NORSA-rific outing to the top of the Mountain State

Steven S and his dad have been trying to hit as many states' high points as they can. This July they took the opportunity to drive out to Monongahela National Forest to hike Spruce Knob. Steven S went backpacking in the same area in 2009 but had never been to the top of the knob. The main observation trail is a short one with a huge fire lookout and several overlooks. It is a nice highland area with boulder fields, meadows, and spruce trees, similar to parts of Dolly Sods. They also hiked for a bit on the adjacent Huckleberry Trail which had some nice campsites that might make for a nice adventure in the future...

Dolly Sods Labor Day Backpacking

September 3 -

Celebrating the fruits of their labors in true NORSA style, Steven S and Marvin W did their second backpacking trip of 2012, this time with newcomers Joe D and Nathan M.

The crew headed out for a 2-night trip to Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Mongahela National Forest over the holiday weekend, an area first explored by the original NORSA crew in 2001.

Dolly Sods was well populated with hikers and backpackers.  Its unique ecology and proximity to the metropolitan area make it a classic mid-atlantic destination.

The group hiked approximately 22 miles through high meadows, forest, and bogs.


Over the course of 2 days the trail passed through spruce trees, aspen, maple, wild blueberries, cranberry bogs, small waterfalls, and beaver dams.

There were intervals of rain throughout the weekend, including a heavy downpour on Sunday that put out any hopes of lighting a camp fire.





Despite those challenges, the camaraderie and experience of the group carried them through and it was a great trek for all.  A short hike in on Monday left enough time to return to civilization in style via a hibachi buffet.

A great way to end the summer in NORSA-rific fashion!

2011 Camping Year in Review

2011 was yet again a most excellent year for backpacking and hiking. NORSA members hit up some old favorites and a few new sites too. The year ended for Steven S with three nights out in back-to-back weekends. On to the highlights:

April - Ramsey's Draft - 2012 backpacking started with a bang. Lots of fun despite lots of rain and hail.

Fourth of July - Staunton River / Jones Mountain Cabin trail in Shenandoah. Huge thunderstorm came through but fortunately the deck of the cabin sheltered us. Steven S and Emily P first did this trail in 2008, and it was looking a lot less rugged and overgrown this time. Besides the cabin there is a nice overlook at Bear Church Rock.

October/November - Day hiking at Wildcat Mountain and Bull Run Mountain Conservancy. Two new parks for us that are relatively close to the DC area. Wildcat is a nice walk through the woods, while Bull Run has an overlook and some historic cemeteries.

December - solo backpacking to Halfmoon Lookout and White Rocks. Although this was a repeat from May 2010, Steven S camped on the peak of Halfmoon Lookout this time, which has perhaps the most beautiful sunset in the GW National Forest and great views of the stars. It also makes for a cold and windy winter's night. In the parking area there were a few West Virginians out with dogs looking for "bar."

New Year's Day - overnight to Duncan Knob with Marvin and Matt J. We got caught in a downpour/sleet while getting up to the knob. Fortunately with three hatchets among us we were able to make a great fire, and with an easy hike back in we had time to grab pancakes. A great way to start the new year.

How will you experience your outdoors in 2012? Let's hope it's the most NORSA-rific year yet!

Storming through Ramsey's Draft - NORSA Spring Backpacking

April 15 2011 - Team NORSA member Steven S, along with Cody L and Marvin W set out to conquer the challenging Ramsey's Draft wilderness trails.

Ramsey's Draft is quite an adventure, with 20+ stream crossings, remnants of virgin hemlock forest, and spectacular ridge climbs. If that wasn't enough, this expedition took place on a weekend with 100% chance of rain including thunderstorms and flash flooding.

The three hikers left after work on Friday with a 3+ hour drive to the forest. In what has become a NORSA tradition, the initial hike was mostly in the dark. The downpour started that night and continued through the morning. But, with a hot breakfast prepared under the tarp, they were ready for the day's challenges. These included: heavy thunderstorms that tested their rain gear, stream crossings that were knee deep, and bushwacking for hours to find a safe place to cross the rushing stream. In all the excitement, Steven S lost his water shoes.

Despite these difficulties, they made good progress by the time the rain let up to allow a lunch break. That is when the first hailstorm hit. Steven learned never to say things like "at least we know it can't come down any harder..." This kind of talk only tempted the skies to prove him wrong. After finishing the 20th crossing, the trail climbed to the headwaters of Ramsey's Draft. The trail literally became a running river itself, with many branching streams and waterfalls forming along the way. It was an impressive sight, and would have made for good camping in normal conditions.

A suitable campsite was waiting on top of the ridge. Everyone enjoyed a hot meal and looked forward to drying their gear overnight. Surprise! It got below freezing. Steven S was using his 40F rated bag and it was damn cold. Same thing in the morning as the wind cut through wet clothing. But eventually it turned out to be a beautiful spring day. The second half of the hike follows Bald Ridge with a lot of climbing early, and then has a steady downhill finish back to Ramsey's Draft. The ridge features many window views, white pines, and beautiful camp sites. At last the descent brought them back to the draft, and in a fitting conclusion, required one more bushwack and stream crossing to make it to the trailhead.

Despite the tough stuff on this trip, everyone had a good time and took it all in stride. Ramsey's Draft East gets a NORSA seal of approval. For a less intense version of this hike, try it during a drier time of year or just rearrange your plans if the weather forecast looks terrible.

Mt. Isabel de Torres

NORSA members Alan and Adam, while taking a short leave of absence from regular scheduled NORSA events, took the opportunity to re-invigorate themselves in the NORSA lifestyle in the most proper way possible: by climbing a mountain.



Currently based in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Alan and Adam began the day with their sights set on the nearby 2700 ft summit of Isabel de Torres. The mountain features a tram to the top, botanical gardens, and a Rio-esque statue of Jesus Christ. Armed with only their rudimentary spanish, stereotypical tourist costumes, and NORSA wilderness sense, the duo set off in the morning for the base of the mountain.

Knowing only that a trailhead existed somewhere near the base of the tram, and that the tram was located somewhere near downtown, Adam and Alan hopped onto a local 'wah-wah' taxi/shuttle/jitney for a ride into the city. Taking bearings off the mountain, they hopped off their ride at the nearest spot to the tram. Taking a trip up a side road, they made it up to the base of the tram, only to be bombarded (swarm-style) by a flurry of locals seeking to serve as guides. Various allegations were made about the hike (it was dangerous; the locals living in the woods will ambush you; hiking up alone is strongly discouraged), however, NORSA-wits prevailed (along with prior information that none of this was true). Eventually negotiating a contract with a different local, this individual provided what the team was seeking: instructions on how to get to the trailhead along a map drawn out in sticks on the ground about which turns to take on the way up.

The two confusing turns on the trail occurred in the first half mile, while the rest of the climb was extraordinarily pleasant. No knife-welding tree people were sitting in waiting. The trail itself, although not marked, was very well built and easy to follow.

The top of the mountain provided an epic view of the city and the northern Caribbean sea. The team enjoyed the view along with a hearty lunch of sardines on crackers. Accosted once more by a local trying to scalp tickets for the tram ride down, the duo parted with the summit and re-traced their steps back to the base. A successful outing, and a reassuring test of the blood-borne, NORSA spirit that lives within all NORSA members.

Sky Meadows hiking

Sunday, November 15, 2009 -  With much nicer weather than previous NORSA outings, Matt, Steven S, and Emily decided to check out another Virginia state park at Sky Meadows. Less than an hour from the DC area, the park was recommended by a fellow hiker at Duncan Knob. The park has 12 miles of trails and also connects to the Appalachian Trail.

Starting on the North Ridge Trail, the group explored a couple miles of the AT, stopped for lunch, then returned on the Ambassador Whitehouse and Piedmont Overlook trails. From the portion of the AT that intersects the park, it is a 21 mile hike south to Shenandoah National Park and about 26 miles north to Harper's Ferry. The Sky Meadows trails go through a mix of woods and pastures, with views of the Blue Ridge in the distance. Several groups of hikers and a few runners were out enjoying the warm weather.

The ridge trails were moderately challenging and the connection to the AT offers some options for future hiking trips.  Matt, Steven, and Emily also checked out various items of historical-ness such as the Mount Bleak House and ye olde ice house by the visitor's center.  After the hike they ate at Big Buns - the usual post-hike stuff plus some Jack Johnson tracks.

Duncan Knob Hike

Sunday, October 25, 2009 - A beautiful day with clear skies set the stage for the latest installment of the 2009 NORSA fall hiking series. Hoping to see the fall colors at their peak, Matt and Steven S headed out to Duncan Knob, site of previous NORSA excursions. On the way out they stopped for gas at BP and couldn't help but note the billboard advertisement for body massage. Then they initially missed the the left turn from 211 E onto Crisman Hollow/R 274 (if you see a parking lot on the right for another trail, you've gone too far). The rest of the trip was smooth sailing.

The Duncan Knob hike started with a steep section on the Scothorn Gap trail, then followed a ridge below Middle Mountain to the Gap Creek Trail. In the clearing after the first climb, the NORSA hikers looked for the (memorial?) wooden marker for another Steven from 1974, but could not find it. After a couple of switchbacks on the Gap Creek trail, a white blazed trail from Peach Orchard Gap lead them to Duncan Knob, situated at the southern tip of Catback Mountain. The rock scramble to the top was no problem at all for the tactical pair. They stopped for lunch and were treated to great views - layers of red and yellow to the west, Middle Mountain, Massanutten Mountain, and Strickler Knob to the south, and the Shenandoah River, Luray, and the peaks of Shenandoah National Park to the east.

Returning on the Massanutten Trail, they descended along a ridge surrounded by bright yellow leaves, which Steven's untrained eye identified as birches and tulip trees.

In all it was a great day for hiking, and the fall colors never fail to impress.

Pikes Peak or Bust!

On Thursday, August 13, 2009, Team NORSA members Steven S and Emily attempted to bag their first Colorado 14er at Pikes Peak. Named for Zebulon Pike, whose westward expedition first sighted the mountain in 1806, Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain in North America. Many visitors reach the 14,110 ft (4300m) summit by car, by train or by running. The Team NORSA attempt would follow the lesser known Crags Trail, a Class 2 route up the northwest slopes with a total gain of 4200 feet (1280m) over 5.5 miles (8.85 km).

After a day trip through Colorado Springs, the duo drove west past the town of Divide to the the Crags Campground. Down the road from a Mennonite camp, the campground leads to the trailhead at 10,000 feet, near "The Crags" rock pinnacle formations in the Pike National Forest. A dinner of leftover Jimmy John's sub sandwiches was eaten for precious energy, and then it was time to set up camp and rest for a full day of hiking.

Waking up at 5am, the two broke camp, ate breakfast, layered, laced boots, and hit the trailhead shortly after 6am. A local youth who had recently summited Mount Massive had advised to start the hike early to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms that occur in the summer, and to take a slow and steady pace and rest when needed to avoid fatigue. It was agreed to head back down from the summit by noon if possible, and absolutely by one o'clock to be on the safe side.

The mountain had looked formidable from highway 24 near Divide. Now the terrain hid the summit from view and optimism was high. It was a brisk morning, but the ascent began soon after branching off from the Crags trail toward Devil's Playground, and it didn't take long to warm up from the exertion. The trail started adjacent to a creek, through a forest of Douglas Fir and Engelmann Spruce, before reaching a clearing and subsequent switchbacks that left the treeline. At about the 1.5 mile mark and 12,000 ft elevation, one of the most difficult sections of the hike climbed straight up a hillside for a gain of about 1000 ft in just over a half mile. At the top they got their first view of the distant summit.

Hiking along a ridge above a green alpine valley of tundra grasses, they passed through a gate of boulder formations to start the portion of the trail that parallels the Pikes Peak highway. Passing Devil's Playground at around 10am, the clouds above looked ominous, but after stopping at an overlook with friendly tourists, spirits remained high. Steven was feeling more than a bit sluggish with the effects of altitude, but pressed on with determination and Clif bars. Emily continued a strong performance, no doubt due to the foundation laid in the NORSA summer hiking series.

At about 11am, the NORSA hikers passed a smaller peak known as Point 13,363 and crossed the road a final time to reach the base of the final pitch. This quickly became a rock scramble, made more challenging by the altitude and difficulty spotting cairns. Progress slowed to a crawl, but after seeing a group ahead disappear over the top, it was estimated that about 200 feet of climbing remained. The skies were getting dark and it was nearly noon.  A flash of lightning to the east threatened the unthinkable prospect of turning around. A second flash of lightning a minute later gave them a sinking feeling.  It was agreed that they could not continue during a thunderstorm. At just past noon they turned around to get off of the rocks and make the descent.

With the summit now beyond their grasp, the altitude sickness Steven had been fighting became a concern. After passing Devil's Playground again, he was rewarded by emptying the contents of his stomach several times. A quick and safe descent would be the best treatment for the illness, but this was made more challenging by the steep slopes of crushed granite and the intermittent rain. After reaching the treeline again and resting, the worst symptoms went away. The remainder of the hike was completed at a normal downhill clip.

After 10 hours on the mountain, they reached the car at about 4pm. It was a bittersweet drive back to Denver, where a home cooked Italian meal offered some replenishment. But in true NORSA fashion, Steven and Emily hungered for something more - to learn from the harsh lessons of nature and return some day to summit Pikes Peak.

Maybe next year.  Savor the journey and not the destination.

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.