Impromptu Emmitsburg!

Though the original plan was to go camping on the Potomac with Tom, rain forced team NORSA to the Stone-Drinking-Fortress in Emmitsburg without Tom. Ordinarily, NORSA goes to Emmitsburg to ski, but this trip provided an interesting change.

The weekend basically consisted of having dinner at the Shamrock and building a big fire in the fireplace. We got a sampler of Sam Adams and decided which flavor was the best. The next day, the weather improved, so we went to breakfast in Thrumont, and hiked the Catoctain Furnace Trial where we discovered mystical ancient ruins. All in all, it was a really fun and norsariffic weekend.

Shotgun Fun at Bull Run + Crabs at Quarterdeck

Today, NORSA members visited the Bull Run Shooting Center in Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. Four new shooters including NORSA members Justin Kahrl, Megan Sands, and Nora Hoffman, and NORSA initiate, Eddie Diaz, enrolled and fulfilled the required new shooters' course at the Park. The course, which typically lasts a couple of hours, covers not only everything from safety and firearm functionality but also how to shoot clays well and even includes some time on the range. After the lecture portion of the class concluded, the NVRPA shooting instructor took the four students to the skeet range to get a little hands on experience with the shotguns.

While the new shooters were in class, returning NORSA Shooting Sports Team veterans Matt White and Tom S joined up with darkhorse ringer Fred Kukelhaus to shoot some rounds of trap together. It was a beautiful for a shootout, with just a few clouds and plenty of sunshine. Fred took the first round in a blowout with a 50% accuracy rating hitting 12 of 25 clays, but really only out of 24 due to a gun jam. Tom took round two with 16 out of 25 after switching back to his old gun that he had to share with Matt since his new Mossberg 500 malfunctioned and needs tools to get fixed. Watch a short clip of Fred taking the final shot of the day below:

Altogether, great fun was had by all, but the fun was by no means over yet ... as the class let out and the trap shooters wrapped up, there was not enough time for an all-comers' shoot because Fred had reserved a table at the Quarterdeck for the whole gang. Forty-two fresh Maryland blue crabs were steamed with copious quantities of Old Bay seasoning and brought to the hungry shooters, along with some frosty pitchers of beer. Not a single crab was left uneaten and everyone needed a good, long shower afterward - a huge success by crab feast standards!

NORSA has not been back to the Bull Run Shooting Center since April of 2008, so stay on top of the NORSA Upcoming Events section as a new trip will be posted soon for late August or sometime in September because there's no reason something as fun as clay-shooting should only be done once a year!

Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest 8K Recap

On Saturday, July 18th, 2009, many NORSA members ran in the 24th annual Rockville Twilight Runfest in Maryland. Returning NORSA members Matt White, Russ, Leo , Nora, and Tom S joined new and aspiring members Laura, Laurel, Jared, Mike, and Vic. This race brings Laura on board as a full-fledged NORSA member, too. The Twilighter, a race sponsored by the Rockville Rotary Club, has been a race in which NORSA has had solid representation for several years now, and this year was clearly no exception.











Race-day conditions were fair, with the heat dying off a little as the night approached. The official start time was 8:46 PM, and night was creeping in swiftly as the runners left the start line. The course winds through downtown Rockville, its surrounding neighborhoods and schools, and Montgomery College's campus before popping the runners out on to Rockville's main drag of 355. After crossing the finish and removing their timing chips, all runners were invited to head over to the Michelob Ultra beer tent and enjoy four frosty beverages.

Results are available here: http://mcrrc.org/racing/2009/09twilighter.htm

Old Rag Mountain Hike

Sunday, July 19, 2009 - The NORSA summer hiking series is a sampler of local hikes in the Washington, DC area, this year including outings in the Monongahela National Forest, Shenanadoah National Park, Rock Creek Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Catoctin Mountain Park. In July the series kicked into full gear as Team NORSA members Matt, Nora, Leo, Laura, Steven S, and Emily headed to Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park.  Old Rag is a staple hike in the Blue Ridge in northern Virginia.  This moderate, approximately 7 mile loop winds through switchbacks, boulders, and crags to reach a summit of 3291 feet (1003m) and near 360-degree vistas.  The event accidentally, but fortuitously, coincided with one of this summer's fee free weekends in the National Parks.   The mountain was surprisingly not crowded on a clear day during the free weekend.

Although arguably already a NORSA member, this event marks Laura's debut in a NORSA article.  Congratulations, Laura!

The Old Rag features a notorious section of rock scrambling, requiring upper body strength, teamwork, guts, and glory.  Tactical pants are recommended to allow for sliding on one's butt and to avoid scraping one's legs in the tough spots.

Overall the best advice for conquering the mountain was given by another group of hikers; "remember to breathe, it is good for your lungs."

The group made it to the top with only a slight hiccup which required some bushwacking.  Leo's beefy Hawaiian arm allowed the group to make up some time.  No doubt previous NORSA outings on the Billy Goat Trail and Duncan Knob ensured that all were prepared to "rock it out".
 

After enjoying lunch at the summit, the trip down to the parking area was relatively uneventful.  The trip back to DC was more eventful in that it involved a meal at Cracker Barrel.  Many hungry Americans were doing what hungry Americans do best.

Stay tuned for future NORSA summer hiking series action!

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.