I was lucky enough to go on Trek with my ward this year. Let me be honest, at first I was not excited about this...I do not like to camp, sweat, or be blown away by 150mph wind (which is basically what we did for 4 days). But we began preparing for Trek back in February, we walked, we studied the pioneer's from the Willie & Martin handcart companies, we studied our own ancestors, and we earned 'Trail of Faith' medallions for doing all of this. And I eventually became excited about going...I am grateful I was able to make this journey, walk where the pioneers walked, and have my testimony strengthened.
We met at our stake center at 4:00am...a quick devotional, breakfast, and we loaded up on the bus for a 6 hour drive to Wyoming. We had fun...I think I was the only leader in the back of the bus with the kids, I still feel like one!
We walked only 6 miles this first day, with many stops to learn about the Martin Handcart Company. It took us almost 6 hours to complete the walk.
These awesome young men "Valley Boys", carried ALL of us across the Sweetwater river. The original Valley Boys did this with freezing temperatures, and all day long...all 4 of them died after carrying so many across.
Day 2...Today we walked where the Willie company walked, we were up bright and early (5:30am)...breakfast, take down camp, packed up the handcarts, and we hit the trail...We have 10 wards in our stake, each was assigned a color, I think we wore our yellow proud!
I don't have many pictures of this day...it was hard and long. We left at 8:30am, and got to camp at 5:30pm...we walked 15 miles. The youth all pulled the handcarts, they are amazing. We had many more teaching/learning moments along the trail, where we remembered the pioneers.
Day 3...Today was a 14 mile walk. We got an earlier start today 7:00am, and made it to camp at Rock Creek Hollow at 4:30pm. It was amazing to walk into camp, and be cheered on by the wards who arrived before us, and by our stake. Very emotional after a long/hard day.
I survived...and what a great journey I had!
I am grateful that unlike the pioneers, I had wonderful/large portions of food to eat, our tents were set up when we got to camp, and then taken down the next morning for us. We had so much help to make this Trek wonderful, and wonderful it was! I am also so thankful for my ward, and especially the youth...they are amazing examples to me!
