About Us

Cascade Mountain Retreats & Seminars exists to love, support and empower people in finding their brightness and dreams in an inspiring and joyful environment that is free of judgement, safe, and encourages growth, creativity and self discovery.

We select our facilitators based on their integrity, uniqueness, and humanity in order to bring you the most effective teachers possible. We take pride in selecting some of the most beautiful locations in the valley for our programs, and you can count on experiencing superior Methow Valley hospitality.

Esther's Journey

Shortly after a ski trip to the Methow Valley in 2002, she and her then-future husband impulsively bought an old, dilapidated farmhouse, and began eagerly renovating, pursuing their dream of living in a mountainous area of great beauty and endless recreation. After three exhausting years with one foot in the Seattle area and the other in the Methow Valley, and ready to leave the city behind, they took a leap of faith and moved to the Valley full-time in 2005.

Her professional background is in Audiology and she played a key role in assisting hospitals throughout Washington State implement Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs. She has facilitated numerous workshops herself, and only receives the highest praise from workshop participants. She believes in the greatness and potential of all people, and is honored for the opportunity to participate in your own personal journey.


"Esther - you are amazing. For such a gentle, little thing, you pulled off a huge event. I am sure it was your own essence that brought the willing beautiful "souls of service"....Everything was well timed, GREAT LOCATION. We all felt truly pampered, with the meals exquisite, the snacks, the water. It was all synchronized, and well just perfect" -Trish Dennison, Sep. 2007

"I've known Esther for almost a year and we've worked together on various, um, 'intensive' volunteer projects. Esther always seems to be the most organized person in the group, and I've found that bad weather, loss of sleep and even drowsy participants are no match for her room-brightening, whatever-it-takes attitude. If you are thinking about hiring Esther to manage a seminar or retreat for you, then you should know that I am one of 8 people who, upon hearing Esther's plans of a retreat, immediately volunteered to give up a full week of our summer to help... We just know with Esther behind the wheel, the seminar is going to be so well thought out and worthwhile that we can't bear to miss it." -Rebecca Beltran, June 2007