Back to All Events

Pinnacles National Park w/ Garrett Reisman {Astronautical Engineering}


  • Pinnacles Highway CA, 95043 United States (map)

Sign ups are first come first serve! Links will open at 9PM sharp on Sunday.

Join the amazing Professor Reisman + 3 other incredible Astronautical Engineering PhD students for an overnight trip to the tiny but mighty Pinnacles National Park! We will be driving early Saturday morning to Laguna Mountain to camp and act as home base to explore the nearby nature. On Saturday we will explore the caves and peaks of Pinnacles and return to the campsite that night for some full-moon stargazing and dinner on a campfire. On Sunday we will wake up bright and early to hike through another cave and another peak (and hopefully see some California Condors!) before returning back to campus Sunday night.

PACKING LIST:

  • WARM LAYERS! (It might get into the 30s at night!)

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

  • Solid hiking shoes

  • Flashlight

  • Mess kit (plate/bowl/utensils)

  • Toothbrush & general life items

  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat

  • Sleeping bag + pad (if you have one)

  • WAIVERS !!

WE WILL PROVIDE:

  • Saturday Lunch + Dinner

  • Sunday Breakfast + Lunch

  • Sleeping bag/pad (if you don’t have it)

  • Tent (if you don’t have it)

  • Amazing vibes!



PROFESSOR: GARRETT REISMAN

DEPARTMENT: Astronautical Engineering

As a former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman is truly an ~out of this world~ professor. Dr. Reisman flew on all three Space Shuttles, spending a cumulative 107 days in space, including 3 spacewalks. After leaving NASA in 2011, he joined Elon Musk at SpaceX where he served as the Director of Space Operations. In 2018, he stepped down from his full time position at SpaceX to teach astronautical engineering at USC but continues to support SpaceX as a Senior Advisor. He is also the Technical Consultant for the Apple TV+ series, "For All Mankind", an alternate-history sci fi series available for streaming now and half of the '2 Funny Astronauts' podcast with Astronaut Mike Massimino, a popular new podcast featuring behind the scenes true stories about flying in space.

You can read more about Dr. Reisman at his website https://www.garrettreisman.com/ !


PEAK: Pinnacles National Park

DIFFICULTY: 3/5

SCENERY: Pinnacles is named after is many interesting rock formations and caves!

FUN FACT: Pinnacles NP has managed a reintroduction program to revitalize the population of the California Condor!


TRIP LEAD: JAXSON HILL

Contact Jaxson: jthill@usc.edu

Read Jaxson’s bio here. (hyperlinked!)