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04 November 2011
Posted in
GPSS Blog -
Event Recap
On October 23rd, twenty USC graduate students (hailing from no less than 7 different countries and 8 different USC departments) caravanned to Channel Islands National Park’s Santa Cruz Island for a day of boating, hiking, and exploration.
Santa Cruz Island, once inhabited by Native Americans until the 1830s, and then taken over by ranchers, is now uninhabited save for a few campers and scientific researchers. Starting the journey with a one hour boat ride out of Ventura, dolphins jumped and raced alongside the boat.
After arriving at Prisoner’s Harbor it was off with nature guide, Joel, to explore the island. Although the fog never fully lifted off the island, the views along the trail were breathtaking and the smell of sweet fennel filled the air. Joel pointed out all of the endemic and invasive plant and tree species on the island, each with its own interesting link to the island’s history.
After lunch and a few hours of hiking, it was time to head back to the dock and board our boat to the mainland. There was just one problem: the boat was running one and a half hours behind schedule. Some students chose to use the extra time on the island to relax by the shore. Others competed in fifty yard dashes with friends, and another group of students got some serious photography/modeling practice in. Alas, the boat arrived and not long after warming up with some hot cocoa, all on board were treated to not one, but several humpback whale sightings.
Back on the mainline just after sunset, the GPSS gang returned refreshed from the peace and tranquility of nature and with a few new friends.
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