Coming of Age for Boys 2012

In the summer of 2012, our group of eight boys set out on a three-week backpacking trip through Olympic National Park. Our objective was to begin to fill the shoes of young men and step out of our childhood neediness. We began our journey as complete strangers, yet grew to become close friends. Along the way we faced many obstacles; such as strenuous hiking, learning how to work together, and getting adjusted to the new routine. We overcame these obstacles only with the help of our friendship and guides.

One of our biggest challenges was becoming mature enough for our guides to step back and let us take control of the trip. Pulled together by the great leaders in our midst, we did a good job beginning to take on the responsibilities setting and breaking camp. Breaking camp was difficult for us, and this resulted in the opportunity to do community service trash pick-ups and a lot of exasperation. Fortunately, we learned from our mistakes and improved our clean-up skills.

The physical element of the trip was yet another challenge we faced, and took a great deal of courage to surmount. We hiked a full mile (over 5000 feet!) of vertical and crossed raging rivers, babbling brooks, lush meadows of wildflowers, and flitted across vast fields of glowing snow, then we traveled to the beach and traversed b beaches and scaled sandy bluffs. To culminate this adventure we spent 24 hours of solo time on the beach while fasting and partook in a sweat lodge ritual.

This journey taught us about nature, ourselves, and being a young man in today's society.  It helped us let go of our childhood neediness and dependency, find out about our strengths and weaknesses, and use this enlightenment to step into the role of a young man and start giving back to the people who raised us and cared for us through childhood.

--written by Isaac Zinda and Rowan Gallagher

Coming of Age for Girls 2012

We just returned home from an amazing three week trip in the Olympics with four wonderful young women and three magnificent mentors.

By day, we challenged our bodies, pushing ourselves to keep going even when we felt like we could not make it up one more switchback. By night, we pushed our hearts and minds to open, sharing our deepest selves in council.

We climbed from sea level to almost 5000 feet, all the way up to Anderson glacier, where the vista opened up in every direction, our eyes feasting upon peak after peak, up into the wide blue sky, and down into tree covered valleys.

At the top, near Anderson Glacier, we took a break for sledding in a snow bowl.

We spent a week exploring the beach, climbing beach ladders and giant rocks, watching otters and seals play in the surf, discovering crabs, starfish, and anemone in the tidepools, and relaxing in the warm sand.

After hiking almost 50 miles, singing, laughing and supporting each other the whole way, we got to rejuvenate and celebrate at magical Sacred Groves.

Here is a song the young women wrote on the Journey (First verse by Cameron Withey).

Call To Adventure 2012

As Stan Crow (founder of Journeys) says "The Call To Adventure is a call to release the daredevil in each of us, to reach out for the next stage of our lives.  The call is the mysterious and intoxicating voice that calls us from the sleep of our routine lives - a charismatic call from within to risk and discover what comes next".  

Well, it just so happens 9 intrepid adventure's and 3 brave mentors heard this call, what followed was a trip along the Olympic Coast that will remain in their hearts forever.  This trip tested us on many levels, conjured up deep belly laughter, and allowed us all to connect to ourselves, each other, and the natural world around us in meaningful lasting ways.

Long arduous walks through old growth forest covered with mighty giant Sitka Spruce's, Doug Fir's, Cedars and Hemlocks.  Beaches with hundreds of tide pools to explore, Bald Eagles flying overhead, juveniles swooping down gracing us with their presence, jagged rocky shorelines, the ebb and flow of the tides, and one solid group merging together as a cohesive unit to marvel at all the wonders the coast had to offer us.

Starting at Lake Ozette our tribe headed out with our heavy packs carrying everything needed for our week long adventure.  Bear cans filled, water bottles topped, and 12 people trying to defy the law of gravity and rise towards the sky as our packs pulled us towards the ground.

Our first night was spent at Cape Alava, the quintessential campground along the route, a campground and area that was once inhabited by the coastal Indians who flourished there with the bounty and beauty of the sea.  What filled our nights?  Cooking simple (now stretch your imagination and shrink your taste buds) .......and delicious back country meals!  What's more...... campfires, songs, stories, games, laughter, fun, and camp chores filled our evenings.

Cape Alava

As the week progressed our incredible group of  9 daring adventurers continued to trek along the coast, carrying their lives on their backs and believe it or not having fun without the use of electronics or other modern conveniences!  Most of our days were spent moving along the coast with many breaks along the way for exploring, resting, and playing games. 

 Our week was filled with all kinds of sunshine and all kinds of rain.....in fact we made up a verse to a song we sang "Rain Rain Rain Rain, when I dream I dream of rain,  drizzling, misting, downpouring sideways let the rain come" and come it did!  Our culminating experience was marked with massive amounts of persistent rain which forced us to befriend the rain, become comfortable with being wet AND plan an early departure out of the park to a front country campground where we would spend our last evening as a tribe.  So, 13 wet soakateers  headed back to Lake Ozette.  The only thing between their current location and the van at Lake Ozette was a 5.5 mile walk, sandy beaches, lush forest, and animals camouflaged along the way.

With tired thighs, sore backs, wet clothes, grumbling tummies and ecstatic smiles for real bathrooms we made it back to the Lake and headed to a nearby campground.  

We did it!!

Our last evening together before going back to Songaia was filled with sharing memorable moments from our trip, appreciating one another, laughs around the fire, and two Barred owls talking to us for a good portion of the evening.  Back at Songaia the participants met their families with open arms, smiles, stories, and a poignant song,"Fly Like an Eagle" that kept our spirits lifted as we lived for a week as a unified tribe in the back country and along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula!

Back at Songaia

Solo Crossing 2012: The Way of the Hummingbird

Over the course of three weeks, in our tribe of twelve, we were kept company by Hummingbird. Incredibly, this magical little bird visited us almost everyday! It had something to tell us about our time together, and we listened...

First Leg: The Challenge of Rugged North Fork

Our first leg, five days on the rugged North Fork trail, was certainly the most physically challenging of our trip. Our second day on the trail, we hiked almost 10 miles, much of it uphill. While it was challenging for everyone, it certainly helped get our mountain legs on in a flash! The highlights of this trip for everyone was our day hike to Low Divide. We had our lunch on a huge boulder in the midst of a verdant valley, surrounded by waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. We watched a bear as it played on the snow, eventually plopping down and taking a nap. We sat in a group sit-spot, meditating on and deeply feeling the beauty around us. Those few hours in the gorgeous surrounding continued to affect the group for the remainder of the trip, with many citing it as their favorite moment of the trip.

Second Leg: The Splendor of Enchanted Valley

We spent our next leg in the lush beauty of Enchanted Valley. The trail felt easy as pie compared to North Fork, and we zoomed through most of the hiking. Enchanted Valley was exquisitely beautiful. We sat enthralled by the many waterfalls, moss-covered trees, and elk grazing across the creek. Some of us were fortunate enough to come close to a doe and her fawn. We got a tour of the historic ranger station by the kind Wes Gaston, and learned about the history of the area. During our last night, we held a men's and a women's council separately. We spoke of the difficulties of growing into men and women and how to act with integrity during that process.

Third Leg: Fun and Solos on the Beach

Before we embarked on our last leg, we were able to shower. What a pleasure after two weeks of grittiness! We all noticed how much more we appreciated the simple things, like fresh food and warm water, after our time in the wilderness. 

The first day of our last leg was pure fun. We hiked a short 1.5 miles to the beach and immediately kicked off our shoes. The sun was out, the sand warm, the water perfect for wading. We spent many hours just playing together. From there we moved into preparation for the 48-hour solos. The majestic Olympic coast was an apt place to be doing such deep soul work. Coming back from the solos we transitioned back into play, enjoying many rounds of "Mafia" together.

The Wisdom of the Hummingbird

Hummingbird is a joyous bird that revels in the beauty of the natural world. It flits from flower to flower, spreading its love of life to others. Hummingbird is also impossible to cage. It must be free in the wild, otherwise it dies. 

As we explored outer and inner wilderness together, we embodied the spirit of Hummingbird. We experienced awe and appreciation for the natural world together and alone. Our days on the beach, at Low Divide, and in Enchanted Valley will stay with us forever. Just as we felt closer to the wilderness outside, we also felt closer to our inner wilderness. We felt our own wild selves, the parts of ourselves that must be free to flourish, that cannot be caged. Each of us found something on this trip that we could stand up for and take a stance on, something that we cared about deeply. Hummingbird provided us with so much wisdom, and we are grateful to it for blessing our trip.

Becoming a Young Woman 2012

On the first evening of our time together, around the crackling fire, an old story was shared. It was the story of a village that barely survived a cold and hard winter long ago. The people of that village believed that if they went through one more cold winter that they would not be able to survive, so they lived in fear. As another winter approached the people asked nature to be kind, but the winter was hard yet again and the people barely survived. So, as in many good stories about the past, some of the villagers walked to the outer edge of the village to ask the wise old woman what they were to do. Her answer was to send a young warrior into the woods to look into the eyes of a wild animal and through that look a message would be communicated.

Many of the people of the village were not compelled to look a wild animal into the eyes and they shrugged away from the idea, they went about their regular business. But there was one young girl who accepted the challenge. She was nervous but she knew that her people needed her to face this challenge courageously.

I won’t share the rest of the story now… but as the dark of the evening set in we all, three mentors and nine girls chose to look into the eyes of the wild courageously for our week together. We each tossed a piece of cedar into the fire as we spoke about an “edge” that we are facing during the week: challenges like making new friends, solo time, and sweat lodge.

As the night faded into the next day we started to find connections within our group. Friendships began to form and we played goofy group building and awareness awakening games together. Laughter began to erupt across the Meadow of Sacred Groves on Bainbridge Island. One girl said, “Is this my life?!” and another said, “This camp should be named the Awesomist-Awesome-Camp!” and we were introduced to what would become our camp motto, “YOLO!” (or “You only live once!”).

In the days that followed we participated in meaningful ceremonies, learned some primitive skills (like starting a fire with a bow-drill, cooking directly on the coals, and making herbal medicine), and stepped into the woods for solo time.

On July 4^th, Independence Day, the girls were sent off for their 8-hour solo time in the woods. As they faced a long day alone in the woods, something that many young people and adults never experience, the mentors maintained a Sacred Fire in honor of the girls. The 8 hours may have passed slowly in the woods but all of the girls met the challenge with grace. And as they returned to the Meadow to the sound of a celebratory song each girl smiled with pride. After the song ended and the silence was broken the girls began to chatter, excited to return to their new friends. The group became a community that night.

The next morning we shared solo day stories, this poem called The Forest was written by Sophie Altaras (age 12):

I sing as I tiptoe in my mind through the forest softer than you’ll ever know

I can’t really describe it, the feeling I get when I come here

It’s sort of a calmness, like in the eyes of a mother deer

The sunlight shining through the trees makes me come alive

Because it’s been a long winter when it takes power just to survive

The rest of the week sailed by quickly. And soon it was time to return to the “village” of Seattle. Each girl was given the new title of Young Woman and handed a few small gifts and insights that she could carry into her future. Just as in the story that we shared on the first day of our time together… through facing the challenge of staring into the eyes of the wild, a gift was bestowed and has now been brought back to the village. YOLO!

I'm a Little Hiker (Apprentice Journey 2012)

Nearly two weeks after our Journey to Staircase Campground I can still hear the laughter of our 9 courageous and hilarious young hikers (Did you know that our Apprentice Journey participants are between the ages of 8 and 10?!). We shared a number of wonderful moments... but some of my highlights, as a guide, were the following:

Playing blindfold "trust" games in the field at Staircase --- have you ever played "Hug a Tree" or done a "Sing-Song-Stalk" (the vocal version of a drum-stalk)? The Song-Stalk got our group laughing so hard at the zombie-like behaviors of blindfolded "stalkers." 

Having "Secret Spot" time at dusk in between large ferns, under elder evergreens, and next to "faerie-dust" white flowers. The forest was very magical as we sat in silence and enjoyed bird songs and the coolness of a light breeze.

Hiking the 3.5 Miles into Olympic National Park's Spike Camp. Yes, 3.5 miles with Backpacks on! And with good spirits... especially during our sunny lunch break along the Skokomish River. Then after lunch hiking slowly up-hill until finding a Doe standing at the junction to our campsite...

Spotting the Doe was a highlight for the whole group. She stood at the spot marking our hike completion and stayed with us as we set up our campsites. The participants sat in silence watching the Doe eat leaves for a long while.

Story time at night! One of the best story nights happened at Spike Camp where we huddled away from the rain underneath a tiny gear tarp. Tara read us a book by Byrd Baylor, "The Table Where Rich People Sit." And we talked about all the "wealth" in our lives... like New Friends, Spotting a Doe, Living for a week at Staircase in the beautiful woods... we realized that we were (and are) all VERY wealthy.

And preparing this song for the folks back home...

I'm a little hiker. HIKER! Hiker. HIKER! 

I'm a little hiker strong and small.

Here is my backpack here is my stick.

Tie my laces and send me out!

I'm a little hiker, hear me SHOUT! (Yea!)

I'm a little hiker. HIKER! Hiker. HIKER! 

Twinkle Twinkle little star,

How I wonder where you are?

It's been pouring down on us,

But we don't put up a big fuss!

I'm a little hiker. HIKER! Hiker. HIKER!

We saw a doe, pretty and lean.

She's the prettiest do we've ever seen...

"Hey. What's a doe?"

Doe a deer, a female deer

Re a drop of golden sun

Mi a name, I call myself

Fa a long long way to HIKE

So a needle pulling thread

La a note to follow so

Ti a drink of jam and bread

and that will bring us back to HOME HOME HOME HOME.

The Journey Continues 2011

For one week, we traveled in our tribe of six. Reconnecting with parts of ourselves we had discovered out in the woods and within our hearts. Below are a few words from each participant about their experience.


In the words of Mara

There is a Hunger in my Ocean,
as the swells stretch for shore.

There is a Hunger in my Mountain,
where the peaks silently soar.

There is a Hunger in my Flower,
dried, aching for more.

So sail me to freedom,
I'll let my Hunger Roar.

There is a Hunger in my Dagger,
see the holes it bore?

There is a Hunger in my People,
who, once rich, are now poor.

There is a Hunger in my Soul,
it's searching for a door.

So sail with me to freedom,
we'll let our Hunger Roar.

-Mara, 16





"The Journey is a Privilege, especially alone & together."

- Micah, 17



Jonah tells about a favorite moment

"We were hiking up to Desolation Lookout, trudging up the 4.25 miles of steep switchbacks. The sun right above our heads, we kept cool in the shadows of the trees. Our eyes were focused on the rocky path beneath our feet, one foot in front of the other. We were hiking for quite some time when Micah, our leader for the day, said "Stop! Deer!" Right in front of him, so close he could reach out and touch her, was a doe. She just stood there for a few moments on the trail looking directly at us as if she were surprised to see us there. Then, slowly, she walked into the trees. It was an amazing experience to be so close to something so rooted in nature. It made my day."

- Jonah, 14



Tristan Shares his Gratitude

As this week-long Journey begins to end, and I sit in the car on the long drive back to Songaia, my mind and heart are stretching as they try to hold onto all that has happened, while becoming excited for the future, and most importantly, trying to remain in the now.

The simplest acts of walking, talking, eating and sleeping have created so many good things for me. My five new friends I never knew existed, have given me so much of themselves that I have been able to look myself in the eye and search for what I can give back.

Walking through the columns of the forest, standing high in the wind looking all around at snow peaked mountains, swimming in the crisp, clear lake, surrendering to the cold.

I was given time to feel comfortable with myself and then I felt at home in Nature. By having the space and time to de-clutter my mind, I was able to turn my attention to all the little things around me and to begin to see things as they really are and not in the same mundane way I was used to.

Suddenly, I found great joy in looking at the smallest things; the body of a mosquito perched on my arm, a bundle of needles from some great tree . . . for that, I am grateful.
- Tristan, 15



"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep."

- Rumi