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Winter Wilderness Quest

February 11, 2023 - February 19, 2023
$2400

This nine-day Winter Wilderness Quest will take place in the remote and beautiful Black Mountains of Death Valley National Park.

Rites of Passage has offered the Wilderness Quest, with its roots in pan-cultural ceremonies and teachings, for over 40 years. With a focus on reconnecting with nature, finding authentic depth and meaning, healing old wounds, and  marking significant life changes, the program will appeal to men and women in any life stage.  The first 3 days are Severance or preparation time for the solo.  Meeting in Council sessions, the group will explore a range of subjects related to the Wilderness Quest solo, including safety-related issues: flora/fauna, weather-related concerns (heat, cold, lightning), essential first aid, our buddy system, and tarp-tying.  The group will also explore eco-spiritual tools that can be of great value in preparing, such as the Medicine Wheel teachings, exploration of Intent and purpose, self-generated ceremonial practices, and teachings from the Death Lodge. Group members will have several hours to follow their calling to find a solo site to hold them in the wilderness for days and nights.  The final 3 days, following the return from the solo, will be devoted to taking the necessary steps of return or Incorporation in a fully conscious way. This process begins with a Council session where each participant has the opportunity to tell the story of their Wilderness Quest solo and to receive essential feedback and confirmation from staff regarding what has been achieved.

Schedule

The program will begin on Saturday, February 11 at 1 pm…but we invite people to come and set up anytime after noon.  We’ll be spending the first night at a campground in Shoshone, California,.  The next day, we’ll move to the back country for 6 nights, returning to spend one last night in Shoshone before the program ends by noon on Sunday, February 19.  We’ll schedule an online pre-trip meeting about a month before the quest begins, and a follow-up online meeting about a month after it ends, to support participants on their journeys.

Staff

Susan Wofsy became a Wilderness Quest guide after working in rural Africa and Latin America for over a decade and seeing the profoundly empowering effects of living intimately with land and nature.

Daniel Francis is a regenerative designer, educator, rites-of-passage guide, culture-repair coyote, storyteller, fly fisherman, musician and tracker.

Please read The Rites of Passage Wilderness Quest for a detailed desription of the elements and stages of the journey.

Program Fees

Tuition*
$2250 (Register by January 11)
$2350 (Register after January 11)

You can register with a $350 non-refundable deposit, with the balance  due 30 days before the program begins.  See our Policies page for more information about deposits, refunds, and payment options.

Note:  Due to rising costs, we’ve had to raise our tuition for 2023 programs.

Food and Camping
With this event, we will provide all backcountry dinners.  Participants are responsible for their own breakfasts and lunches.
$150 covers all dinners and camping/lodging costs with the exception of up to 2 restaurant dinners.

Low-fee Opportunities
Two low-fee places available for $895 Tuition plus $150 Food and Camping. Two additional lower-fee places are available for $1525 tuition plus $150 Food and Camping.  Please inquire before registering.

Transportation
Transportation is not included in these fees and is the responsibility of the participant.  The site for this program requires only a good clearance vehicle (not 4 wheel drive).  Las Vegas, about a 2 hour drive from our initial meeting place, is a good choice for people who are flying.  We suggest vehicle share-rentals for participants.

I was ready. And still, I was astonished, awed, and humbled by the way I was cracked open, made fuller still, and given a bigger life to go home to.
–Jonathon B., Fall 2021

It was a sacred experience, all that I hoped for and more than I could have asked for or imagined.
–Gretchen V., Fall 2018

The quest echoed so much of my life, in ways that allowed me to see it and understand it in new ways.  I will always cherish it and I believe it will enrich and deepen my world for many years to come.
–Bob E., Fall 2018

The experience has been amazing.  I came for clarity on some life issues around relationships and my career. I found progress there, but at a deeper level  I found a sense of lightness in my soul I have not felt in many years, as well as a new famly with my fellow questers.
–Jimi C., Summer 2022

This was a life changing experience.  I will carry what I learned and experienced, and the people I quested with, into my new life.
–Linda H., Summer 2022

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