hike that takes hikers, wanderers, trailrunners, and explorers over easy trail, rock scrambles, rock climbs, and stream crossings. The most difficult portion of the trail is certainly the 45-foot rock climb that can be traversed either up or down depending on which trailhead one chooses to begin the hike. This hike is a quick and easy half-day affair at most and is easy to follow with its distinctive light blue blazes amply laid out along the trail. This short and sweet little event will certainly be occurring again and again in the NORSA repertoire, so if you would like to join us next time or even be the instigator behind such a quick, fun, and easy trip, please join the mailing list or e-mail any NORSA coordinator in order to get involved.

NORSA Annual ICE 2009

NORSA is kicking the New Year off right with its annual winter camping trip (ICE or the Insane Cold-Weather Excursion) in the Massanutten Mountains of Virginia. This year, there is actually enough interest that a cold-weather trip may occur twice in the early months of 2009. The first confirmed trip is scheduled for January 17 - 18. Please contact Tom Saffell or Steve Long if you'd like to come along.

The peak planned for the January trip is Duncan Knob. Signal Knob, while beautiful and convenient, is a bit played at this point. Some NORSA members may remember the failed attempt to reach Duncan Knob back in 2004 that resulted in a camping trip to Scothorn Gap, which had no view whatsoever (although there was a bad-ass ice pond).

In this edition of the NORSA Annual ICE, NORSA campers will finally claim their rightful place atop the glorious 2,200 foot crest of Duncan Knob after four long years. The next trip may occur sometime in late February and will most likely feature an as yet un-NORSA-conquered peak, Strickler Knob, a 2,240 foot peak south of Duncan Knob and Kennedy Peak (NORSA ICE 2003 peak) and north of New Market Gap. On both trips prepare for fun, forties, and freezing temperatures!!

Check out the hikes at hikingupward.com:
Duncan Knob (January '09) & Strickler Knob (tentatively February '09)

Read the post about last year's ICE to Signal Knob or watch the video from 2008. Also, learn about the origin of the annual trip.

Additionally, NORSA also has many other awesome events on the horizon in this brand new year. The Krispy Kreme Challenge, the Shamrock Marathon (and Half), skiing at Jackson Hole, as well as several unscheduled weekend ski trips, country home excursions, and of course many more exciting adventures as the weather warms up after March. Be sure to check the upcoming events section on the right column of the page frequently for new events and plans.

A NORSAriffic New Years

NORSA members Steve, Alan Stewart, Julia Brockman, Taylor Hinson, and Adam spent New Years at Steve's beach house in North Litchfield, South Carolina. Just south of Myrtle Beach, the destination provided opportunities for a broad range of NORSA and non-NORSA activities, including New Year's Eve at Club Kryptonite along with trips to Brookgreen Gardens, Castle Atalaya, Georgetown, and Maze Mania.

Happy New Year!