The Israelites spent about one year in the wilderness before the twelve spies were sent out to scout the land of Canaan. This period included their escape from Egypt, the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, and preparation for entering the Promised Land. The sending of the spies occurred in the second year after their exodus, specifically in the second month of that year.
The Israelites entered the wilderness on the 16th of Nisan, 1312 BCE, the day after the Exodus. The spies (Numbers ch.13) were sent on the 29th of Sivan of the second year (Talmud, Taanit 29a). So your answer is that the spies were sent when the Israelites had been in the wilderness for one year and two-and-one-half months. See also:More about the Spies and other complaints
They journeyed and encamped in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers ch.14), at the guidance of God (Numbers ch.9).
Forty years (Numbers ch.14)
Numbers ch.13-14.
40 years, though technically they weren't called Jews yet. They were Israelites.
The trip could have been done in a month.
John the Baptist lived in the wilderness for an unspecified amount of time before beginning his ministry.
It was a communal sffort and took not more than two or three hours.
It took 40 years for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to Canaan. Had there been no delays, most could have made the trip in 11 days (Deuteronomy 1). The main delay is explained in Numbers ch.13 and 14.
Moses leading the Israelites from Egypt was approx 1500BC
Scholars calculate the Israelites to have wandered in the wilderness for 38 or 39 years; tradition holds it was "40 years" although that number may be an ancient metaphor for a generally large number and hence simply meaning, a long time although an actual forty years would still be pretty accurate. According the the Old Testament, Moses led them out of bondage from Egypt, Joshua helped lead them into the promised land.
Absolutely, as long as it's a drug rehab facility in the wilderness. If you want to just send him/her into the wilderness, make sure they have the necessary training before sending them.