Scenes from Frosh Camp

"I like leading this hike because—even though it is a short, simple hike in a fairly ordinary place—every now and then it turns out to be a transformative experience for a few students," says Asimow (right). "It is the moment they connect the joy of being outdoors with their ability to make detailed observations of the natural world and the way that we can tell stories that explain those observations. In other words, they find in their heart that they are geologists. Everybody else gets some exercise and fresh air and good views, and those are all important, too."


Beyond these gulches (carved by water drainage, explains Asimow) lies the city of Ventura, and farther inland, the city of Camarillo, hometown of late Caltech geologist Robert P. Sharp (BS '34, MS '35). Sharp was renowned for taking students on field expeditions and opening their eyes to what could be learned about natural processes using simple observations. The tradition of short, fun, informative field trips carries on today in Caltech's Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences and includes the annual frosh camp hike.
