Camino en Colorado: Golden to Denver (18-20 Miles)

Join us for a one-of-a-kind 18-20 mile walking experience to and from downtown Golden, Colorado to downtown, Denver... in one day! We will hike up South Table Mountain, through parks/open space, alongside creeks, and into residential/urban/commercial environments. We will start with grounding exercises, land acknowledgements, stretches, and introductions. There will be plenty of breaks along the way. Throughout the walk, I will invite optional connection prompts for getting to know fellow participants, reflective/meditative invitations, pedestrian dignity/mobility education, and more. 

Primary Facilitator: Jonathon Stalls (he, his) Jonathon Stalls spent 242 days walking across the United States in 2010 and has continued to move alongside thousands of people for thousands of miles. His creative work currently moves in the realms of pen and ink drawing, writing and poetry, storytelling with the Pedestrian Dignity project, economic and racial justice organizing, meditative practices, and creating/scouting long-distance walking routes. His first book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour (North Atlantic Books) is now available. He identifies as gay/queer and is supported by an incredible patron community. 

Support Facilitator: Naveed Heydari (he, they): Naveed creates relational contexts in which regeneration is the norm. They identify in the spaces in between with regards to sexual identity (queer), culture (Ecuadorean, Persian, USA), spiritual orientation, and profession. They are a master revealer, and uses this superpower to open a field in which others feel safe to reveal their deeper truths to be witnessed by the collective. They are an embodied practitioner in the fields of walking, yoga, and authentic relating, and somatic expression (song, sounds, movement). Long multi-week solo walks across Colorado, their hometown, are their favorite method to connect deeply to self, place, and the interbeing-ness of the world.

Transportation & Start Time: There are several options related to transportation to and from our origin and destination. All who register will receive a planning email a week before the trip. If you are planning to meet/carpool from Jeffco Station, your meeting time is 7:00 AM MT. If you are planning to get dropped off or meet at Higher Grounds Coffee (our starting place), your time is 7:30 AM MT. Our hopeful plan is circle our group up to begin our journey no later than 7:45 AM MT. Please make sure you feel confident about your ability to walk for 18-20 miles in a day on mostly pavement and sidewalk. We will also be hiking up and down South Table Mountain at the start of our event.

Ability, Pace & Terrain: This experience is largely inaccessible to most mobility devices primarily because of distance and climp up and over South Table Mountain. We will be moving at a conversational pace. When we are moving, we are moving. That said, we are in no rush and will be taking plenty of breaks. We will more than likely arrive into Denver just after sunset and into Union Station at dark. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding pace, access and timing.

Flexibility & Community: Please prepare your heart, body, and mind for utmost flexibility as we move with a wide variety of backgrounds, abilities, and surprises along the way. We may have to stop, re-route, and re-ground multiple times (because of our environment or what is unfolding within our circle of participants). We will naturally have different paces and we honor individual movement/needs. We also move with and care for the collective.

Camino en Colorado: ‘Camino en Colorado' long-distance walking experiences are inspired by the 490 pilgrim/walking path that moves along Northern Spain. People have been walking “El Camino” since the 9th Century. Learn more about the Camino de Santiago by visiting the American Pilgrims on the Camino website. These 1-3 day Colorado walking excursions embed a variety of practices and intentions around moving through places, spaces, and land by foot while also being encouraged and prompted to go inward. You will also make one of a kind friendships and connections while moving alongside one another and sharing meals together.

WALK Book: Jonathon will be occassionally reading from his newly released book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour. If you decided you would like a copy of the book to accompany your movement, please select the appropriate ticket option and he will bring you a signed copy. The book retails for $17.95. All participants who would like a book will receive one for $12 in addition to the event ticket.

Trip Capacity: 25

Cost per person: $35 (does not include extra snacks, meals or transit fare)

Cost for Intrinsic Paths Patrons*: $15

*Learn more here about becoming a long-term patron of my creative work. As a self-described, 'Walking Artist", support from patrons goes such a long way to help me (a) host a variety of walking programs, (b) create, stock and gift ink drawing pieces, (c) storytell and organize with the Pedestrian Dignity project, and much more. I am endlessly grateful for how patrons nourish and support my creative work. Thank you for considering this option!

Scholarships (full/partial): If you are in a tight spot financially, please reach out to me (email below) and we can work something out. I never want money to be a barrier to participation.

Refunds & Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before February 1, you can get a FULL refund ~ if you cancel between February 2 and 8, you can get a PARTIAL (50%) refund. There is NO refund if you cancel between Feb 9 and Feb 11 (outside of emergencies, of course).

What you get for your ticket:

- Snacks provided by leader (trail mix, dried fruits)

- Route planning/trip coordination/outreach, education

- Group safety/connection facilitation throughout walking experience

- Reflection programming (guidance, optional meditation/centering time, prompts)

- Pedestrian Dignity sticker and an Intrinsic Paths 4x4 pen and ink print

- Your contribution also helps support all the creative projects flowing through Intrinsic Paths

 

Meals & Restrooms: There will be snacks provided throughout the day. All meals are on your own. We will have an early lunch break near 32nd & Youngfield. Depending on our arrival, we may just have time for a 20-30 minute lunch. There are restaurants and a grocery store in the area. We will go by several areas where you can use the restroom (stores, cafe's, gas stations). Some of them are okay with restroom breaks and some aren't. Keep in mind, we will have less options for using public restrooms in the winter season. Please be prepared to be flexible.

Rail Fare & Transportation: Please plan to have $5.25 (regional fare) with you for a rail ticket if you are taking the train back to Golden from Denver. Keep in mind, our starting location is in downtown Golden and NOT where the the train drops off passengers (Jeffco Court House). I will be sending carpooling, bus, and additional options for how we can coordinate transportation back. You can also plan to get dropped off in Golden and make your way back home via Denver once we arrive.

Additional notes: 

- This is not a dog-friendly walk

- There will be options to take the W rail line early to Denver or back to Golden if needed.

- This walk will go in most weather scenarios unless there are thunderstorms (yes, we will walk in snow!).

- Please have appropriate shoes, clothing, and supports for this kind of walking experience.

- Please reach out with any questions: jonathon (at) intrinsicpaths (dot) com

Please be sure to sign-up for Intrinsic Paths emails here for updates. Follow Intrinsic Paths on Facebook and Instagram to share photos and stories from the event as well.