West Rim

April 23-25, 2010
Organized by: Zack Haas


This post-thesis adventure took place in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, not to be confused with the real Grand Canyon. After departing the Arby's parking lot the group first traveled South before turning around and going the right way to the West Rim. Further driving shenanigans occurred when the lead car signaled to turn around on a one-lane dirt road with a cliff to one side and a mountain on the other. Fortunately there was a suitable turn-around further up the road. The first night was spent roughly 200 yards from the cars and was 12 solid hours of sleep. Also, nubbins. The weather moved in as the group moved on. Many games were played involving clever questions and the occasional erroneous interpretation of Marilyn Monroe's historical importance and the essence of Han Solo being Han Solo. More nubbinical references and jokes were made, providing a small piece of humor for the group. The final day was spent trudging through the damp forest and culminated in a "short-cut" removing the largest downhill. The return home involved artful dodging of pot-holes and very large rocks as the GPS took the group through the backiest back-road in the whole back-woods. Fun was had by all and no one died.


Members in Attendance:
Greg Lilik
Asher Evans
Kelly McFadden
Kathleen Kerrigan
Tyler Haas
Dan Trew
Zack Haas

Spring Creek Cleanup

April 10, 2010
Organized by: Nick Clabbers


The annual spring creek cleanup was held on April 10 this year. Although there was no picnic and lime-green shirts this year, the same fun was still had. Every year PSOC flies down spring creek from TMO to Milesburg, picking trash from the banks and making everything cleaner overall. This year was a little chilly, starting temps were low 40s, but the bright sun warmed up the intrepid cleaners with great zeal. Great fun was had by all the participants, even those who went for a swim. One might even say they had the most fun, one might indeed. As per the usual strange things were recovered from the creek. The most notable items being a trike, stereo, several tires, and battery that unfortunately fell out of a canoe and now resides somewhere in the creek. This year's haul overall was less than last year's, meaning the creek may be getting cleaner. No one died, watch out for meth labs.


Members in Attendance:
Nick Clabbers 
Dan Trew
Frannie Root 
Steve Meckler 
Joe Sumereau 
Christina Ferry 
Kristin Garrity 
James Basham 
Sarah Luchner 
Greg Lilik 
Michelle Christensen 
Rachel Hoh 
Tyler Haas 
Mike Collins 
Kate Lalancette 
Becca Baker 
Julia Vadas

WILD

March 27-28, 2010
Organized by: Nick Clabbers
Dan Trew
Ryan Mullins
Rachel Hoh
James Basham

The spring WILD weekend was a great success. Fourteen people total went into the woods to learn the in and outs of organizing, planning, and running awesome PSOC trips.Much fun was had despite the surprisingly chilly weather, however it was all sun. Lots of fun in the sun, and no one died.

Red Moshannon Down River Race

March 28, 2010

In one of the few actual competitions PSOC participates in, a small contingent took part in the 43rd annual Red Mo Down River Race. The race is a 7.5 mile canoe and kayak race on Moshannon Creek. The group showed up early, and had a "good time." Overall there were about 200 competitors for the race, and only one bad accident towards the end of the race. It was fun, and no one died.

Members in Attendance:

Joe Sumereau 

Ben Winchester

Andrea Muller

Backpacking South Dakota

March 5 - 14, 2010
Organized by Rosemarie Scherzberg

This wild and wacky trip to the Black Hills Nation Forest and Badlands National Park took place over the '10 Spring Break. The first few days of the trip met awesome weather, allowing the group to follow PSOC fashion and get hopelessly lost somewhere only to find a beautiful views and have things work out in the end. The group then blew around the area hiking over ice flows, lakes, snowy fields, and through mud... lots of mud. The itinerary also included Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug, and a stay at Ann's Motel. All of which are entirely memorable, and no doubt will make it into the strange amalgamation of hilarious misadventures that is PSOC.

Members in Attendance:
Rosemarie Scherzberg
Doug Weinhold
Kaitlin Pope
Catherine Hewlett
Toma Zikatanov
Nick Clabbers

Blue Ridge Mountains

February 19-21, 2010

Organized by: Douglas Weinhold

This weekend excursion to the Blue Ridge Mountains took place in the dead of winter, though if you were to ask the group you need to be alive to plow through 2 feet of snow, uphill. The weather held off for the duration of the trip but there was already significant amounts of snow on the trail. The group prevailed against the white fluff of doom and enjoyed large 12 inch pancakes for breakfast and caught many wonder sights. Golden sunrises, twinkling stars, frozen waterfalls, fantastic vistas, burly boulders, and scotch pine are but a few of the sights taken in. Anyone thinking of reprising a trip to this area would do well to head the recommendations from the group: Do the Marbleyard as a Sunday Dayhike. Friday night, hike up to McAfee Knob from 311, camp, don't miss sunrise from the Knob!!!  Hike through to the tinker cliffs and camp around there Saturday night.  You will need cars at both ends for this though. Don't waste time with the "Helicopter Pad"; it is overgrown with scotch pine.  While the view is still fantastic, the tinker cliffs would be much better in my opinion. Crabtree falls is best viewed in early winter before any large snowfalls. This was definitely an awesome trip, and no one died.

Members in Attendance:

Douglas Weinhold

Rosemarie Scherzberg

Kathleen Kerrigan

Mike Covolus

Emily Riddle

Travis Salk

Asher Evans

Chris McCartney

Brian Goldman

Milton Rock Gym

February 14, 2010
Organized by: Alie Treciak, Darcy Mckinley Lester


This climbing event was held at the Milton Rock Gym in Milton PA, an indoor rock gym. Following the pattern of obvious statements, the weather wasn't really a factor however it was warm if a bit rainy. The entire group collaborated on bouldering problems enabling even beginners to try the harder challenges. The atmosphere was awesome and everyone climbed hard regardless of success. One group held the tradition OIP pizza-luncheon while another group practiced their free will and ate at Subway. Really? Subway over OIP and onion rings?


Members in Attendance:
Alie Treciak
Darcy Mckinley Lester
Nick Matone
Michael Meehan
Erinc Hizir
Alyssa Retzena
Josh Kremer
Scott Campbell
Kelly McFadden
Kara Kavala
Alissa Ott
Todd Ryan
Nate Bovard