We started off in Orion with the Orion Nebula then moved on to NGC 2024 which was easily seen in the 18" UC. After about a half an hour of searching and referencing the
Night Sky Observer's Guide Volume 1 Autumn & Winter we were able to identify the Horsehead Nebula without a filter. This was the first time I have ever seen it through a telescope. It wasn't very bright, maybe next new moon we can try it with a H-beta filter. The Eskimo Nebula was next and much easier to see than when we tried a couple months ago. When it was high enough in the sky, we looked at Saturn - the first time of the year. The rings are nearly edge-on, just like the first time I ever looked into a telescope 13 years ago. We spent the rest of the night looking at a few other nebula (M1 the Crab Nebula in Taurus) and then the galaxies M101 (the Pinwheel), M108, and M51 (the Whirlpool) around the Big Dipper.
It was a cold night sleeping in the tent, but nice not to have to pack up and drive back to Riverside - thanks to Will for covering my shift back at the pharmacy the next day!