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If you need a nature-filled boost in the morning to get ready for Halloween night two - this trip is for you! After a (most likely) long night out, we are going to be hiking 7 miles up to Strawberry Peak to see some wonderful views and reset before returning to the USC craze.
Itching to get off of campus after midterms? Want to make the most of the chilly fall weather? COME HIKE WITH US! This 7.7 mile long loop will feature some stunning views of the Santa Monica Mountains (maybe even the beautiful California coast if the weather permits) and some rock scrambling on the way in to the trail. Elevation will get up to around 2,000 ft. above sea level, so come well rested and ready to think outside! We’ll meet EARLY in the village to get to the trailhead around 8; the hike will take around 4-5 hours and we should be back to campus by mid-afternoon!
We are going to send it up this mountain a full 4000 feet over 7 miles! On the 14-mile round-trip journey, we will be scrambling, taking in some crazy views, and having lots of great conversations. Come join us to test your limits and escape to the wilderness!!
Venture into the vast and beautiful Los Padres for a night under the stars. Joined by Astronomy professor, Kris Pardo, and two young, fresh-faced trip leads, experience the lesser travelled, but wildly underrated Sespe Wilderness. With only 700 feet of elevation gain over 8.8 miles, this calm overnighter will be more of an adventurous hot girl walk through the woods than a serious trek. With chances to meander through lush forests, rock scramble over ancient rock formations, take a cold plunge in Bear Creek, or a warm dip in the hot springs, this quick, one night, out and back backpacking trip will be one to remember!
Come unwind on this beautiful camping trip to Santa Paula! Get ready for a weekend full of swimming holes, rock-hopping, and gourmet camping food. When we arrive on Saturday, we will venture out on an 8-mile hike to the Punch Bowls, where we will swim, splash around, and eat lunch before returning to our picturesque campsite to hang out and eat dinner.
Do you enjoy contemplating the nuances of religion and intentional design? Do you like scenic hikes and connecting with nature and like-minded individuals? Do you simply want to escape USC’s city-locked campus? Yes? Then join us for a lovely 7-mile hike to Strawberry Peak with Professor Matthew Peterson! With 1,771 feet of elevation gain, some light rock scrambling, and a short meditation led by Professor Peterson, you will end this trip feeling accomplished, refreshed, and ready to continue thinking outside.
Whether you’re interested in theology or simply want to broaden your intellectual horizons, this is a great opportunity to explore religious thought with a master of the subject… all while enjoying the wonderful natural beauty of Southern California.
Join Professor Uzquiano for a hike unlike any other—where the conversation is as mind-expanding as the views! A world-renowned expert in metaphysics and philosophical logic, he’s taught at Oxford, St Andrews, and MIT, tackling deep questions about existence, paradoxes, and the limits of thought. Ever wondered if something can be in two places at once? Or how to solve the hardest logic puzzle ever in just two questions? Here’s your chance to get outside and get thinking!
Whether you're into philosophy or just love a good thought experiment, this is a rare opportunity to walk and talk with one of USC’s most fascinating thinkers.
Ok ok ok, who doesn’t want to go to a National Park?! Professor Ronney is so excited to show USC students one of his favorite hikes—Keane Wonder Mill, which besides being a gorgeous hike, contains so much rich history! Check something off your bucket list and sign up!
Get ready to explore these two BEAUTIFUL National Parks with Conor and Maia! Join us for 3 days of hiking, exploring, learning, cooking, meditating, and adventuring. We’ll be disperse camping for two nights in the Hume Lake district, going on scenic hikes in the surrounding area and enjoying cozy nights by the campfire.
Need to escape for a day? Join us on a 9.2 mile trek in Point Mugu State Park where we will escape from USC’s hectic campus and become one with the lovely Santa Monica Mountains.
Join us for an afternoon hike in the glorious Red Rock Canyon Park! We’ll be exploring some small caves and hiking through giant red rock formations, all the way up to Calabasas Peak. Joining us will be surfing professor and SoCal nature expert Ian Culbertson for hours of ocean views. This trail starts in a valley near Malibu and climbs all the way up to the top of Saddle Peak so be ready for a climb!
Join Professors Alison Trope and Tom Kemper for a 7 mile out-and-back hike up Strawberry Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains. There will be strawberries provided when we reach the summit!
Whether you’re interested in environmental engineering or just enjoy 2,000 feet of elevation gain on a Saturday morning, we’d be thrilled to have you on this 5.7-mile hike in the Angeles National Forest. This steep jaunt into the mountains is the perfect way to get your blood pumping and your heart skipping beats about wastewater research. Join us!
Join ITP Professor Kristof Aldenderfer for a moderately strenuous 8 mile, 1300ft elevation gain hike up to Sunset Peak. We’ll get a great workout and 360 views of the San Gabriel Mountains! Expect great views, great conversation, and maybe a stop for Kristof’s (and mine) favorite food, pho! on the way back.
Join Peaks and Professor Robert Waller on a sunrise hike through the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains! We will leave campus around 5:15 before starting on our 5 mile trek. At USC, Professor Waller developed a special WRIT 340 class that aims to help performing and visual arts students articulate their own aesthetics, and through this process expand their understanding both of writing and the meanings and purposes driving their work. Expect panoramic views of Altadena, gorgeous wildflowers, and thought provoking conversations on artistry and creativity. You won’t want to miss this one!
Join us for an trip to Malibu Creek State Park to hike the Backbone Trail:) This is a 7.7-mile hiking loop with 2,017 feet of elevation gain. We are in for a little bit of a challenge, but it will be worth of it get outside and for the views! We will meet and leave EARLY in the AM to be able to get to the trail and meet our professor by 8. The hike is estimated to take 4.5-5 hours. Afterwards, we should get back to USC by mid-afternoon!
Join us for a nice long hike with Amy Braden in the Angeles National Forest! On this 8-mile (nearly 2000 ft. of elevation gain) out and back we will enjoy beautiful views, great convos, and some snow near the peak. If you’re looking to get a workout in over the weekend with some lovely people this is the trip for you!
Join us for a 10-mile hike, with 1300 ft of elevation gain, through the San Gabriel Forest and Sheep Mountain Wilderness to the “Bridge to Nowhere”. We’ll cross through the San Gabriel River at least 6-8 times so be prepared to get wet! The highlight of the hike is the mysterious bridge built over the east fork in 1936. In the 1930's a road did lead to it, but was swept away by floods in 1938.
Let’s play in the snow! Join us on this 5.8-mile, 1335 elevation gain hike in Angeles National Forest with Professor Larry Harris (and his two poodles)! NOTE: Depending on weather conditions, we might not make it to the peak but we’ll go as far as possible. Warm clothes and hiking boots / waterproof shoes (not tennis shoes) are a must for this hike (see packing list below).
Looking for something to do the day after we beat the Bruins?? Come hike Mt. Baldy with us!! WARNING: This is a very difficult hike!! Please do not sign up unless you are prepared for a 14-mile, 4300ft elevation gain hike. It will potentially be pretty cold as well. But we will see some spectacular views at every step!!
Join ITP Professor Kristof Aldenderfer for a strenuous 7 mile, 1800ft elevation gain hike up to Strawberry Peak. We’ll get great workout and 360 views of the San Gabriel Mountains!!
Couldn’t get enough relaxation on Spring Break? Look no further! Join us for a two-night, three-day hiking/camping expedition on Santa Cruz Island. Located 20 miles off the coast, being on the island will feel otherworldly, with all sorts of critters that are endemic to the Channel Islands, the rugged peaks and cliffs, as well as peaceful beaches. We will be ferrying over from Ventura on Friday morning and returning on Sunday in the early afternoon. Activities will include some nice hilly hikes, attempts at plant and animal identification, eatin’ good in the backcountry, and getting to know Professor Harris, among others!
We will be hiking our gear into the campground, so be prepared for a brief backpacking moment on Friday afternoon. Besides that, we will be camping at the same spot on both nights and will be taking various day hikes to explore all the Island has to offer!
Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike one of the best trails in the San Gabriel Mountains to the Bridge to Nowhere. This 10 mile rocky trail will take you through scrub bush, along and across the San Gabriel River, before ending at a mysterious bridge.
Looking to embark on a weekend adventure after spending the last few weeks settling back into life at school? Come no further! Join us for a scenery-packed, beginner-friendly backpacking trip for the ages. We are going to have some great conversations in the great outdoors and take this trip at a chill pace over two days.
ALSO no worries if you have little to no backpacking experience prior to this trip! But having experience with long and/or difficult hikes is HIGHLY recommended as you will be carrying a 35 lb. pack on your back while hiking, plus going up ~1200 ft. to the falls over 5 miles the first day.
Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike one of the best trails in the San Gabriel Mountains to the Bridge to Nowhere. This 10 mile rocky trail will take you through scrub bush, along and across the San Gabriel River, before ending at a mysterious bridge.
Are you ready for the best introduction to Southern California backpacking ever???? Skip your Saturday finals and come to Ojai with us for some epic views, hills, and W A T E R F A L L S. If that wasn’t enticing enough, come take a dip in the swimming hole! This will be an amazing and relaxing weekend full of meditative conversations in the great outdoors as well as fantastic photo opportunities (if that’s your type of thing).
No worries if you have no backpacking experience prior to this trip! But having experience with long and/or difficult hikes is HIGHLY recommended as you will be carrying a ~35 lb. pack on your back, plus hiking up a gradual uphill to the falls.
Disclaimer: Peaks and Professors does not encourage skipping your Saturday finals to go backpacking
River crossings! Rock scrambling! Come along for a good ole fashioned adventure down 9.5 miles of the San Gabriel River! This hike will take us to the Bridge to Nowhere, a mysterious bridge that was abandoned after a flood in the 1930’s.
Love the ocean? Dig the dirtbag lifestyle? On a mission to check off every beach name-dropped in the 1963 Beach Boys classic Surfin’ USA? This just might be the trip for you! We’re traveling to San Onofre State Beach, longboard capitol of California, for Peaks and Professors’ FIRST EVER surf overnight trip!
Join us for a trip into the beautiful Angeles National Forest with avid hiker and PhD student Rachel Newman! Together we will hike the 10 mile Inspiration Point loop while enjoying the amazing views of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Join Dr. Andrew Simpson on an exciting adventure through the San Gabriel mountains! We’ll be hiking 7 miles down a river from Switzer Falls to JPL. When I say down a river, I mean it!
Join geology expert Vicky Petryshyn on an 11 mile, 4000 ft elevation hike up one of southern California’s most iconic peaks, Mt. Baldy.
Join math professor Neel on our trip to Ice House! He might be in the realm of mathematics at USC, but away from the concrete landscape, Neel has a knack for hikes and conversing with students! This more challenging day hike is just under 8 miles long as it loops near Mt. Baldy. At the top of this peak, we’ll reach a total of 2,637 ft in elevation so be sure to wear good shoes and hydrate before hand. The trek gives a beautiful look at the Cucamonga Wilderness as we learn more about this admired professor!
![[CLOSED] Santa Cruz Island w/ Larry Harris {Finance}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1677805198963-D29Z2P67M6QJTBJCK8YC/Santa-Cruz-Channel-Island.jpeg)
