VISION QUEST
THREE SISTERS WILDERNESS

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

In August we backpack into the base of the Three Sisters mountains in the Central Cascades of Oregon. We hike about 6 miles into a beautiful, wooded high meadow full of wildflowers and an expansive and spectacular view of the North and Middle Sister. The North Sister is 10,085' and the Middle Sister is 10,047'. The hike starts at 4800' and meanders through a forest of lodgepole pine, climbing steadily upward until it reaches a lava flow. The trail goes through the lava flow, and then goes into a wide meadow with a creek. We hike along the creek up to 5900', into a meadow with a stream, many wildflowers and a view of both mountains.

As we hike, we enjoy the wild flowers along the trail and next to the small sream. Part of your experience will be to create an acute awareness of nature, sharpening your senses and your ability to see, feel and hear the wilderness. Depending on the time of the season and the rainfall/snowfall, we may see old man of the mountain (western pasque flower), beargrass, blue lupine, indian paintbrush and other wildflowers.

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 Three Sisters Wilderness area is full of mountain hemlock, obsidian cliffs, wildflowers and streams emanating from the cliffs themselves. A stream comes straight out from beneath a high shale cliff. The water is sweet, pure and very cold. Small pikas (tiny bunny lookalikes) whistle from the rocks above. Along the trail going in, there are viewpoints of Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington, as well as the forested valleys below. We make our base camp in the trees overlooking the meadows below the North and Middle Sisters.

The Three Sisters Wilderness area is a wild and scenic parkland and I invite you to enjoy this beautiful mountain paradise while you search for answers to the important questions of your life. I have hiked this area many times and have meditated while sitting on the obsidian cliffs. Mystery and magic dwells in these beautiful cliffs and mountains of the Central Oregon Cascades.

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____________________________________________________
AREACODE AND PHONE_________________________
DEPOSIT SENT $350______ OR MORE $___________
VISION QUEST: Rogue River____; Mt. Hood_____; Three Sisters____
Send to: Kay Porter, PO Box 5584, Eugene, OR 97405