The Scattering Journey Starts at Ladies in White Headquarters

A journey begins in the early morning at the office of Ladies in White in western Montana.  There, the Ladies review the travel plan that will guide them to the general scattering location.  Tasks such as record keeping, photo journaling and GPS coordination are assigned, and safety gear is checked.  Before departure, the Ladies familiarize themselves with any memorialization requests from the family, such as reading a farewell letter, poem or other narrative before scattering.  Finally, the ashes are secured inside the top of a backpack which one of the Ladies will carry.

The Ladies journey in groups of three - on weekends and also during the week.  Experienced hikers who know the benefits of preparedness, they are selected for their wilderness skills including map and compass reading, back country safety and first aid, good decision making abilities and team work.

Ladies in White Attends to the Family’s Wishes

The Ladies’ goal is to reach a beautiful place they know in advance to have the natural features desired by the family, and to conduct the scattering discretely and with dignity.  Once the Ladies have reached their general destination, they will spend as much time as it takes to find a scattering site that meets the family’s expectations and that is likely to remain private and untrodden.  Scattering takes place with only the Ladies and nearby wildlife in attendance.

Depending upon the family’s preferences, the Ladies can be in communication with the family by phone prior to departure and at the close of the journey.  The Ladies return with photographs, general GPS coordinates and a one-page journal which depicts the journey.  These are provided to the family within just a few days of the scattering. 

A Gift Completes the Journey

Following closely upon completion of the journey, Ladies in White makes a donation to one of many approved earth-care organizations. To qualify, these public service organizations must exist 1) to protect wilderness and other wild lands, or 2) to promote sustainable living so that human impact on the land is reduced, or 3) to educate citizens about good land stewardship. In some cases, the donations – earmarked for preservation activities - are made to the agency that oversees forest land near where the scattering took place. These agencies might include the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Montana Department of State Lands, or the National Park System.

The Ladies prefer to deliver their donations personally at the offices of the chosen organization.  If families want the gift made in their loved one’s name, they can expect the organization to mail an acknowledgement.