Big Sur-vival of the fittest: Spring Break
Meet: Wednesday 3/18 @ 7 AM in the Village by Target
Return: Saturday 3/21 @ 5 PM
Member: $138 Non member: $180
Participant Driver (1): $69
Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!
Activity: hiking, city sightseeing, marine life watching
Difficulty: (6/10) Medium Distance: 18.9 miles / 30.4 km Elevation: 3,492 ft / 1064.4 m
Recommended Prior Experience: hiking at elevation
Location of Trip: Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea, Pfeiffer State Park, Lobos State Natural Reserve
Native Land: Ohlone, Esselen, Rumsen
Ready to spring into Big Sur? Come join Pirka and Keira on a 3-night trip at the end of spring break to see gorgeous redwoods, coastal sights, and even quaint city life!
DAY 1: We will meet on the Wednesday of spring break at 7 am in the village and commence on the scenic coastal 5.5-hour drive to Big Sur. Once we arrive at Partington Cove, we will do a chill 1.2-mile hike with a cool tunnel, where we will enjoy a yummy lunch with the immaculate view of the cove. Afterwards, we will drive 20 minutes to the 1.7-mile Pfeiffer Falls trail, enjoying the beautiful redwoods along the trail. Before heading to our campsite, we will take a quick peek at the famous McWay Falls and mog in the pictures we take there.
DAY 2: The next morning, we will wake at 7:30 am and enjoy a quick breakfast. We will then drive up to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, stopping at yet another famous Big Sur spot, Bixby Bridge, along the way. We will then commence on a 6-mile-hike near one of the richest marine habitats of California. The Point Lobos hike will take us through incredible views of the Sand Hill Cove, China Cove, and Sea Lion Point, hopefully seeing marine life along the way. The rest of the day will be spent exploring quaint Carmel by the Sea, strolling the Ocean Avenue of the city.
DAY 3: Friday, we will wake at 8 am and head out to Tanbark Trail and Tin House Loop, full of redwood trees and coastal views. The strenuous hike will be the most difficult one of the trip, with 2,000 feet of elevation and 6.7 miles, requiring sturdy hiking shoes and plenty of sun protection. Once we reach the tin house halfway through, we will enjoy lunch with our unrestricted view of the canyon and shoreline below. We will then drive to our new campsite, which will have showers, allowing us to consume dinner while being squeaky clean after a long day of adventuring.
DAY 4: On our last day, we will wake at 7:30 am and head back home after a quick breakfast, stopping on the way for lunch. We will arrive home around 5 pm, all the while having once again enjoyed the coastal views of the drive.
Contact the Guides:
Piroska Darnyi: pdarnyi@usc.edu
Keira Norrell: knorrell@usc.edu
What to Bring:
*REMINDER (overnights only) : 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
Price of the trip includes (and we will provide):
Snacks
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided when a trip occurs during meal-times
Any technical gear required (ie. kayaks, snowshoes, snorkels, backpacking packs, sleeping bags, fishing rods, etc.)
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!
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.