A convoy of student vehicles silently made their way alone through the night. For miles in every direction from the island of light the beams from the headlights created in the canyon, was deep darkness. But for the purposes of all involved, darkness was a boon.
The anticipation for the stargazing hike grew as the cars snaked through Latigo Canyon and neared the dirt parking lot that marked the trailhead. Soon the makeshift parking lot crackled under the tires of the four vehicles. For a brief moment there was silence before the doors of the cars, filled to over capacity, popped open and voices began talking excitedly.
From seasoned hikers to exasperated freshman simply looking for a study break, all types had assembled here. Some came decked out in climbing apparel: lightweight shorts, FiveFinger shoes and backpacks. Others came straight from the library and simply slipped on an old pair of tennis shoes.
“I’d go barefoot all the time if I could, but I can’t, so these are just a compromise I guess,” said Ryan Glandney, a Seaver freshman, pointing to this FiveFinger shoes. Glandney wore a flannel shirt and jeans rolled up to mid-shin. He typified many of those who had gathered to hike into the early hours of the morning.
“Just getting away,” Glandney said, expressing his main motivation for frequenting many of the outings offered by Pepperdine’s Campus Recreation. “It’s nice cause you get to interact with people you wouldn’t otherwise interact with,” he added.
“I needed to take a break from appellate briefs, see the stars and put things into perspective,” said Sarah Tornsberry, a first-year-student at the Pepperdine School of Law. Tornsberry was accompanied by her friend.
“I’m here cause I used to night climb. I’m trying to scout out a good place,” said Shelly Choi, another freshman at the Pepperdine Law School. She went on to say that after moving to live in Malibu she wanted to get back into frequently hiking as she had at home.
“It’s a good chance to meet people and hike and get exercise and a study break,” said Alfred Long, a Seaver freshman and Chinese citizen who is studying in the United States for the first time.
The white light of the full moon reflected off the white sand and rock of the trail but did not seem to illuminate much else. The trail narrowed on its way down to a dry creek bed, only permitting single file passage. Twenty sets of feet crunched across the cracked clay.
The trail suddenly rose out of the creek bed through a dense oak forest toward a large hill, the top of which marked the final destination. The hill commanded a prime view of Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, and in the far distance the sparkling center of downtown Los Angeles. Even more impressive were the stars, which were surprisingly visible in this place away from the city lights.
“It’s important to fuel that sense of wonder,” said Sarah Attar, a Campus Recreation trip leader and member of the women’s track team. “That is our main goal at Campus Rec, to get people excited about getting outside and adventuring.”
The trips have “…allowed students to create new communities,” said Becci Prather, assistant director of Campus Recreation. “We’ve seen a lot of really good spiritual growth as a result of our trips. It allows a time to create dialogue and conversation about some really important things student face.”
Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton has also recently recognized the value of Campus Recreation trips. The outdoor trips division of Campus Recreation entered a video contest several months ago, supported by Polartec, attempting to win the $10,000 prize for the department. “It didn’t end up winning the contest, but he [Benton] was so impressed by their video that he matched the award the contest would have given.” This money was used to subsidize many Campus Recreation excursions, offering trips at little or no cost to students.
Often overlooked by students, Campus Recreation has much to offer. In the past it has led excursions off campus through its Outdoor Recreation division to enjoy such activities as: rock climbing, snow boarding, ocean diving, kayaking, horseback riding and much more. If students wish to go explore on their own the Equipment Shack offers tents, non-perishable food, sleeping bags, and other gear for little or no money, depending on the item.
The stated mission of Campus Recreation is to “enhance personal fitness, wellness, and enjoyment” for “Pepperdine University students, faculty, and staff.” It meets this mission of providing opportunities for physical fitness through on-campus programs as well. The Fitness Studio on campus offers discounted classes including yoga, spin, zumba, cross fit, kick boxing, ballet, aquatic fitness, and aikido classes. Campus Recreation also administers two gyms on campus — a small one servicing the Dresher community and a larger weight center in the Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Intramural and Club Sports divisions of Campus Recreation offer challenging, team-based fitness opportunities. Sports offered range from beach volleyball to rugby.
Campus Recreation has several exciting activities that planned for the coming days. Here are the highlights: Balet classes (4/16, 4/23, 4/30), Alkido classes (4/18, 4/25), Zuma classes (4/19, 4/26), and Candlelight Yoga (4/22).
Walking the two miles back to the trailhead, Ally Potter, a Seaver freshman, reflected. “It was rejuvenating, an adventure, a break from the mundane and decent exercise.”
The experience felt less like a hike than it did a spontaneous, youthful adventure. It seemed to assuage a concern openly expressed by many at Pepperdine that the school lacks a sense of community. This is especially true on a Friday night or during the weekend when scarcely a sound can be heard by 8 p.m. It was comforting to find that there is a sub-culture of outdoor enthusiasts looking for excitement and community.
Attar said it best: “It’s too common these days for us to get stuck on our computers when there is so much to explore and adventure to be had right in our backyard.”
For more information on Campus Recreation and coming activities click here.
