Sacred Peace Walk
April 12-18, 2025
In this time of fear and uncertainty, of electoral upheaval at home and of devastating wars in the middle east and in eastern Europe bringing the planet to the brink of nuclear destruction, of unaddressed spiraling climate chaos, the Nevada Desert Experience invites you to join us in an event of hope and resistance in the desert.
Over Holy Week, April 12-18, 2025, as for most of the past 40 years, NDE will host The Sacred Peace Walk, an interfaith journey of approximately 60 miles from Las Vegas to the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS, formerly the Nevada Test Site) through the Mojave in Nevada, on the beautiful traditional lands of the indigenous Western Shoshone and Paiute peoples.
The NNSS, established on land stolen from the Western Shoshone nation, was the primary testing ground of American nuclear devices from 1951 to 1992; 928 announced nuclear explosions occurred there, making it the most bombed place on earth. Today the NNSS has an expanding role in a trillion $ scheme for the "life extension" and "stewardship" of the current nuclear stockpile the site of "subcritical" and research and development of new more flexible and more powerful nuclear bombs.
The walk will begin on Sunday, April 13th, at the Atomic National Testing Museum on the Las Vegas strip and end on Friday, April 18th, with a "Nuclear Stations of the Cross" procession from the historic Peace Camp to the gates of the test site. With permission of the land’s owners, Western Shoshone National Council, some will enter the test site, risking arrest.
Holy Week in 2025 is in April, later than usual. Spring is a beautiful time to walk and camp in the desert along the way. Walkers are asked to bring their own camping gear, but some equipment is available to borrow. Support vehicles will follow along the route to provide water, snacks, first aid supplies and porta-potties. All meals will be provided.
You are free to walk the portion of each day's route that is comfortable for you. Volunteers are needed each day to support the walk by providing/serving meals, driving support vehicles, donating snacks and supplies, and other tasks. There will be some indoor accommodations- please let us know your needs when you register.
Orientation and nonviolence training will begin on Saturday, April 12th at 3 p.m. You are encouraged to come early to join us for lunch. We will find a place for those who can join us Friday evening before. We expect to return to Las Vegas by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18th. The suggested registration fee for the SPW is $125 general, and $75 for veterans, seniors and students for $20 per day.