BI-Polar express

Meet: trogro (birnkrant starbucks) at 7 am on Saturday 2/17

Return: 5 pm on Sunday 2/18

Member: $52

Non member: $65

Activity: snow sledding, snow playing, cave exploring, rock scrambling!

Difficulty: 4.5/10

Distance (miles): 2

Elevation (ft): 200

Recommended Prior Experience: overnight camping experience not required, must be comfortable scrambling up rocks and fitting into tight spaces

Location of Trip: Big Bear and Joshua Tree

Native Land: Western Shoshone, Serrano

Come on an epic trip with Tadd and Sidney where we’ll be hitting both Socal extremes - the snow and the desert! On Saturday, we’ll head up to Big Bear Lake for a day of tubing, sledding, and playing in the snow. Whether you grew up somewhere cold or have never seen snow before, this is the adventure for you. Then, we’ll head to Joshua Tree and camp in the desert for the night where Tadd and Sidney will chef up a delicious Michelin star meal accompanied by a campfire, smores, and beautiful stars!

On Sunday morning, we’ll head to the Chasm of Doom, a fun scramble through a cave in the rocks of Joshua Tree. Be prepared for some tight squeezes and maneuvers up and around rocks. Tadd and Sidney will lead the way—so just bring your headlamp and leave your claustrophobia at home! After checking out the Chasm and exploring Joshua Tree, we’ll have lunch in the park before heading back to USC Sunday afternoon, just in time for you to procrastinate on your homework that’s due Monday morning.

Contact the Guides:

Tadd Long: taddlong@usc.edu

Sidney Kalin: skalin@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

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

• Snow pants/jacket (waterproof or gear that can get wet)

• Comfortable hiking clothes

• Hiking shoes/sneakers

• Socks / underwear

• Toiletries

• AT LEAST 2 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 (ie. kayaks, snowshoes, snorkels, backpacking packs, sleeping bags, fishing rods, etc.)

• All group / shared gear (tents, stoves, sleds, 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!!