TRIP DESCRIPTION:
This 11-miler is not for the faint of heart. We’ll conquer this mountain via the Ski Hut trail, in which a ski hut is, in fact, visible in the distance! After basking in our glory at the summit, we’ll descend through a section of the trail called the Devil’s Backbone that lives up to its name. The trail climbs about 3800 feet, so mountain goats are invited (and encouraged) to come. Pros: epic views, bragging rights, impeccable vibes. Cons: No actual baldness (Only 5% of Peaks & Professors participants are bald, so statistically speaking, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see a bald head out here.)
You’ll have the chance to hike with not one, but TWO fantastically artistic Roski profs! Jennifer and Karen, good friends and avid hikers, will both be joining us on our journey.
PACKING LIST:
Water! (2-3 liters)
Lunch and snacks!
Sunhat, sunscreen
Extra layer!
WAIVERS
WATER!
PROFESSOR: Jennifer West
DEPARTMENT: Roski
Jennifer West is an artist, who for over ten years, has gained international recognition for her explorations of materialism in film. Significant commissions include High Line Art, New York; the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, London; ICA, London; and the Aspen Art Museum, among others. At USC, she teaches video art, critique, and Riot Grrrl: Music, Art, Zines and Video of the 90's.
PROFESSOR: Karen Leibowitz
DEPARTMENT: Roski
Originally from New York, Karen Liebowitz is an artist based in Los Angeles, teaching painting and drawing at USC. Her paintings are hybrids of classicism and fantasy, with a relationship to history painting and the social ideals behind great murals with their figuration, large scale and theatricality. In her ongoing series “Manifesting Prophecy,” she mines apocalyptic religious texts to invent new dramas; contemporary, if not futuristic, myths in which the absurd is painted alongside the miraculous.
PEAK: Mt. Baldy
DIFFICULTY: 5/5
SCENERY: Backbones, waterfalls, majestic views, bald rocks.
FUN FACT: On a clear day, you can see from the Pacific to the Mojave at the top of Mt. Baldy!
TRIP LEAD: Emily
Emily’s skills include baking pies, designing greeting cards, and her strangely accurate Bruce Springsteen impression.
Contact Emily: epellegr@usc.edu
Read Emily's bio here.