VISION QUEST
ROGUE RIVER

VISION QUEST
led by Kay Porter, Ph.D.
Porter Performance Systems

You are invited to a mini-vision quest on the beautiful wild Rogue River in the Southwestern Oregon Siskiyou Mountains. A forty-mile trail runs along the Rogue from Galice to Illahe, a few miles from the mouth of the Rogue where it flows into the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach. We will drive to the middle of the trail, on back roads, entering into the Rogue canyon near Marial Lodge, a lodge catering to rafters and an occasional backpacker. The area near Marial also includes the old Billings Ranch, the first outpost built by the Billings family over 100 years ago. The Billings Ranch is now a BLM National Historic area. We enter the trail 2 miles downriver of the old Billings place.

We hike along the Rogue through forests of madrone, oak, pine and other native Oregon plants and trees, and rugged Mule Creek Canyon, reaching our base camp at Blossom Bar Creek, only 2 miles in from the trailhead. As we hike, we will enjoy the lush spring flowers along the trail: cat's ear, wild iris, wild lilac, purple lilies and more. Part of your experience will be to build in you, an acute awareness of nature, sharpening your senses and your ability to see, feel and hear the wilderness. We will practice these skills on our hike into Blossom Bar.

At base camp we will invoke the seven directions, have a purification ceremony and pray for our visions. Questers then go to find their vision quest spot where they will spend the next 3 days and nights, calling for their vision. These three days and nights will be fasting with water and soloing. Soloing is spending time alone in the wilderness area in the quester's medicine circle, meditating, journaling and communing with nature and Great Spirit.

The fourth morning questers will return to base camp to convene together, receiving a nutritious and nurturing breakfast and to discuss their experiences. Later that day, we will hike out to the trailhead and return to Eugene.

The Rogue River is a wild river of America and was an honored river by native Americans in the region. It is a powerful river and power place. It is a beautiful, dark green, fast running river, with many rapids and eddies, and has many lovely creeks intersecting its banks. The trail that follows its edge is well maintained but rugged. It was originally built as access to mining claims over 100 years ago, and follows older native American trails. The area has much wild life, including black bears, deer, squirrels, ring tailed cats, snakes and many species of birds. It's Fall salmon and steelhead fishing is legendary. It supported a number of mines throughout its history and many traces are still evident along the trail and creeks in the area.

It is a place of historic significance and wild beauty and I invite you to enjoy this natural splendor while you search for answers to the important questions of your life.

Only groups of a maximum of six people can camp in the wilderness area, so if you are interested, please send your deposit of $350 to me asap to reserve your space. Let me know if you want to join us, and I'll send you a release. Total cost for the Vision Quest is $500.

Email me at: KayPorter1@aol.com, call (541) 342-6875, or send me your deposit at PO Box 5584, Eugene, OR 97405. This will be a wonderful trip. Hope you can join us! Summer in the Oregon wilderness is exquisite, and we'll have a great time!

NAME______________________________________________________________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________
CITY_________________________________ STATE____ ZIP________________
EMAIL ADDRESS_____________________________________________________
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DEPOSIT SENT $350______ OR MORE $___________
VISION QUEST: Rogue River____; Mt. Hood_____; Three Sisters____
Send to: Kay Porter, PO Box 5584, Eugene, OR 97405