Happy Trails to You

Jake and I survived the Pioneer Trek!

We went on July 9-12 to Martin's Cove, Independence Rock, and the Willie Center. We were a Ma and Pa! It was one of the coolest experiences that Jake and I have done together.

We had 8 "kids" and 1 "aunt." Our family name was "The Goonies!" Whenever Jake whistled, and said, "Hey Goonies!" we would all answer back, "Hey You Guys!" We had briefly met our kids before the trek, but we really got to know them on the bus ride and throughout the weekend. We try not to brag, but I think we had the best family. Our kids worked so hard and had a great attitude the entire time. Even with blisters, one of our girls getting hospitalized for a week, and a bad knee--they kept smiling the entire time. They loved pulling and pushing the handcart. I think we were very blessed to have the kids and the aunt that we did.

So the first day we drove all the way to Willie Center which is really in the middle of no-where! I tell ya, Wyoming is one depressing place. It all looks exactly the same. There is no variety to the landscape at all. The bus ride took us about 7 hours. Yep, we drove on a school bus for 7 hours.


One stop-in Evanston, WY-we all got out to stretch and use the bathroom. Now picture a group of over 150 people all dressed in pioneer grub. Bonnets, suspenders, dresses, aprons....the whole thing. Well there were some people taking pictures of us. I think they thought we were either Amish or Polygamist. It was kind of funny.

When we got to the Willie Center, the first day was kind of a relaxing-game day. We played Pioneer games (Cow Pie Toss, Stick Pull, Pie Eating Contest, Tug-O-War, Barrel Racing) and had a Horseshoe Contest. Jake and I got 4th place! We also had a group square dance.
It took us a while to get the hang of it, but then everyone got used to the beat and the moves and we had a lot of fun! The mosquitoes were the worst! I have never seen so many mosquitoes in my whole entire life. I counted 9 bites on my face alone. We went through 2-3 bottles of repellent. After the trek, I'm convinced that repellent doesn't work.

The second day was the big hike day. We hiked 10 miles. The trail is one big loop. We cross the Sweetwater 5 times throughout the day. The mosquitoes were really really horrible and it was really hot. I can't even begin to imagine what the Pioneers went through to get to Utah. They didn't even have all the modern accessories like us.

We stopped at a place called Sixth Crossing. Sixth Crossing is where the Willie Handcart Company was camped when the rescuers from Salt Lake (or the Valley Boys) came and saved them. The camp spot (or where it is suspected they stayed) is just past the Sweetwater and looks out across some rolling hills. A missionary couple spoke to us about the story of the Willie rescue. It gave me chills just imaging how it would have felt to look across the horizon and see rescue wagons coming for you, when there was almost no hope left. The joy they probably felt is incomprehensible. Heavenly Father had truly sent angels that day.

At one point of the trail, the men were called to be a part of the Mormon Battalion. While this did not actually take place during the Willie and Martin Handcart companies, the stake wanted to reenact the Mormon Battalion because it provides a very good experience for everyone. All the men were called to leave and they began walking away. The women had to pull the handcarts by themselves. My family was strong and we did it! It's not that the hike was very strenuous, it was just long. I kept wondering when we were going to stop walking. I missed Jake and all my boys. They later told us we hiked 3/4 of a mile without the men. When we finally reached the top of hill, all of the men were lined up on both sides of the trail with their hats on their hearts. It was a very reverent experience. Many of the guys were crying. I can't even being to think how the women felt having to say good bye to their loved ones, wondering when or if they would ever see them again, and then having to continue on the trail alone. Just for that 3/4 of a mile we went, I missed Jake and wondered when it was over.

We crossed the Sweetwater without a bridge 3 times. The Sweetwater was a lot swifter than I thought it would be.

In the end, we had walked about 10 miles throughout the day. A portion of our hike was on the actual Mormon trail-where real Pioneers walked. That was a very sacred experience.

The third day we rode the bus 60 miles East to Martin's Cove and Independence Rock. The Willie Handcart was approximately 12 days ahead of the Martin Handcart at the beginning of the trek. Martin's Cove (or the Visitors Center) is an oasis in the middle of Wyoming. There are trees and grass! It is beautiful. We watched 2 movies on the rescue of the Martin Handcart company before beginning the hike to the cove. The cove hike is about 5 miles round trip. You hike without the handcarts through the cove. The cove is very sacred and so the missionaries asked us to remain silent as we walked. My "aunt" in my family had hiked 10 miles before, only slept 20 minutes the night before, and was determined to get to the Cove. We held hands the entire time so she could make it. I was so proud of her!

We crossed the Sweetwater after walking to Martin's Cove. After the members of Martin Handcart left Martin's Cove and began walking forward, they fell upon their knees and cried at the sight of the Sweetwater River. About a week before, they had the horrible experience of crossing the North Platte River, where many of the company died and those who hadn't, were desperately affected by the icy water. The idea of crossing the Sweetwater in such a weary state seemed an impossible trial. It was at this point of the trail that the famous "Sweetwater Rescue" took place. 4 of the rescue party carried every member across the icy river to the other side. We did the math and that was about 250 crosses for each rescuer. We reenacted the rescue by having the boys carry the girls across the river. Jake and one of our sons, Mark, carried me fireman-style across the river. Mark then carried me back to the other side after. Mark is a skinny kid. I think I weigh more than him, so without verbally telling me, he was scared to carry me. We ended up having to have the a counselor in the Stake Presidency stand next to us in case we fell in. I wasn't too worried-it was a hot day and would've been refreshing-but Mark was scared. We made it across safely :)

I was doing some research online and realized that Independence Rock is just that, a rock. I wasn't too excited. When we got there it was absolutely amazing! It's this totally slick rock that you can run straight up. I mean, there are no trees, no dirt, nothing--just rock. Once you get up to the top, you can see for miles (well, it is Wyoming after all). There are names of pioneers and outlaws engraved upon the top of the rock. It is told that if the pioneer companies could get to Independence Rock by July 4th, they would make it to the valley before the first winter storm. When the companies did reach Independence Rock, they would celebrate their arrival by climbing the rock and engraving their names into it.The last thing we did that day, which was absolutely incredible--we went to Independence Rock. Now, before the trek, Jake and I thought that Independence Rock was Chimney Rock (the rock that stands up straight into the sky). I was The oldest name we found was from 1854. It's kind of cool thinking that pioneers stood right where I did.

On the way down the rock, there was a real live rattlesnake on the trail! It was freaky! It even rattled its tail. Some guy was stupid and kept poking it with a stick. He said "he was just keeping track of it" but all the women were a little freaked out about the whole thing. If I learned anything on this trek, its that women are smart, men are stupid, and rattlesnakes are freaky!

Overall, the trek was one amazing experience for both of us. This, of course, is my (Amanda) perspective of the whole thing. I'll try to get Jake to write his. I felt a lot of great spiritual feelings while on the trek. The most important thing I learned was gratitude for the pioneers. I am SO grateful that they pushed through the hunger, snow, wind, death, and fear to get to the Salt Lake Valley. Their testimonies were rock...and nothing earthly prevailed against them.

During the last night, I got up to go to the bathroom and it was freezing!! It's the middle of July and there was ice in our coolers the next morning. We suspected that is got around 20 degrees during the night. I was freezing. I thought about how cold the pioneers were. It is recorded that without the wind, it was -11 degrees. When you add the wind chill in there, the temperature was bone chilling. I then realized, that with the temperature, little to no food, no shelter, no clothing, exhaustion, etc--it is an absolute miracle that there were survivors of the trek. I think that many times we (meaning modern-day members) look at the Willie and Martin Handcart situation as a tragic disaster. Almost 200 people died making the trek West. It all seems like a horrible decision, but then I thought that the whole thing is a miracle. No body should have lived under those conditions--no body. It is a miracle that Heavenly Father preserved the 700 people in the companies. He truly was bestowing His power upon them.

I am grateful I was called to be a Ma. It will definitely be an experience that I will never forget. I am glad that Jacob was with me the entire time (well, excluding the Women's Pull) and that we got to experience this together. I loved my family and the whole experience (minus the mosquitoes :P)


Thanks for reading!