west end best end: best catalina trip with sco’s best guides
Meet: Fri on 3/6 at Hecuba Statue (USC Village) at 7AM
Return: Sun 3/8 8:30pm
Member: ($261) Non member: ($340)
Participant Driver (1): ($202)
(Scholarships are available!)
Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!
Activity: (Backpacking, hiking, swimming)
Difficulty: (8/10) Hard Distance: 23 miles / 37 km Elevation: 4405ft / 1342.6 m
Recommended Prior Experience: hiking/backpacking. must know how to swim if you want to swim
Location of Trip: Catalina Island
Native Land: Payómkawichum, Tongva, Acjachemen
Pre-Trip Meeting Tue Mar 3 7:30 pm (details to be sent)
Hello. Are you ready for the best weekend of your life? If you’re finding yourself nodding your head, guides Lauren and Zoe are ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime with you on Catalina Island the weekend of March 6-8.
We will gather in the village at 7:15am on Friday morning, and take the ferry from San Pedro to Two Harbors. From there we will backpack north (6.8 miles + 1883ft of elevation) to our home for the next two nights at Parsons Landing. Dinner. Campfire. The best of times.
The next day we will be free from our packs and head to Catalina’s West End (Best End) to lunch at Starlight Beach. It will be the best hike you have ever hiked with the best 8.6 miles and 1,817 ft of elevation you have ever seen.
On our final day we will head back to Two Harbours via a seaside route of 7.5 miles and 705 ft of elevation. We will take the 4:45 sunset cruise back to San Pedro and be back on campus around 8:00.
You may be ready for the West End (Best End), but is the West End (Best End) ready for you?
Contact the Guides:
Zoe Solari (zsolari@usc.edu)
Lauren Sun (sunlaure@usc.edu)
What to Bring:
*REMINDER : if you do not have a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacking pack, or other technical gear (non-clothing), do not panic, SC Outfitters has these items for you! Your guides will send out a gear-request form the week of your trip where you’ll let them know what gear you need!
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Mess kit (utensils and bowl/plate/tupperware)
3+ liters of water
Hat/sunscreen/sunglasses
Comfortable hiking shoes
Comfortable hiking clothes
Toiletries/medications
Headlamp/flashlight
Warm clothes for night/sleeping
(Optional) Swimsuit and towel
Price of the trip includes (and we will provide):
Snacks
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided when a trip occurs during meal-times
Backpacking packs, sleeping bags
All group / shared gear (tents, stoves, bear cans, first aid kit, etc.)
Any permits or campsite reservations needed
Cost of gas reimbursed for participant drivers
Amazing guides who love the outdoors and do this for free!
NOTE: Due to this trip's difficulty level, guide approval is required to sign up. If you have not be approved, please reach out to the guides leading the trip.
Please Review Our Cancellation and Refund Policy:
All SC Outfitters trips have a no-refund policy unless a substitute participant can be found. In the event your trip requires added reporting measures of participants (plane tickets, external providers, rental services, etc.) dropping the trip close to the date of the trip will not allow for the spot to be re-filled. See the details on trip pages for specific deadlines and reference our complete cancellation/refund policy here.
TRIP DIFFICULTY RATING SYSTEM
Difficulty rating for trips
1: No physical activity.
2: Leisurely walk.
3: 2-5 miles less than 1000 ft of total elevation gain on well maintained trails. About 2-3 hours continuous activity
4: 4-6 miles, about 1000 ft of elevation gain, well maintained trails. About 3 hours of continuous activity.
5: 6-8 miles, about 1500ft of elevation gain on maintained trials. 4-5 hours continuous activity
6: 8-10 miles, about 2000 ft of elevation gain, well maintained trails. 4-6 hours of continuous activity.
7: 10-14 miles, over 2500 ft of elevation gain, variable trail conditions possible. Full day of continuous activity.
8: At high altitude. 12-16 total miles, over 3000 ft of elevation gain, variable trail conditions possible. Full day of continuous activity.
9: Technical skills may be necessary. At high altitude with physical elevation gain. Scrambling over rocks likely involved.
10: u gunna die
**If you have any questions or concerns about the physical activity, recommended prior experience, or gear needed on any kind of trip please contact the guides as soon as possible!!
This program is open to all eligible individuals. SC Outfitters operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.
Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact the guides listed above on the trip page. We request that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.