TREK!!!!!- Day Two

15 mile day.

Why do we do this to ourselves, you ask?

Good Question. Maybe we like pain. No pain no gain right? 

Or maybe we just wanted to enjoy dutch oven meals and the fabulous square dancing.

Common sense says, "You're crazy, don't do that." 

But boy, when you're through, something else tells you otherwise.

We didn't experience even an ounce of what true pioneers experienced, but we gained something.

I actually found out that the trail we were on was the original Oregon Trail and also the Pony Express trail. Imagining thousands of hopeful families, looking for a better life out west made me feel immense gratitude. People gave up something good for something far better, and I have directly benefited! 

I do not have Mormon pioneer heritage, but I still feel part of the heritage and legacy of faith they left behind. 

I walked for Mary Inger Simonsen, who is my great great grandmother on my father's side. She traveled from Denmark when she was 10-years-old, and at age 16 married my great great grandpa Niels Christian Thomsen, where they settled in Minden, Nebraska and farmed the land. I imagined their Trek across the ocean, then across the country. The uncomfortable conditions, disease, illness, the sacrifice of it all.

 Why did they do this? 

Somewhere in their hearts, they knew they wanted something better for me. For their posterity.

That is why we do this. To remember their sacrifice.

Our group were work horses! They didn't want to slow down. They wanted to speed up!!!

We neighed like horses...It was fun!

Never before were we so grateful for SHADE and PB&Js! 

  

A few could not walk the final day because of blisters and heat stroke, and it was sad to leave them behind. I can't imagine leaving anyone behind!

 

We enjoyed some delicious dinner finished off with some dutch oven bread pudding. Wow. Everything tastes better in the wilderness.

TREK!!!!! - Day One

5am!!

For the most part, our group of 6 teens were feeling perky!

 (Except for maybe one, who made sure we all knew she wasn't happy to be up. haha) :)

One slept through her alarm, and woke to the musical sound of my finger to her doorbell!!! :)

My bus-mate. I think buses have shrunk since 8th grade!

We're a little excited for the 6 hour drive to Wyoming!!

Many slept on the way...

Tryin' on these bonnets! 

We later made duct-tape art! Accessories of all kinds...

 Here at last! Some are still sleeping... :)

Administered my first Dora Explorer band-aid (!) to this sorry lookin' fellow :)

We visited an area called Martin's Cove. This is the actual place where many pioneers in the Martin Handcart Company lost their lives. There was a terrible blizzard, and they found some relative safety from the elements in this rock cove for about 5 days. Their journey continued after many left their loved ones in their graves of snow.

5.5 mile day

Our ward "Ma and Pa", the Hancocks. 

They were fabulous and made sure our group stayed hydrated and cool! 

Potty breaks. Line was always long. 

I couldn't imagine traveling with a group as large as the Martin Handcart company - 500 people! 

We were only about 200.

We listened to the volunteer senior missionaries tell us about some of the stories of the pioneers in this area. One mother asked her children to give up some of their rations (2oz. of flour mixed with water) to a man who had nothing to eat. I cannot imagine that kind of sharing, giving and sacrifice. They literally shared everything they had. They were unified in reaching the promised safety of the Salt Lake Valley. Hunger, pain, death, and bitter weather did not prevent them from living in joy because they knew their Savior Jesus Christ. What a testimony to all!

In Martin's Cove, during the heavy blizzard, 56 people died. After being there for 5 days, this is when Ephraim Hanks came with rescue supplies and much needed buffalo meat. We all saw the movie about Ephraim Hanks, called Ephraim's Rescue, which I think made this a more meaningful experience.

   

They walked, and walked, and walked.

These three statues commemorate the Sweetwater Rescue, which depict four young men, ages 17-21, who risked their lives to assist those in the Martin company cross the freezing Sweetwater river after leaving Martin's Cove. Each boy crossed the river 36 times. It had a feeling of reverence and respect.

   

 Walking back to the buses.

Sweetwater Camp for the evening. 

So grateful for the food and equipment committee who made our meals! We appreciated those meals in a new way!

They even washed our dishes!!! Venus was such a doll!

Then it was time for some square dancing.

Great way to end the first day!