Frequently Asked Questions

Attendees need to be at least 18 years of age and no more than 29 years old. Exceptions to the upper limit are to be made at the discretion of the board. 

Single young adults often find little “purpose” directly after highschool or college until they are married or living the religious life. This is an extraordinarily pivotal and malleable time, as young adults are greatly influenced by those around them, all the while making choices that impact the rest of their lives - spiritually and materially. 

Anyone who has interest is welcome to fill out the application form!

The 4 Guides who constitute the Executive Board of Adelante Pilgrimage carefully review every application submitted and interview applicants virtually weighing a variety of factors when deciding whom to accept:

• Charitable and Catholic attitude
• Demonstrable or potential leadership capability
• Physical capability
• Steadfast character – both for the pilgrimage and the mentorship program
• A letter of recommendation from a spiritual director, pastor, employer, and or professional would add to your application weight and consideration for selection. 

An estimated cost per pilgrim of $850-$950 will be due depending on the final number of accepted pilgrims. 

Exact figures will be released at the time of the pilgrim's acceptance date with an email of instructions for payment. The cost per pilgrim covers food, gas, and supplies for the expedition. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO ASSOCIATED COSTS/EXPENSES FOR TIME SPENT IN/ON GROUNDS OF THE UNITED STATE FOREST SERVICE LANDS. This cost per pilgrim is also independent from travel to and from Boise Idaho; pilgrims are encouraged to carpool and/or shop for inexpensive airfares. Do not buy your airfare or arrange travel until advised. 

The cost of attending the Adelante Expedition will be put toward Insurance, Vehicles, Food, Camping and Mountaineering Gear, and Sleep Accommodations. There are no fees associated with the expedition in the Sawtooths and/or any US National Forest Service Lands. 

The board is seeking out single applicants who have potential for leadership and resourcefulness.

Since Adelante Pilgrimage is a registered non-profit, applicants who may not have the resources available are encouraged to request donations from family members and friends, organizations, and businesses. These donations are tax-deductible for donors. Adelante also offers a limited number of $300 “pilgrim-ships” for those who would benefit from a decrease in registration cost.

The final application deadline for the Adelante Idaho Expedition is March 1st. Acceptance notification selection dates are the second Fridays of January and March.  A non refundable Security deposit of $300 will be due within 2 weeks of emailed confirmed acceptance. Due to the competitiveness of Adelante Wilderness Expedition, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as applications open on November 1st of the preceding calendar year.

In short – yes.

It is a challenging 12 day expedition with mountaineering and adventuring. The majority of the nights will be spent camping, whether at established campgrounds or more rugged facilities in national & state parks.

Spiritually, mentally, and physically, pilgrims will be taken out of their comfort zones and provided with candid direction and time for self-reflection.

Out of this difficulty arises beautiful fruit:

• a camaraderie that lasts a lifetime
• the ability to face challenges at home, school, and work more successfully
• exponential internal, spiritual growth
• advice and skills directly applicable to share with others in home parishes, businesses, religious houses, etc.

The underlying focus is deeply Catholic in nature, provided by the chaplain.

But even this spiritual focus will work together with the temporal focus of forming future leaders for our families, parishes, priories, monasteries, and convents. In addition, it gets the pilgrims out of their “comfort zone” in the setting of a challenging expedition. Lessons learned here will be available for these young men and women for the rest of their lives, allowing them to serve Christ the King - in a Catholic sense and the SSPX in particular - with these skills.

Long term, this provides a yearly crop of young adults, hungry to participate in the growth of Catholic Social Principles and Catholic Action.

The Guides take the baton after the pilgrimage, offering optional mentorship for pilgrims.

A regularly scheduled call / Skype / Zoom takes place to follow up with pilgrims regarding their commitments, reinforcing expedition discussions/talking points, as well as a resource for pilgrims regarding life questions they might have. Borrowing ideas from Gino Wickman's Traction, Adelante has formulated their own Vision Traction Organizer named AGO: Adelante Goal Organizer in which pilgrims set very concrete targets for their future, in which the guides offer support and accountability.

Topics ranging from, but not limited to, vocations or courtship, family conflicts, and even “mundane” topics such as writing resumes have been talking points for past pilgrims.