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McAuley Peak w/ Grayson Jaggers {Biology}

  • mesa peak Calabasas, CA United States (map)

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Do you like food? Do you like the outdoors? Do you like Food Network-type cooking shows? 

Then this trip is for you! We will be hiking through McAuley Peak with panoramic views of the majestic Malibu Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, and Pacific Ocean. We will be joined at the trailhead by Prof. Grayson Jaggers from the Department of Biological Sciences. We will traverse up and down a ridge before stopping to cook lunch. For lunch, we will hold a Masterchef type competition, with groups getting mystery ingredients. The trip leads and professors will judge the dishes with the winning group getting crisp high 5s. During the trip, we will have the opportunity to learn about Prof. Jaggers nutritional biochemistry research, his experience in academia, and how to ferment cheese for people with lactose intolerance. 

No cooking or hiking experience is required for this hike!


PROFESSOR: Grayson Jaggers

DEPARTMENT: Biology

RATE MY PROFESSOR: “Dr. Jaggers is fantastic; his GE managed to be both informative AND fun. He's hilarious, loves food (brings some of his homemade sourdough to class!), gets creative with his PowerPoints and loves interacting with his students. He's a terrific professor and an equally terrific guy to talk to, and get recipes from.”


Professor Jaggers researches nutritional biochemistry, specifically how the food we eat may predispose us to different diseases. His research also includes public health work such as reframing the public’s understanding of nutrition in hopes to prepare for the next pandemic. In his Biology of Food class, Prof. Jaggers teaches the history of biology through our relationship with food. He also loves cooking and posts his creations on his Twitter!


PEAK: McAuley Peak

DIFFICULTY: 3/5

SCENERY: Great panoramic views of the Santa Monica mountain range

FUN FACT: Prior to 2015, McAuley Peak was officially recognized only as Peak 2049


TRIP LEAD: Ammar Dharani

Favorite meal: oatmeal with nutella

Contact Ben: dharani@usc.edu

Read Ammar’s bio here.