Program FULL- Please Contact Us to Get on the Waiting List

 

Are You Ready To…

  • Seek vision or direction?
  • Mark a transition in your life?
  • Experience your aliveness?
  • Embark on a personal journey?
  • Take a break from screen time and routine?

“My quest experience changed my life in profound and lasting ways. Thank you!”   -Jon L., 31, community planner

Join us for a transformative adventure into the expansive landscape of Death Valley.  This quest is open to all who identify as men.  Bring your questions, dreams, fears, and longings for vision and discover how returning to nature illuminates the way.

Through storytelling, creative expression, council practice and living simply on the earth, you’ll spend the first few days familiarizing yourself with the landscape, reconnecting to yourself, and exploring your intentions.  Following this period of preparation, we will hike into the timeless wilderness of Death Valley. There, as our ancestors from many cultures have done, you will walk alone to your solo place in the desert and discover the magic and power of turning to the earth with the needs, yearnings, fears and dreams of your life. After this period of solo time, you will return to the sanctuary of our small group where together we will spend the next few days bringing a deep understanding to the teachings nature has offered you and how they fit into your life.

Preparation/Severance: A time to become acquainted with your guides and fellow questers as we utilize 3 days to cover such topics as: Leave No Trace camping; safety and survival procedures; teachings of the four directions and applying them to your own inner map; creating your own ceremonies for growth, healing and celebration; and exploration of your reasons for questing through expressive art, dreamwork, and medicine walks.

Threshold: On the third day we travel to a wilderness base camp that will support you as you find your place of solitude in this desert landscape in which you will spend 3 days and nights living alone without contact with other people. If you choose to fast (as most people do), this will begin one day before you cross over the sacred threshold, making the duration of the fasting time 4 days and nights.

Reincorporation/Integration: After your three days and nights of solo time in your place of beauty in the desert, you will return to base camp to be greeted by your guides and fellow questers. After celebrating we will support you in engaging the challenging process of gradually returning to “normal” life – eating, coming back into the body, being with others, cars, etc. – and most importantly, we will work together to help you make meaning of your alone time in the wilderness. Each quester will have a chance to share his story with the group and will be assisted in a myriad of ways in bringing the many facets of the quest back into daily life.

The Details

When: February 28th, 4pm- March 8th, 1pm, 2020

Where: The trip will begin and end at Stovepipe Wells Campground in Death Valley National Park (an 8-9 hour drive from the SF Bay Area). The campground has pay phones, a restaurant & a small store nearby, but is otherwise fairly isolated. Permits and camping fees for the duration of the quest are paid by Wilderness Reflections.

What you need to provide: Personal camping gear; share in carpooling costs/vehicles. Ability to carry a 30-40 lb. pack for one mile. No prior camping experience needed.

Guides: Aaron Bartley and Chris Morales.  See who we are.

Fee: Guide and logistics fee: $1200–$1450, sliding scale. Deposit: $200, to reserve your spot. All meals are included in the price of the quest. For those in need, payment plans & financial aid are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

REGISTRATION

Program FULL- Please Contact Us to Get on the Waiting List

 

To register for this program, please send us your payment or deposit for the program and a one-page letter of intent describing your reasons for wanting to attend and what you hope to learn or explore through your participation in the program. It may also be helpful to include any significant life transitions you’ll be marking or life challenges you wish to engage by completing the program.

Register Online: Click here to complete your registration form, submit your letter of intent and make a payment online.

EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT: Register by December 1 and receive a $100 discount.

 

Contact Us for more information