Avid hikers, backpackers weigh in on best places to explore before Spring Quarter

Abbo Nathan, a second-year sustainable environmental design major, wakes up one morning and tries to get herself and her friends out of the door by 7 a.m. The day’s destination is Yuba River, a personal favorite of Nathan’s. With backpacks stuffed with towels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and swimsuits, the group reaches the river by 10 a.m. and starts to hike along the bank.

The farther the group hikes, the fewer people on the trail; Nathan and her friends hike until they reach the perfect spot to spend their day hanging out on the white rocks and jumping into the cool water. Before heading home, as per tradition, the group stops in Auburn for burritos.

“The best day trip is Yuba River in Placer County,” Nathan said. “During spring, the snow is melting and rushing down — it’s so cool.”

Nathan, president of the Ski or Snowboard Club at Davis, is no stranger to the outdoors. She spends much of her free time out in nature.

“I don’t remember a weekend — definitely not this quarter — […when] I [have] stayed in Davis,” Nathan said. “I really like going out.”

According to Nathan, the best place to go during spring break is Yosemite National Park.

“If you make a trip to Yosemite, it’s amazing,” Nathan said. “During spring, you don’t have the summer crowd, all the waterfalls are going, [and] wildflowers are blooming.”

A little closer to Davis, another popular location to visit to is Lake Tahoe, especially for those who want to see snow. Tahoe is also home to long hikes with elevation gain. According to Nathan, the Pacific Crest Trail offers great views of the lake along the rim of Lake Tahoe, making it a good choice for those who want to do a backpacking trip over spring break. The Lake Tahoe area is also great for students who aren’t in the mood for hiking. Nathan believes Truckee and Tahoe City are “really cool towns”.

“If you’re not into outdoorsy stuff, [they have] docks [where] you can just sit by the lake and watch the sunrise and sunset, and [there are also] thrift stores and stuff,” Nathan said.

For students who prefer a drive rather than a hike, Sonoma and Napa are the way to go. The drive provides a scenic view of vineyards and hills for those who want to take it easy over the break.

“You can drive through that and then get to Bodega Bay area,” Nathan said. “If you’re not super down to hike you can just get the scenic drive and hang out by the water on the cliffs. If you go somewhere, stuff your car with as many people as possible so you can split gas, that’s a pro tip.”

Lake Berryessa lies about a half an hour away from the City of Davis and is perfect for students who don’t want to venture out too far. According to Nathan, hiking the trail to the peak of Berryessa gives hikers a view of all of Northern California.

Paige Dougherty, president of The Hiking Club and a fourth-year neurobiology and physiology major, has also had a lot experience with great outdoor spots and trails. For students who don’t have access to cars for very long, Dougherty recommends Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve. Owned by UC Davis and right by Lake Berryessa, it’s a little steep but offers great views.

“What I love most about hiking, especially here, is that we have such a great group of people we wouldn’t be able to do this without,” Dougherty said. “I don’t think there’s anything better than going out on a hike with [a] new group of people. It’s such a beautiful thing that we can get people out of the confines of Davis and into nature.”

Dougherty and the Hiking Club plan about nine group hikes per quarter. Dougherty’s favorite place to go is Big Basin Redwoods State Park, about two and a half hours away in Santa Cruz County. According to Dougherty, the Meteor Trail at Big Basin is great way to see waterfalls and redwoods on the way to the summit, from which one could see the ocean.

“It’s a little bit far away but you get so much bang for your buck,” Dougherty said. “This trail is just gorgeous and you really see everything northern California has to offer in one loop.”

Students looking to get out of California can get involved with Outdoor Adventures at UC Davis, which offers a guided trip to the Grand Canyon during Spring Break. For a fee, Outdoor Adventures provides food, transportation, group gear and the option of renting out individual gear like sleeping bags and head lamps, for an additional cost. The trip is guided by student guides from the university.

“It’s a cool way to meet new people,” said Kevin Townsend, a second-year geology major and employee at Outdoor Adventures. “You can sign up with your friends or you can sign up by yourself and meet 14 new people for a week. Everyone’s super nice and it’s a really good time.”

For those who would prefer to explore on their own rather than going on a guided trip, Outdoor Adventures can help with that as well.

“If people do want to go outside and try something out we have a bunch of rental gear that we can rent out to students like tents and sleeping bags,”  said Amanda Bauer, a first-year microbiology major and Outdoor Adventures employee. “That definitely makes it easier for people to go out if they can have someway to get gear.”

Students who don’t have access to a car can visit Putah Creek, which is only a short bike ride away and offers various turnouts and hikes around the creek. Nathan and her friends often bike to a rope swing on Putah Creek, sometimes after class on really hot days.

“It’s kind of a secret but I’m revealing it to The Aggie,” Nathan said. “If you can find it, it’s a 10 to 15 minute bike ride. It’s really cool [and] when it’s not cold you can rope swing into Putah Creek and it’s really refreshing.”

Probably the closest for any UC Davis student, the UC Davis Arboretum is another place to destress, relax and enjoy the spring weather without having to go too far. Nathan emphasized  that if a student wants to get out of town, though, it’s incredibly easy.

“Davis […] [is] the best location because you’re two hours from anything super cool,” Nathan said. “There’s no other feeling quite like seeing something awesome for the first time. There’s a lot of opportunity to do that [here].”

Written by: Fatima Siddiqui  – features@theaggie.org

UCDC Washington Program students reflect on inauguration, working in D.C.

This past quarter, Colin Giacomini, a fourth-year political science major, worked as a Middle East research intern at the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy organization that performs research and advocacy for political, social and economic problems in Washington, D.C. In addition to analyzing how the United States can more effectively provide aid to the Middle East and combat extremism, Giacomini’s job required him to keep up with President Donald Trump and the erratic climate of the capital in the first few weeks of his administration.

Each quarter, UC Davis undergraduate students embark for a term at the UC Washington Center (UCDC) to combine course work, research and internship experience in the nation’s dynamic capital. However, UCDC students this Winter Quarter have experienced Washington in a climate unlike anything previous interns have ever seen.

“The buzz around the office is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before,” Giacomini said. “Everyone is watching the daily press briefings and closely paying attention to every speech that [Trump] gives so we can stay informed and get as much understanding of the situation as we possibly can.”

Experiencing D.C. and the current administration firsthand has allowed Giacomini to understand what it would really be like to pursue his future goal of working on Middle East policy at the State Department. Despite the instability of politics recently, Giacomini appreciates the opportunity UCDC has given him to experience history in real time and connect with unique and passionate individuals across Capitol Hill.

“When the travel ban was enacted, my boss spent the whole weekend at the D.C. airport translating Arabic for the people that were stranded there,” Giacomini said. “Whenever you go out around here you can find people directly involved in what’s going on which adds a different perspective to your knowledge about politics.”

According to Giacomini, the sentiments in the capital are somewhat evenly split between those who support this transition and those who do not, which makes for a very unpredictable climate, even for D.C.’s most in-the-know.  

“Many of the scholars that I work for, who have been in this business for years, can’t even make predictions for what will happen next week,” Giacomini said. “There’s a clash between the old guard and what Trump’s bringing in, for better or for worse, but this is an environment of uneasiness and unsurety [with] very erratic behavior.”

Since arriving at the beginning of Winter Quarter, Giacomini has seen several protests, perhaps the most interesting taking place on Inauguration Day.

Devon Moreland, a third-year political science major, spent his quarter interning at Angerholzer Broz Consulting, a political consulting group which does fundraising for members of the House of Representatives. Moreland attended both Barack Obama and Trump’s inaugurations and observed the differences in spirit, recalling an underlying sense of apprehension throughout the city during the days leading up to Trump’s inauguration.

“Many outsiders came to watch and it was interesting to see the dynamic between Trump supporters and other people that were there, as well as Trump’s divisiveness in his rhetoric and the responses he got from the crowd,” Moreland said. “It was a historical moment that most people don’t get to see, and it was especially interesting to witness the peaceful transition of power when Obama and Trump shook hands.”

In comparison to Obama’s inauguration in 2009, Moreland noticed differences in the energy of the crowd in 2017. Regardless of personal beliefs, Moreland noted that inhabitants of D.C. make it a habit to stay informed about the ever-changing political sphere.

“Any given day walking down the street you will hear people having intense conversations about Trump and his appointees,” Moreland said. “It’s all very up in the air still. Even though Trump has signed a lot of executive orders, most of these haven’t been actual policies, so not too much has happened yet.”

While he has had the opportunity to meet several members of Congress and attend fundraising events through his internship, D.C. was at first a culture shock to Moreland.

“D.C. is very professional all of the time and it’s a whole other level than in California,” Moreland said. “Everyone’s in a rush, it’s very fast-paced and everyone’s dressed very professionally and conversations are very professional.”

Moreland’s internship is about two blocks away from the Capitol Building, which allows him to go on Hill runs and check out different congressional buildings, all while bumping into congresspeople along the way. Shelby McMichael, a third-year communication and sociology major, has also appreciated D.C.’s diverse community while working at Active Minds, a mental health awareness nonprofit.

“There will be protests and things like that, but when you’re living here you have to be informed about politics because it’s usually a topic of conversation,” McMichael said. “I don’t think you can ever feel overwhelmed by the politics of the city because it’s such a liberal demographic and the people are friendly and kind.”

As the UCDC quarter comes to a close, students reflect on the knowledge they have gained from their experiences, in which they met motivated and hard-working individuals and pursued their political endeavors.

“Everyone here has their priorities together and knows what they want out of their career and lives, so it’s a really refreshing place to be,” McMichael said. “You walk around here and pass by all kinds of organizations and groups representing anything you can ever imagine, and it makes you want to do more and be a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Written by: Gillian Allen — features@theaggie.org

A variety of experiences on campus for students with food restrictions

Stopping by the CoHo one evening, Arev Markarian scanned the menu for a vegan option. Markarian, a fourth-year environmental science and management major, was surprised to find that Ciao offers a burger for vegetarian and vegan customers. When she ordered, the server said that she herself was not aware that vegan burgers were an option.

“On campus, […] you have to do your research,” Markarian said. “With time, I’ve been finding more and more options. I find that kind of fun, having a challenge.”

After watching a video that depicted the treatment of farm animals, Markarian decided to become vegetarian. Two years after becoming vegetarian, Markarian decided to become vegan, which she has now been for two years.

“I became vegetarian when I moved to Davis my freshman year,” Markarian said. “I actually found it really easy having the D.C. […] because of the salad bar having tofu and there being vegan and vegetarian options, […] which made it easy to transition.”

Because first-year students are required to purchase meal plans, the dining commons on campus must make accommodations for students with dietary restrictions. However, because students also choose to eat at eateries in the Silo and the CoHo, accommodations are still present, but not mandated.

Though Markarian does not mind searching for food options, other UC Davis students have stated their displeasure in the state of food selections on campus. Students with a variety of dietary restrictions, for both medical and personal reasons, mostly agree that there is room for improvement.

Rachel Scherr, an assistant researcher in the Department of Nutrition, said she feels accommodations should satisfy the needs of all students, but, more importantly, should be granted to students with religious or medical dietary restrictions.

“If students are paying for meal plans, obviously it should be foods that they can eat,” Scherr said. “I believe it’s important to have foods that don’t contain allergenic compounds, like wheat or dairy, but also kosher and halal foods. At least for the more common food allergens, having labeling and signs for foods that contain the big eight allergens [is important].”

Kausalya Raman, a first-year design major and vegan, said that although there are always vegan options in the dining commons, there is room for improvement.

“A lot of the foods that [the dining commons] make, [such as] pasta dishes, could really be easily made vegan if they didn’t put cheese on top,” Raman said.

However, Samvardhini Sridharan, a first-year biochemistry major who is a vegetarian and allergic to soy and eggs, said that she has found a favorable selection of food choices throughout the UC Davis campus.

“I have felt limited in no way,” Sridharan said. “I’ve honestly felt like I can eat pretty much whatever I like that is vegetarian. Occasionally, there might not be something at Trudy’s, but everyone is super willing to go in the back and check. There have been times [at other] places where I’ve felt like, ‘I’m not going to get anything to eat.’ I’ve never had that feeling at Davis.”

Despite this, one concern for students in Sridharan’s position is the incorrect labeling of foods in the dining commons. Raman was looking at the online menu for the dining commons when she noticed that a meal categorized as a vegan option included bacon in its list of ingredients.

“Sometimes when they’re listing food, they’ll label things as vegan [when] they’re not,” Raman said. “In the list of ingredients it will say bacon or fish sauce.”

Akira Comia, a first-year electrical engineer major, has life-threatening allergies that include nuts, shellfish and eggs, relies on the ingredients listed on the labels in the dining commons when surveying what foods are available to him for dinner. Luckily, Comia said he has never had an issue with the labels being incorrect.

“I think the medical necessities are taken more seriously, in my opinion,” Comia said. “They tell you, ‘There’s nuts in here,’ or ‘There’s shellfish in here.’ Whereas, if you’re a vegetarian, it doesn’t say ‘There’s meat in here,’ you just have to figure that out. I have a friend who can’t even eat pork-based soups and they don’t tell you if they make the soup out of pork. I think they’re not as careful with the ingredients if it’s not an allergen.”

Raman, who is also the vice president of the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty through Education (P.E.A.C.E.) club on campus, said the P.E.A.C.E. club has started a petition to increase plant-based options in the dining commons. Scherr acknowledged that both carnivores and omnivores can eat plant-based options, so offering a greater variety of plant-based options will “satisfy the needs of a broader student base.”

Although the dining commons include The Blue Onion, a food station that offers solely vegan meals, both Raman and Sridharan said the vegetarian and vegan options in the dining commons can become repetitive.

“It sometimes feels like it’s limited to pizza or pasta or garden salad,” Sridharan said. “In the D.C., there are a certain amount of dishes the Blue Onion makes. After you’ve had that for two quarters, you start to get bored. Instead of having cheese pizza all the time, maybe [offer] a veggie pizza. It’s just simple, small things.”

According to Scherr, offering a wide variety of options is key.

“It’s obviously quite critical that the university make sure students have healthy, balanced diets to be successful learners,” Scherr said. “If there’s a wide variety of choices, I think it should be easy to meet the needs of almost everyone.”

For gluten-free students, each of the dining commons includes a gluten-free fridge. Ana Hansen, a first-year cognitive science and theater and dance double major, who is gluten-free for medical reasons, said she has found moldy foods in the fridge. Additionally, Taryn Lausch, a first-year geology major who is also gluten-free for medical reasons, said the fridge is not well-stocked, and has opened it to find only lunchmeat available.

Both Lausch and Hansen have found obtaining suitable gluten-free options in the dining commons to be frustrating. Hansen said she has become sick on numerous occasions due to cross-contamination.

“I’ve just stopped trying to eat there most of the time, unless I know I just want to eat salad with no protein on it,” Hansen said. “There’s also times when the allergen menu online will say [one thing] and I’ll go […] into the dining commons and the labels have changed or something has changed where I can no longer eat it. That happened last night with the posole verde. I have eaten that every time […] and then the recipe had changed, the chicken was some pork [item] that had gluten in it. On the days I think there is food [for me], there isn’t.”

Lausch, like Hansen, frequents the salad bar but knows it is not enough of a well-rounded meal. For both Lausch and Hansen, the dining commons does not provide an accommodating, accountable option. Lausch has noted the discrepancies between her dining experience and that of her vegetarian friends.

“I think they make more of an effort for [them],” Lausch said. “There’s always designated vegan and vegetarian options [and] they have the whole vegan and vegetarian section every single day.”

For Hansen, the biggest frustration is the fact that she is required to purchase a meal plan. The meal plan, for her, is an extraneous expense, as she has been forced to grocery shop for adequate food options. She said a meal plan should not be required, especially for students with food allergies.

Although students with a variety of dietary restrictions have differing thoughts on food options on campus, Markarian and Sridharan both said they feel the workers at the food services at UC Davis are very willing to go out of their way to ensure that food options are made available to students.

“People are just willing to accommodate,” Sridharan said. “They don’t want to […] prevent [students] from having food that day. Medically related or not, people don’t want to mess with your beliefs or mess with how you’ve been living your life for 18, 19, 20 years. I’ve never had a person who has said, ‘We can’t help you.’”

Written by: Hannah Holzer – features@theaggie.org