After many years as a professional musician, Leo Downey initiated Sanctuary Wilderness Journeys and began guiding people into the San Raphael Wilderness of Southern California where he also worked with the California Condor Recovery Project. He has lived in the wilderness for months at a time, alone, under extreme conditions, with little food. He has learned many lessons and experienced miracles through these experiences. His own vision quests moved him to offer this opportunity to others.

Karen Hansen-Downey is a mother of 3, she has worked as a childbirth educator, birth assistant, teacher and has been studying and practicing various healing arts for the past 15 years. Her work is devoted to assisting people, in private sessions and in groups, to connect with the Earth, the Divine within and to their higher purpose.

Sanctuary ~a sacred place~ Retreat, was what their combined visions birthed. Together, Karen and Leo offer you a safe, sacred space for your personal nourishment and unfoldment. In addition Sanctuary's staff will include others whose expertise in their respected fields will bring gifts to enrich your experience.

Leo has ranching in his blood from his Hilger family line. They were one of the first cattle ranchers in Montana. Karen has loved gardening her whole life. This combination with the desire to learn has helped turn us into ranchers and farmers. We are still learning. We like the combination that we can offer here at Sanctuary...Nature retreats as food for the soul and some of the best food for the physical body you can find.

Buffalo like the California Condor, that Leo worked with in Santa Barbara were central to Native American culture, and on the verge of extinction. When European settlers arrived in North America, somewhere between 60 and 125 million bison lived here. In 1889 approximately 1,000 bison remained. Conservation efforts have enabled the buffalo population to rebound to about 500,000 in National Parks and private herds and the population continues to grow at approximately 40% annually. As ranchers, it's a good feeling to know we are contributing to the rise in numbers if even in a small way.

e-Mail Address: sanctuary@redshift.bc.ca

Address: 1739 Oberg Johnson Rd., Golden, British Columbia V0A1H1

Toll Free Phone Number: 1-866-400-8400