Women’s Journey: October 3rd-8th, 2010
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico
This fall we will again travel to the southwest for our third women’s wilderness journey. This year we will combine the dramatic cliffs of the canyons with the green of the Santa Fe National Forest, and even swim in natural hot springs. A Navajo family will join us and lead us in Native American traditions and ceremonies, deepening our connection to the land, to one another and to ourselves.
As with all Lead Feather journeys, all you need to do is show up! We provide all of the camping gear, do all of the cooking, and lead all of the outdoor activities. If you are in moderately good shape you can easily enjoy this trip!
Journey Itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday): We’ll fly into Albuquerque, NM, and meet as a group for the first time. After lunch we’ll drive 2 hours through Santa Fe up into the national forest, where we’ll see the first of many beautiful vistas. We’ll stop along the way at Tsankawi, the ancient site where ancestral Pueblo tribes lived, and visit the remains of their dwellings. We’ll make our camp in the forest and celebrate the beginning of our journey with a welcome ceremony led by elder Sharon Hogue.
Day 2 (Monday): After breakfast, we’ll take our first hike, through the Frijoles canyon and by the small stream to the cliff dwellings and caves that native people lived in nearly 1,000 years ago. This hike is through Bandelier National Monument, so we’ll also be able to meet with a ranger to learn more about the history and culture of the area. That evening we’ll strike a sacred fire and have a traditional native talking circle.
Day 3 (Tuesday): Today we’ll explore the incredible Valles Caldera, a volcano that last erupted over a million years ago and whose impact was felt for hundreds of miles. Today it’s calm, green and beautiful, with open valleys that span 18 miles – one of a kind at 8,000 feet. The views here are like none other. We’ll cap the day with an evening of story-telling.
Day 4 (Wednesday): This will be a more reflective day – time spent at camp journaling, with guided nature activities to spur that reflection. Depending on what people are interested in, we can also go for another hike that day. In the afternoon, our Navajo friends will lead us in making a piece of Navajo jewelry to bring home.
Day 5 (Thursday): On our final day we’ll hike to the hot springs and take a refreshing swim. That evening we’ll end the journey with a traditional Navajo sweat lodge.
Day 6 (Friday): After breakfast we’ll break down camp and say our goodbyes to our new Navajo friends. We’ll drive back through the dramatic landscape to Albuquerque, taking with us our memories of the journey.
Cost is $1,400 per person.
Contact cheryl@leadfeather.org if you’re interested in learning more.
