Begin your journey.

Align-Men Journey is for adult men, 18 and older, who are ready to take an honest look at their lives. You do not have to be in crisis or lost to benefit. Most men come because life is full and busy and they want space to step back, reconnect with what matters and return home with greater clarity and intention.

No, you do not need to be in great shape. The journey includes moderate hiking, elevation, changing terrain and optional cold-water immersion, and every journey is adapted to the abilities and needs of the group. Share any health or mobility limits in your fit check, and we will talk through them on your discovery call before you reserve.

No, Align-Men Journey is not therapy. It is a guided, three-day wilderness experience combining nature immersion, outdoor adventure, personal reflection, meaningful connection and brotherhood. It is not wilderness therapy, psychotherapy or medical treatment, and it is not a substitute for either. Franco is not a licensed therapist.

No, you choose what you share. Every activity on the journey is an invitation, not a requirement. You decide how deeply you participate, what you say in the circle and which invitations you accept, and you may modify or pass on any practice at any time while respecting the group's safety agreements.

Yes, you can come alone. Open weekends are built for men coming on their own or with one or two friends. The group is capped at six men so every man can be known by name, and Franco builds each group from the fit checks and discovery calls.

Four people sleep inside El Micro and four sleep on its rooftop deck beneath the sky. A small tent is also available for anyone who prefers a separate sleeping space on the land. Arrangements may be adjusted for weather, safety and group needs. Public restrooms along the route are the main option, and El Micro has an onboard toilet and shower.

Food is kept simple, clean and nourishing, with a shared food plan and a main dinner Franco prepares on Saturday night. Each participant brings an assigned item to share in the spirit of reciprocity. Dietary needs are discussed before departure so the group can plan appropriately.

Participants are invited, and challenged, to put their phones away for most of the pilgrimage so they can be fully present. Access is available at designated times when needed. Each group creates a shared phone agreement at the start of the journey, and every participant helps decide what that agreement will be.

Align-Men Journey provides a sleeping bag, pillow, blanket, refillable water bottle, headlamp and basic sun protection. Pack light, since storage aboard El Micro is limited. Plan to bring a small daypack, personal medications, warm layers, sturdy hiking shoes, a swimsuit, towel, water shoes and your assigned food item. You get the complete packing list after you reserve.

Your Alignment Portrait & Journal is built from your Alignment Reflection responses and reviewed by Franco before you receive it. With your consent, your name is replaced with a participant code and your responses are processed through ChatGPT to organize them into the portrait. AI consent is optional. If you decline, you still take part fully and receive a standard journal instead.

Two facilitators travel with every group, and Franco is certified in CPR, AED and First Aid and in Mental Health First Aid. We monitor weather, trail conditions, hydration and the physical and emotional well-being of the group throughout. Every participant completes a Registration, Safety & Consent Form with health information and an emergency contact before departure.

Every journey departs from and returns to Franco's home base in Ramona, California. We gather Friday at 12:00 PM and return Sunday by approximately 4:00 PM. You get the exact address once you reserve. Getting to Ramona is up to you. If you are flying in, San Diego International Airport is the closest.

Payment happens only after your discovery call, never before. A 50% deposit reserves your seat or private weekend and is due at least 30 days before departure. The remaining balance is due at least 14 days before the journey. The founding rate is $777 per man, or $4,662 for a private six-man journey.

Your deposit is non-refundable, but it can be transferred to a future journey. The remaining balance is refundable if you cancel at least 14 days before departure. If something comes up, call or text Franco at as early as you can so he can help you find another weekend.

Ceremony on the journey means an intentional practice with a clear purpose, like circle, fire, silence, intention and declaration. Some practices come from contemporary men's work and nature-based reflection. Others are personal adaptations rooted in Franco's Peruvian heritage. They are not Indigenous ceremonies, and Franco claims no religious authority or Indigenous title.

No, Align-Men Journey is not religious. The journey makes room for reflection on meaning, values and inner connection, but it is not tied to any religion and asks you to adopt no beliefs. Men of any faith, or none, are welcome.

That's natural, and you're welcome to share this site with your partner. Partners often have questions about who is leading, where you'll be, how safety is handled and what support follows the journey. Franco is happy to talk through any concerns during the discovery call so you can both feel informed and comfortable.

You need Friday afternoon through Sunday. The journey begins in Ramona at 12:00 PM on Friday and returns by approximately 4:00 PM on Sunday, so most men only need part of a Friday off work. Weekends are scheduled near the new or full moon.