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The National Outdoor Recreation Society of America's inaugural trip was an overnight incursion into the Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest. The trip took place when the Society was still under its original guise of the Georgetown Prep Outdoor Club (GPOC). located at Georgetown Preparatory School in Maryland and maintained by NORSA charter member, Denis Dwyer. The first-ever expedition featured Steve Maczynski as the moderator and both co- founders Adam Domanski and Tom Saffell. The inaugural charter members were Manuel Dominguez, Nick Douglas, and Denis Dwyer.
The trip was a good one with a hike that began at the trailhead to a river a ways up the mountains. After finding the river to wide to cross safely in the cold weather, the crew set up camp about 400 ft or so up a hill near the stream where a fire was built immediately to prevent the loss of feet. Adam cooked honey-lime chicken with rice and baked his traditional cake-in-a-bag ... this trip featured rum cake (Mazz liked that).
After a cold night outdoors in sub-zero temperatures and following a quick breakfast, the crew struck camp and prepped for the hike back down out of the mountains to the trailhead. The whole trip was hiked in snowshoes rented from REI Outfitters, and overall it was a huge success. Here are the pictures. click on them to see the full size view:
 Tom and Manuel pose during a brief rest while Nick looks uphill. |
 Tom Saffell leads the crew in fording a small stream. |
 Steve, Nick, and Denis rest for a while before continuing the trek. |
 The voyagers survey a winter wonderland as the begin their ascent. |
 Steve Maczynski leads the crew across the water in his snowshoes. |
 The NORSA crew set up their tents as dusk rapidly approaches. |
 Mazz and Manuel enjoy some of Adam's fine camp-cooking by the fire. |
 As night falls, the guys bond around the campfire. |
 After a great meal, everyone relaxes and gets warm before going to bed. |
 The crew poses by the frozen river the morning of the return trip. |
 The proud co-founders upon the completion of the inaugural trip. |
 The crew poses by the sign marking the start and finish of its trip. |
 Mazz loads gear in the van after his first-ever camping trip. |