Dante’s Descent into Death valley

Meet: Friday, 2/21 @ 3:30pm Village Fountain

Return: Sunday, 2/23 @ 7pm

Member: $106 Non member: $138

Participant Drivers (2): $54

Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!

Activity: hiking, stargazing, car camping, scrambling, frolicking, valley-ing

Difficulty: (7/10) Medium Distance: 15 miles / 24 km Elevation (ft): 3500 ft

Recommended Prior Experience: some hiking experience preferred!

Location of Trip: Death Valley National Park

Native Land: Timbisha Shoshone

Dare to descend into Death Valley National Park! The daring duo Kylie and Ryan will take you on a remote tour of the majestic sand dunes, the glimmering stars, and the towering peaks of Death Valley. Departing on Friday at 3:30, grab dinner on the road, set up camp around 9PM, and then end the night with stargazing. Directly gaze into the abyss, you’ll see stars and constellations that you’ve never witnessed as our campsite boasts some of the clearest skies in North America. During the next day, Kylie and Ryan will chef up a quick breakfast before beginning a day full of adventure. Driving to the Mesquite Flats Dunes for some insta-worthy pictures before departing for Dante’s Ridge. Directly after our arrival, we’ll begin our ascent up Mt. Perry (9 miles round trip) and we’ll break for lunch at the top. Dante’s Ridge is a challenging, exciting hiking experience that will require you to climb over rocks and get dirty. Do what it takes to conquer this trail. Defeat Mt. Perry & Dante and claim our victory and then we’ll pause and appreciate the sweeping dunes and swirling stars before heading back to camp. During dinnertime, Kylie and Ryan will prepare a banquet of champions to celebrate our adventures. Drape your covers over your head and go to bed with bellies full and heads held high as we prepare for one more challenge the next day. Done with our campsite, the next morning we’ll break camp and say our goodbyes before heading out to the Mosaic Canyon Trails (3.5 miles round trip). Don’t disturb the gorgeous undercut canyons of Death Valley, afterwards we’ll then return to USC, arriving sometime around 7PM. Dealing with Dante’s descent in Death Valley will develop your dexterity and determine your daring. Dedicate a weekend and depart for Death Valley, devote yourself to the dazzling demonstrations of dunes and demand the most of your descent. Dig in and descend.

Contact the Guides:

Ryan Long: ryanwlon@usc.edu / (937) 703-2273

Kylie McLane: kmclane@usc.edu / (816) 673-0279

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!

• Capacity for 3L+ of water

• Sleeping bag (can borrow from SCO)

• Sleeping pad (can borrow from SCO)

• Warm clothes for night/to sleep in (potential lows of 40° F)

  • Thermal layers, warm socks, hats, ect.

• Headlamp/flashlight

• Comfortable hiking shoes (comfort is the most important thing, hiking boots are great but running shoes will work too)

• Comfortable hiking clothes

• Socks

• Underwear

• Mess kit (this just means a plate/bowl/tupperware and fork/spoon)

• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant etc)

• Any Medications or other personal necessities.

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!!