Writing in the wild

Meet: 8 am Sat. Nov. 9 in USC Village

Return: 6 pm Sunday

Member: $50 Non member: $65

Activity: Hiking, camping, writing workshop

Difficulty: 4/10 Medium

Distance (miles): 6 miles Elevation (ft): 2,000 ft

Recommended Prior Experience: Some hiking, interest in creative writing

Location of Trip: Alabama Hills and Inyo National Forest

Native Land: Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone

On Saturday morning we will meet in the village and drive about 4.5 hours to Alabama Hills where we will set up camp for the night. We will begin our workshop with each participant sharing an excerpt or poem from a favorite author. Then we will have a guided writing exercise. In the evening we will go over workshop guidelines and share our writing from the afternoon with each other.

On Sunday, we will pack up camp and head to Inyo National Forest to hike Lone Pine Lake. This is a strenuous hike with 2,000 ft of elevation gain. We will take breaks along the trail for writing exercises. At the lake, we will have a longer writing exercise before hiking down. We plan to return to LA by late Sunday afternoon.

This trip will be a small, student-run workshop with collaborative writing exercises, dedicated writing time, and group feedback. This is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and share your creative writing while connecting with nature.

Interested participants are asked to bring a notebook and should note that we will be sharing our writing with each other in a positive, collaborative space. No prior creative writing experience is necessary, but we ask that you come prepared to write and share your writing. 

NOTE: Signups for this trip are RESTRICTED to those who have filled out the interest form that was shared earlier this month. You are welcome to fill out the interest form, but be aware that we have a long waitlist, and registration has already occurred.

Contact the Guides:

Sophia (hammerle@usc.edu)

Blake (bbuchhol@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!

• Notebook and writing utensil

• An excerpt or poem from a favorite author to share with the group

• Sleeping bag

• Sleeping pad

• Backpack for day hike (school backpack is fine)

• Water bottle (2 liters of water)

• Shoes for hiking (tennis shoes are fine)

• Warm layers: it will get cold overnight — warm jacket, hat, and gloves recommended

• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

• Medications/toiletries

• Mess kit (plate/bowl and utensils to eat with)

• Optional: headlamp

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!!