DEATH Valley gone wrong?!

**emotional** **LETHAL**

**I CRIED** **3AM CHALLENGE**

Meet: 10am on Friday, November 21s at Hecuba Statue in USC Village

Return: 8pm on Sunday, November 23rd

Member: $77 Non member: $101

Participant Driver (1): $36

Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!

Activity: Backpacking

Difficulty: 8/10 (Hard)

Distance: 14 miles / 22.5 KM Elevation: 3,000 ft / 914 m

Recommended Prior Experience: backpacking experience recommended and hiking experience (10+ miles and 3000+ feet elevation) recommended

Location of Trip: Death Valley National Park

Native Land: Newe Sogobia Land

Pre-Trip Meeting: 8pm Monday, November 17th at 2647 Orchard Ave

Trip Description:

We will start our trip by heading to Trona Pinnacles for some beautiful rock formations. We will camp out by the pinnacles that night, basking in all their glory. The next morning, we will start our backpacking adventure bright and early on the Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop Trail in Death Valley. There will be about 7 miles of hiking with around 3,000 feet of elevation gain. This trail will have us winding through rock formations and canyons—soo many epic rocks! That night we will be staying at Dead Horse Canyon to enjoy some good food and good company with each other. We will make our way back to our vehicles on Sunday morning with another 7 miles of hiking. We will finally return on Sunday night to USC from DEATH Valley more ALIVE than ever.

Contact the Guides:

Blake Buchholz: bbuchhol@usc.edu

David Young: dmcquill@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

• Backpack

• Mess kit (utensils and bowl/plate/tupperware)

• 3+ liters of water

• Hat/sunscreen/sunglasses

• Comfortable hiking shoes

• Comfortable hiking clothes (sweat-wicking pants & shirt)

• An extra pair of socks

• Essential toiletries

• Headlamp/flashlight

• Warm clothes for night/sleeping

• Warm hat, gloves, scarf (it will be chilly at night)

• Warm jacket for sleeping

• Medications

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!
  

NOTE: Trips with difficulty 8 or above require guide approval. This is to ensure that participants are prepared for strenuous trips and that everyone can get the most out of the trip. Please reach out to Sidney at skalin@usc.edu to be approved or if you have any questions!

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.