RifF Raff River Raft Giraffe
Meet: 6AM Saturday, April 26th at USC Village elevators
Return: 9PM Sunday, April 27th
Member: $182 Non member: $237
Participant Driver (1): $150
Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!
Activity: White Water Rafting, Hiking, Camping, Sightseeing
Difficulty: 8/10 Hard Distance: 14 miles / 22.5 km Elevation: 3200 ft / 975 m
Recommended Prior Experience: Must be able to swim!! No exceptions. Some hiking experience strongly recommended!
Location of Trip: Sequoia National Park!
Native Land: Nyyhmy (Western Mono/Monache)
Looking for one last adventure before finals week? Join Martin and Joe for an exciting weekend of hiking and river rafting in Sequoia National Park! We are super stoked to trek through the forest of giants and hit the rapids!
We will get an early start on Saturday, 4/26, meeting by the village elevators at 6 AM and hitting the road up to Sequoia. Once in the park, we will eat a quick snack at the trailhead before embarking on the beautiful Alta Trail. The trail is 13.4 miles round trip with 3200 ft of elevation gain, and cuts through a giant Sequoia grove, offering phenomenal views of the forest and mountain range. At this time of yea,r we will likely see snow (and potentially wildlife!) so make sure your shoes are comfortable and have good traction. After eating a scrumptious lunch on the trail, we will head back and drive to Horse Creek Campground at Lake Kaweah. At camp, we will hang out around the campfire, cook dinner, and stargaze. On Sunday, we will make breakfast and have time to go see some more of Sequoia before our big plans at 1PM. As time permits, sightseeing may include General Sherman (the largest tree on earth), Moro Rock, and or the famous Sequoia National Park Tunnel Log!
If you thought all of that was exciting, we haven’t even gotten to the main event. At 1 PM, we will be meeting up with river guides from Mountain Descents for a 3-hour adventure down Class IV river rapids! Class IV rapids are considered intermediate level but are accessible to first-time rafters while still being exhilarating for seasoned veterans. YOU MUST BE A STRONG SWIMMER TO COME ON THIS TRIP. We couldn’t be more hyped! After rafting, we will eat and drive back to campus, arriving around 7-8 PM.
If you have any questions, thoughts, concerns, or free-form poems you would like to share, please reach out to us! We can’t wait to have you on this exciting weekend!
Contact the Guides:
Josiah Chakra: chakra@usc.edu
Martin Petersen: martinjp@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 (can borrow from SCO)
Sleeping pad (can borrow from SCO)
Warm clothes for night/to sleep in (low of 40° F)
Secure water shoes or sandals (no flip flops)
Clothes that you are prepared to get wet in (no cotton!)
Comfortable hiking shoes (must have good traction since there is likely still some snow on the trail! Hiking boots are great but running shoes will work too)
Comfortable hiking clothes
Headlamp/flashlight
Mess kit (plate/bowl/tupperware and fork/spoon)
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant etc)
Any personal 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!
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.