Healing, Grief & Movement: Golden to Denver (18 + Miles)

Join us for a one-of-a-kind 18-20 mile walking experience from Golden, Colorado to Denver's Union Station... in one day. This particular walking experience will center themes of healing, grief, mindfulness, and inner reflection. Traditional Golden to Denver walkabouts typically center social connection with moments of inner journey practices and mindfulness. This event will have significant portions of inner reflection that will include multiple portions of encouraged silence. While it isn't always easy and we may not default to moving with others in silence, there are profound benefits to moving with a group in more mindful (non-verbal) ways. Please note that there will also be plenty of stretches to still have meaningful side-by-side conversations with others. 

Moving with Personal, Local, National, & Global Pain: In addition to our personal edges, stories, and experiences, we will be honoring global, national, regional, and local grief in these times. How can unhurried movement help us connect with and make more room for the heavier things inside of us? How can unhurried movement help us become humble witnesses of hard, heavy, beautiful, and joyful things in our local/regional communities? How do we process the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Tigray? How do we process the role the U.S. has in it? How do we imperfectly move with, show up to, and heal alongside the ongoing harm and division living in other areas of conflict, in South Sudan, in the Ukraine, in Israel, in the U.S., and in our own backyards? This isn't about solving anything. This is about inviting humble movement to help us feel, break, connect, and heal together.

The Route: We will begin with an early morning hike up and over South Table Mountain, through parks/open space, alongside creeks, and into residential/urban/commercial environments. We will start with grounding exercises, land acknowledgements, light stretches, and introductions. There will be plenty of breaks along the way. Throughout the walk, both facilitators 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): Greetings! I'm a multidisciplinary Walking Artist who spent 242 days walking across the United States in 2010. I have continued to move at an unhurried pace alongside a wide variety of people and diverse landscapes - in community, through hosting events, soloe/exploratory - ever since. My creative work currently involves pen drawing, writing, media/storytelling with the Pedestrian Dignity project, training walking leaders and mobility justice advocates (Walk2Connect with America Walks), meditative practices, and hosting/scouting long-distance walking routes. My first book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour (North Atlantic Books) was released in August of 2022. I identify as gay/queer and am nourished by an incredible patron community. 

Support Facilitator: Naveed Heydari (he, they): Hello, I am 𝙉𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙚𝙙, or Nav. I am a somatic practitioner, authentic relating facilitator, Unshaming guide, musician, herbalist, and Kaiut yoga teacher. I help people learn how to speak the language of their bodies and experience safety in themselves. My practices draw from the intelligence of our natural environment and the wisdom of our bodies (our inner nature). I walk the walk and let my work live my bones, my music, my sounds and moans, and in my movement. I have been deeply changed by long solo walking trips across Colorado, and most recently from Denver to San Diego (3 month journey) and offer walking witnessing. I believe so deeply in the practice of witnessing— the light and the dark, the so called ugly and the pretty parts of ourselves. I am here to help you become more of you! To find out more or schedule a session please visit my website naveedheydari.com.

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 6:30 AM MT. If you are planning to get dropped off or meet at Higher Grounds Coffee (our starting place), your time is 7:00 AM MT. Our hopeful plan is to circle our group up to begin our journey by 7:15/7:20 AM MT outside of Higher Grounds. Please make sure you feel confident about your ability to walk for 18 + miles in a day on trail, gravel, pavement and sidewalk. Keep in mind we may have potential mud, snow and ice along our route.

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 not in a rush and will be taking plenty of breaks. We will 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, paces, 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.

WALK Book: Jonathon will be occassionally reading from his book, WALK. 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 $18. All participants who would like a book will receive one for $15 in addition to the event ticket.

Cost per person: $55* (extra/personal snacks, meals & transit fares are on your own)

Cost per person + signed copy of WALK book: $70

Cost for Intrinsic Paths Patrons: $45

Cost for Intrinsic Paths Patrons + signed copy of WALK book: $60

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!

*What you get for your ticket:

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

- Route planning/trip coordination/outreach

- Group safety/connection facilitation throughout walking experience

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

- Intrinsic Paths 4x4 sticker + 2-3 ink art prints

- Your contribution also helps nurture Jonathon and Naveed and all of their creative offerings

Scholarships (full/partial): Please reach out to me (by email or text 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 21, you can get a FULL refund ~ if you cancel between February 22 and 28, you can get a PARTIAL (50%) refund. There is NO refund if you cancel between Feb 29 and Mar 2 (outside of emergencies, of course). 

 

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 $5.50 (day pass) 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: text (720) 263-0227 or by email jonathon (at) intrinsicpaths (dot) com 

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