SOLO PASSAGE

Goodrich recalls lessons learned on a series of wilderness quests in this nonfiction debut.

A vision quest, writes the author, “is an act of courage and determination that involves solitude, fasting, and prayer.” Solitary quests into the wilderness, she notes, are central to the spiritual narratives of Indigenous Americans, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians. After reading about wilderness questing in 1996, the then-50-year-old woman, hailing from a conservative white family, decided to take her first of 13 journeys. Each of the book’s chapters center on a single quest, focusing on both physical experiences and spiritual and psychological revelations. Goodrich takes readers through her peregrinations, from a trip to Death Valley carrying only a few necessities and four gallons of water (and, intentionally, no food) to an “unrelenting downpour” in the Pacific Northwest. Similarly diverse, her spiritual revelations range from the sublime, such as a tree stump that inspired a prayer for her to acquire a new self, to a trip shortly after the death of her mother in which she grappled with the meaning of death. Each unique journey reveals “an unexpected treasure,” found both in the beauty of nature and in spiritual awakenings. Some lessons she learned along the way were therapeutic, as she confronted traumas from her previous life, including teenage pregnancy, abusive men, and infidelity that left her “with lingering shame and self-doubt.” Particular sensitivity is given to honoring the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral land the author traversed as she discusses their rituals and practices while avoiding problematic appropriation. An artist from Willamette Valley, Oregon, Goodrich includes more than a dozen of her original pieces in high-resolution, full-color reproductions, many of which correspond to specific vision quests. This narrative is an important reminder that it is never too late to seek a new self, and that we should take time to acknowledge the value of solitude, nature, and open-mindedness.

A poignant and engaging sojourn into the American wilderness.