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Get (Be)layed in Alabama Hills!


Get (be)layed in Alabama Hills!

Meet: USC Village fountains at 7:30 AM on Friday 11/17

Return: Around 7 pm on Saturday 11/18

Member: $57 Non member: $72

Activities: Rock climbing, camping, s’more eating

Difficulty: 7/10 Medium/Hard

Distance: N/A (climbing)

Elevation: N/A (climbing)

Recommended Prior Experience: Indoor and/or outdoor climbing experience is nice, but not required!

Location of Trip: Alabama Hills National Recreation Area

Native Land: Northern Paiute

Come join Annabelle, Natalia, and Tadd for an awesome weekend of outdoor rock climbing fun in one of the most beautiful spots in all of California, Alabama Hills!

We’ll leave bright and early Friday morning from USC Village and make the drive up to Alabama Hills. Tadd, Natalia, and Annabelle will set up and belay you on various beginner-level toprope climbs throughout the area. You’ll get to climb as high as 60 feet above the ground, getting beautiful views of the eastern Sierras, Mt. Whitney, and the surrounding rock formations! We’ll teach you the basic climbing techniques and climbing safety essentials to make sure you have the best experience possible.

We’re going to camp nearby in Alabama Hills on Friday night, where Natalia, Tadd, and Annabelle will chef up a yummy, warm dinner, start a campfire, and serve some delicious s’mores for dessert! After a night of sleeping under the stars, we’ll go back to the climbing area again on Saturday to do a few more routes before packing up and driving back to USC on Saturday evening.

You don’t need to have prior climbing experience for this trip - just come ready to learn and have fun! We’ll send out some informational videos to you prior to the trip so that you can familiarize yourself with the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. We’re stoked to have you join us!

Contact the Guides:

Tadd Long - taddlong@usc.edu

Annabelle Olson - aolson@usc.edu

Natalia Ratner - nratner@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!

  • Small backpacking pack or school backpack

  • Sleeping pad

  • Sleeping bag 

  • Climbing shoes, climbing harness, and climbing helmet if you have one (we will provide shoes, a harness, and a helmet to everyone who does not have climbing gear)

  • ***Warm layers (thermal long sleeves, sweater, long pants)

  • Comfortable clothes for climbing (anything that you would wear for a hike will work just fine)

  • Hiking shoes/sneakers for while not climbing

  • Socks / underwear

  • Toiletries

  • AT LEAST 2-3 L of water

  • Hat, gloves

  • Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses)

  • Headlamp

  • Any necessary medication

  • Mess kit (plastic plate/bowl + fork/knife/spork will work just fine)

  • OPTIONAL: cards/games/other fun activities

  • REQUIRED: good vibes, can-do attitude

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 (including climbing shoes, a harness, and a helmet for you)

  • 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!!

Earlier Event: November 12
SAIL INTO THE SUNSET W/ JOSH + WILA
Later Event: November 19
Divertido at Escondido Falls