Living as an Impeccable Warrior

October 2nd - 4th, 2026

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Arrival: October 2nd, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: October 4th, 12:30 PM

Tuition:
$395 + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tuition:
$395 + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

Warriors in battle move toward the enemy. They fight against the enemy in the external territory of the battlefield. They’re engaged in a competitive battle so they can win. They must be impeccably focused on the task to survive. Mere survival, however, isn’t very compelling for living a meaningful life. How can you live as a warrior to navigate the challenges of life so you can thrive?

You fight in a different way. You fight with the “enemy,” the challenge. You engage in a collaborative battle so you can learn.

Your life journey consists of two dimensions: external and internal. You use the external challenges as raw material for your inner journey of self discovery. The qualities of warriorship help you navigate both journeys. These qualities create an intentional path that helps you trust how life unfolds, which creates more peace in your life while still being effective.

The Warrior’s Way® is a mental training method and a philosophy of life that helps you develop these helpful qualities of the warrior mindset. The principles were refined in the crucible of rock climbing with a broad application to life. Learn from renowned author, Arno Ilgner, author of The Rock Warrior’s Way, to learn how to develop this mindset.

Program Perquisite / Participant Preparation

Reading Arno’s book, “The Rock Warrior’s Way”, will give a foundational understanding of the warrior principles. 

Program Schedule

Day 1

Friday, October 2nd – Welcome to the Land

Here you’ll be introduced to foundational warrior principles to set the groundwork for your retreat. We’ll clarify and define the the terms “warrior,” “attention,” and “intention.” Additionally, you’ll learn an important (and simple) structure from rock climbing to give you a framework for integrating the material and training you’re learning. 

2:00 – 5:00 pm Registration
5:30 – 6:00 pm Orientation
6:00 – 7:00 pm Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 pm Program Session: Introduction to Living as an Impeccable Warrior

Day 2

Saturday, October 3rd – Welcome to the Retreat

5:30 – 7:00 am – Optional Early Morning Session: Intention Setting
7:30 – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 – 12:30 pm Program Session: Be awake and alert as a warrior in enemy territory

In this program block, you’ll learn what it means to be awake and not lost in thought. You’ll learn tangible ways to use your attention to be alert in the many “enemy”—stressful—territories of your life.

12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 3:30 pm Free Time / Program Session: Warriors pay attention like it’s their last battle on Earth

In this program block, you’ll learn why it’s important to do work for its own sake. Much of this learning will include valuing stress, mistakes, and failures. You’ll learn how essential they are for your growth as a human being, and you’ll learn how to accept and work with them.

3:30 – 6:00 pm Program Session: Practicum: Experiencing the concepts in nature

This program block will give you an opportunity to experience what you’ve learned in nature. We’ll take a walk as warriors in enemy territory, being awake and alert to our external and internal worlds.

6:00 – 7:00 pm Dinner

Day 3

Sunday, October 4th – Last Day

5:30 – 7:00 am – Optional Early Morning Session: Intention Setting
7:30 – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 – 12:45 pm Program Session: Trusting how life unfolds

This program block will integrate everything you’ve learned into a unified process that helps you to trust how life unfolds. You’ll learn yourself so you can relax into and process your life. This skill will help you ride the wave of change with more grace and peace. 

Before departure, you’ll have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A with Arno.

12:45 – 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure

Retreat Faculty

Arno Ilgner

Arno Ilgner distinguished himself as a pioneering rock climber in the 1970s and ‘80s. His experiences as a rock climber are the foundation for his unique physical and mental training program–The Warrior’s Way®. In 1995, after much practice in the great warrior traditions, Ilgner founded the Desiderata Institute, and began teaching his program full time. [...]

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Off Land
Participants who wish to commute from home or arrange their own accommodations off-campus (for example, a bed and breakfast, camping nearby)  pay tuition, plus $54/night for meals (3 meals per day) and use of our facilities.

Car Camping
We have 5 primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot, for simply parking and sleeping. This includes food and access our bathhouses in Rigden Lodge
Note: We don’t have any water or electric hook ups for RV’s.

Single and Double Tents

Located in campgrounds throughout the property, these 12′ x 14′ tents have two twin beds, two bookcases and a hanging clothes rack.* Each campground offers a shared bathhouse. Summer platform tents are available from late May through early September. A tent can be rented as a single (without a roommate) or a double (with a roommate).

Some of our campgrounds were impacted by a recent wildfire and the affects may still be visible this summer, however, they are safe to use.

Bedding is not provided. Please bring your own twin sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, a pillow and towels.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

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