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Big Sur w/ Rebecca Broyer {Chemistry}


  • 500 San Simeon-Monterey Creek Road Cambria, CA, 93428 United States (map)

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Big Sur & San Simeon, CA

A classic California camping trip along the Big Sur coast! Wikipedia calls this area the “greatest meeting of land and water in the world”. We’ll drive up to our San Simeon campsite on Friday and do a short sunset hike. Saturday, we’ll wake up bright and early to trek up further to Pfeifer State Park and spend the day hitting the most iconic Big Sur locations! Beaches, coves, cliffs, forest waterfalls…this place has it all. On Sunday we’ll pack up, catch some elephant seals near San Simeon, and head back to campus. Professor Broyer and her family will be joining us on this busy, sight-seeing packed camping trip!

PACKING LIST:

  • LOTS of layers! Temps can be anywhere from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring warm clothes for night, layers for hiking, etc.

  • A raincoat (we’re not in LA anymore)

  • Sturdy hiking boots/shoes

  • Beach shoes

  • A sleeping bag & pad if you have them

  • Flashlight/Headlamp

  • Mess kit: 1-2 bowls/tuperwares, fork, knife, spoon, napkins.

  • Toothbrush & general life items

  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat

  • Snacks! Everyone has that ~one kind of bar~ they can’t live without.

  • Camera (if you have one!)

  • H2O- 2-3 full liters per person! hydration is cool

  • WAIVERS

WE WILL PROVIDE:

  • Sleeping bags/pads if you don’t have one already!

  • Tents

  • Friday Dinner, Saturday Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, Sunday Breakfast (BYO Friday and Sunday Lunch).

  • A Big-Sur-Worthy playlist



REBECCA BROYER

DEPARTMENT: CHEMISTRY

RATE MY PROFESSOR: "She’s accommodating, patient, and always willing to answer questions."

Fun Fact: Professor Broyer will be joining us with her family!

Rebecca Broyer is a current organic chemistry professor here at USC, and has taught over 14 different classes in the Chemistry department since 2010. Before coming to USC, she worked in the biotech industry and also received an Andrew Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for her work in preserving artwork through polymeric materials. Professor Broyer is passionate about developing and implementing strategies that will close achievement gaps in organic chemistry among under-represented minority, female, transfer, first generation and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. She’s a long-time Peaks & Professors hiker and faculty advisor: this will be one of many overnights she’s attended! Fun fact: one of her students started our club.


BIG SUR

DIFFICULTY: 3/5. Hikes will be shorter, but may be steep/rugged at times.

SCENERY: Redwood forests x sparkling beaches x flowering meadows x crashing waterfalls.

FUN FACT: The Beach Boys wrote an entire song about Big Sur (roadtrip playlist?)


MADELEINE LAWLER

Fun fact: Madeleine is legally obligated to find a way to eat ice cream on every Peaks trip.

This trip is long! Feel free to contact her with any questions you have before signing up. mmlawler@usc.edu

Read Madeleine’s bio here.