July 27 – August 1, 2026 · Mt. Hood Wilderness
A 7-day mountain threshold for boys ready to remember.
Pay in Full · $1,222 Reserve with Deposit · $444Ages 12–14 · 8 participants max · 4 spots remaining
The wild is not just a place. It is a threshold field — a terrain of uncertainty, yes, but also of possibility, presence, and remembrance.
To enter the wild is to leave the garden — not as abandonment, but as becoming. As boys, we are held close to the center of life. Fed. Cared for. Kept safe.
But a time comes when the pulse begins to shift.
What am I capable of? What is mine to carry? What do I long to serve?
These are not questions of information. They are questions of initiation.
To walk into wilderness. To navigate terrain without clear answers. To strike a fire, carry a pack, feel your own hunger, and listen to the rhythm of the wind around your tent at night — these are not survival skills. These are soul encounters.
Boys need men. Not to teach, but to listen deeply. Not to control, but to model integrity. Not to rescue from discomfort, but to hold steady in it.
This isn't about telling boys who to become. It's about walking beside them as they begin to remember it for themselves.
The trail is not just mountain. The trail is inner resolve made visible.
Those who answer do not return unchanged.
A 7-day walk of becoming. Not a curriculum. Not a plan. A living container for something ancient to rise again in each boy.
I · DEPARTURE
As screens are turned off and the comforts of home recede, a deeper rhythm begins to surface. This is not just stepping into wilderness — it is stepping into self-responsibility. Into awareness of presence. Into a field where no performance is required.
II · ORIENTATION
Hierarchy dissolves. Competition quiets. Each boy carries his own weight — literally and metaphorically. And in that shared rhythm, a deeper belonging forms. Not forced. Just felt.
III · CROSSING
Midway through, the terrain changes — inside and out. We don't speak of overcoming. We speak of meeting. Not avoiding fear — but learning how to stand with it. This is how confidence is grown — through intimacy with the edge.
IV · TENDING
Each boy offers a teaching, a skill, a story. This is where service arises not as obligation but as joy — a natural extension of being awake in the world.
V · RETURN
A circle of witness is formed. Not to summarize, but to listen. To speak. To name what was felt. Each boy will be seen — not for what he achieved, but for how he showed up to his life. This is not an ending. It is a beginning with roots.
Orientation to Self
A sense of direction rooted in lived experience, not given by anyone else.
Competence in Presence
Not just wilderness skills — confidence in one's own pace, body, and voice.
Sitting with Difficulty
Capacity to be with discomfort, joy, and uncertainty without needing to fix them.
Earth as Teacher
Not as theory — as daily experience of living within an alive, responsive world.
Walking Beside Others
Knowing how to walk beside people, not above or behind. To give and receive.
Something That Mattered
A sense of having passed through something real. Not explained, but felt.
This journey is held by more than the trail. The village is part of the container.
BEFORE
We gather two weeks before departure. Fathers and sons come together — not to prep gear, but to set intention. To recognize the threshold already approaching. To begin the slow goodbye to the boy who will not return the same.
SEND-OFF
At the trailhead, a ceremony of release. A space is created — not for separation, but for transformation. A door is opened, and the boy walks through.
DURING
Families receive a daily message from the field. Not reporting — tethering. A thread of connection that allows the deeper work to unfold without dissolving the bond of family.
RETURN
Integration is essential. Guidance will be offered to help families receive their sons with awareness — so that what was opened in the wild is not lost in the noise of homecoming.
MT. HOOD WILDERNESS · 40 MILES
One of the Pacific Northwest's most sacred peaks. Seven days circling the mountain — through forest, meadow, snowfield, and sky.
"Brad is an incredible guide for young boys turning into men. I was so impressed by his leadership and capacity to hold a nurturing space for the boys, while also allowing them to push up against their edges and succeed. I highly recommend any group that he facilitates and look forward to more adventures for my son to embark on with him."
— Kathryn Kloos, Parent
"I wholeheartedly recommend Brad for his outstanding leadership and character."
— Sky Yeager, Parent
What qualifications do the guides hold?
All leaders hold Wilderness First Aid certification, CPR certification, and have undergone background checks. Each trip is staffed with a minimum 1:5 adult-to-participant ratio.
How do you handle emergencies in the backcountry?
We carry satellite communication devices that work without cell service. Our emergency action plan includes evacuation routes, nearby medical facilities, and daily check-ins with our base contact. Each guide carries a fully stocked first aid kit and is trained in wilderness medicine.
What about wildlife encounters?
Participants receive thorough instruction on wildlife safety before and during the trip. We practice proper food storage, travel in groups, and camp in designated areas that minimize wildlife interactions.
How physically demanding is the trip?
The route covers 40 miles over seven days with moderate elevation gain. Daily distances vary with packs weighing approximately 25–30 pounds. The pace is appropriate for boys with basic fitness levels — the challenge is part of the work.
What age range is this for?
This experience is designed for boys ages 12–14 — early adolescence, when the questions of becoming are beginning to stir.
What does my son need to bring?
A full gear list, meal plan, and preparation guide will be sent upon registration. Nothing will be left to chance. We tend the logistics so the experience can tend your son.
JULY 27 – AUGUST 1, 2026 · MT. HOOD WILDERNESS
$1,222
per participant · ages 12–14 · 8 spots maximum
Deposit of $444 reserves your place. Balance due 30 days before departure.
Secure checkout via Stripe · Questions? Email Brad directly