Cal Hiking and Outdoor Society
Club Sports·Health/Wellness·Environmental/Sustainability·Community Service/Nonprofit
CHAOS is UC Berkeley's oldest outdoor club, bringing together hikers, backpackers, climbers, and lovers of nature since 1870. Members get free gear rentals from the on-campus gear shed (tents, sleeping bags, stoves, bear cans, and more), access to a 3,500-person email listserv packed with trip postings, and weekly Wednesday meetups to find hiking partners. Trips run year-round at all experience levels, from casual day hikes to beginner backpacking to cross-country skiing.
3,500
Listserv members
2,500
Discord members
1870
Founded
$15
One-time membership fee
~30
Spots per officer-led trip
1
Weekly meeting
Events They Host
Backpacking 101 DeCal
A student-facilitated course on UC Berkeley's campus covering trip planning, gear lists, food planning, wilderness safety, and Leave No Trace principles. Open to students enrolled through the DeCal program.
Member Experiences
Weekly Wednesday Meetings
Every Wednesday at 7:30 PM at rotating locations (often La Val's on Northside). Open to members and non-members. No agenda, just hanging out and talking about outdoorsy stuff.
The Gourmet Trip
A biannual CHAOS tradition since 1979. A short backpacking trip (under two miles) where members dress in fancy attire and compete to cook the most gourmet meal they can carry into the backcountry. Past venues include Henry Coe State Park. Cost is approximately $5 plus gas contribution.
Officer-led trips
Weekend trips running nearly every weekend (as of Fall 2021). Trips are announced and signed up for via the email listserv. Approximately 30 spots per trip.
Member-organized trips
Any member can post trips on the listserv and Discord to find hiking or backpacking partners for any destination and activity type.