The Trek

Another draft post from last year. We were privileged to be a part of a handcart trek our Stake sponsored for our youth this last Summer. It was very well done and we were honored to be a part of it, doing vignettes along the trail. I got to be B. H. Roberts (one of my heroes) and Francis Webster. I loved it. One of the sisters portrayed by my sweet eternal companion was a relative of hers that survived the Martin handcart tribulations. Here are some of the photos from our experience last Summer:

Five of the young men from our ward who went. These are all great young men, headed in the right direction.

The Trek took place near this location at around 8,000 feet above sea level.

This is the parking lot at Tragedy Spring where we gathered for a briefing on the Mormon-related history of the area.

These two photos are from the stump I stood on to deliver my B.H. Roberts vignette. The one above is looking to the west, where just beyond the trees they encountered wild Indians. The one below is looking to the east at the uphill climb they had right at the start of the Trek. By the time they got to my point they were ready for a break.

The handcart parking lot in camp.

This is a shot of the youngest member of our ward to participate. He had just turned 12, but was never far from the front of the chow line.

Uncle Peter's campsite. Notice the handcart wheels there by the road. They had broken and he was fixing them.

Our campsite on the other side of the road from Uncle Peter. This is pretty much the same kind of campsite all of the youth & their leaders had in the little meadow down the road, but we were very grateful to have the amenities of Uncle Peter (e.g. his jet stove) in the cold mornings when a cup of hot cocoa was just the thing.

Preparations to leave the second day. They hiked into this area the first day, did a loop the second day, coming back here; and hiked out on a different road on the third day. This would have been a significant hike, pulling loaded handcarts, at any elevation, but at 8,000 ft. it was a real challenge.

One of our bishops on his horse . . . . which came in handy later in this day.

The Harrisons, some great friends of ours, with their "family" of youth.

These two photos give you an idea of how the youth were dressed. I think they did a good job of staying in character - although I suppose all those feathers were a bit over the top.

In the photo below you can see one of the 5 gallon buckets each youth brought. They were told what to bring and it all had to fit in the bucket.

This photo is of our "Pacific Islander" family. The pink sign reads "forever strong" in Samoan (I think). The parents of this "family" are part of a great family in our stake.

This is the handcart parking lot at the top of "the hill" - where just before noon on the second day all of the young men were taken off and the young women & their leaders pulled the carts up this incredibly steep & rocky hill. It was pretty intense. I was fortunate to be able to be one of the "angels" who stepped out and helped push and pull the carts up the last and steepest incline.

And after lunch they all got to play a variety of games, including archery, crafts, etc.

This is a photo of our wonderful leader, Sister Takahashi, another one of my heroes.