We had the most awesome bus driver! Her name was cupcake and she let us play "American Idol" and sing over the radio. We sure got to know her on our 8 HOUR BUS RIDE!
Brian and Pa Britton singing "You've lost that loving feeling" to Cupcake.
Geared up and ready to walk! Can you tell it's day one? I'm still smiling.
Lining up the hand carts.
Our family with the lead flag. Our kids were SO stoked to be heading out our company. And I was stoked that it was over cast and not blasted hot.
Orientation at the visitor's center. Allie, Kody, Matthaus, Trent, Pa and DJ.
2 of my cute girls! Lexie and Allie.
LOVE this quote!
All of our stake getting started. The gap between the mountains in the background is Devil's Gate.
Some must push, and some must pull. Our tough boys out front, Matthaus and Trent.
Our totally awesome family flag. Our color was light purple.
Taking a rest.
The first night we camped it was UNBELIEVABLY windy. But take a look at this gorgeous sunset! I was pretty much done by this point. We'd hiked 6.5 miles this first day and I did NOT feel good. I hardly ate any dinner and I didn't sleep at all that night because it was so windy. Now that I look back on it, I realize it was something I was supposed to endure to give me a greater appreciation for my pioneer ancestors.
When we woke up the next morning, it was overcast, cold, and still windy. But not near as bad as it was during the night. We had a tasty breakfast and headed off to Dan's cove.
Ma and Pa
One of our girls woke up and couldn't bend her knees this morning, so we were down to 5 kids. They were such troopers!
When we woke up the next morning, it was overcast, cold, and still windy. But not near as bad as it was during the night. We had a tasty breakfast and headed off to Dan's cove.
Ma and Pa
One of our girls woke up and couldn't bend her knees this morning, so we were down to 5 kids. They were such troopers! Kody, Ma, Pa, Lexie, Allie, Matthaus and Trent
Our "license plate". We were in the red company. Brian wrote "Martin's Cove or Bust" on it.
Oscar! This dog lives on a farm about 10 miles away from Martin's Cove. Whenever there are kids doing the trek, he comes over and walks with you! So cute! It makes you wonder if there is more meaning to it... We were watched over in more ways than one.
Still smiling! Can you tell how dirty our faces are!? You don't wear sunglasses because it's sunny. You wear them because it's so dusty!
Brian and Clint, a friend from our ward who was on the food committee. Him and his wife walked with us most of the time.
Dropping off our handcarts and taking a break before we headed up to Dan's Cove. They ask for total silence. This was amazing. We sat down at Dan's Cove and had a short devotional. They asked everyone to close their eyes and meditate. When we opened our eyes, some of our people were missing. The stake members explained that sometimes when the pioneers would wake up in the morning, not all of their family members had made it through the night. As we walked up the pathway to Martin's Cove, the people that were representing those who had passed during the night were lined up along the pathway with white cloth tied around their arm. Brian and I lost one of our kids. It was really emotional for everyone.
After Martin's Cove, we ate lunch. Then we headed onto the reenactment of the Sweet Water River crossing. They ask the young men to carry the women across the river. There is a story of 3 boys who carried everyone across this river in the winter, with ice floating in the water, cutting their legs, but they didn't stop until everyone was across. These 3 young men ended up dying.
Oscar! This dog lives on a farm about 10 miles away from Martin's Cove. Whenever there are kids doing the trek, he comes over and walks with you! So cute! It makes you wonder if there is more meaning to it... We were watched over in more ways than one.
Still smiling! Can you tell how dirty our faces are!? You don't wear sunglasses because it's sunny. You wear them because it's so dusty!
Brian and Clint, a friend from our ward who was on the food committee. Him and his wife walked with us most of the time.
Dropping off our handcarts and taking a break before we headed up to Dan's Cove. They ask for total silence. This was amazing. We sat down at Dan's Cove and had a short devotional. They asked everyone to close their eyes and meditate. When we opened our eyes, some of our people were missing. The stake members explained that sometimes when the pioneers would wake up in the morning, not all of their family members had made it through the night. As we walked up the pathway to Martin's Cove, the people that were representing those who had passed during the night were lined up along the pathway with white cloth tied around their arm. Brian and I lost one of our kids. It was really emotional for everyone.
After Martin's Cove, we ate lunch. Then we headed onto the reenactment of the Sweet Water River crossing. They ask the young men to carry the women across the river. There is a story of 3 boys who carried everyone across this river in the winter, with ice floating in the water, cutting their legs, but they didn't stop until everyone was across. These 3 young men ended up dying.
My hubby carrying me across the river!
Our manly men pushing our cart across the river!
After the river crossing came the women's pull. If you've ever heard about this, it was the most amazing part of the trek for me. The stake leaders send all the men to go on without their women or handcarts. Once the men were gone, they explained that sometimes the pioneer women would lose their husbands, brothers, or sons, and they would have to continue on without them, often having to carry their babies or small children alone. They asked for complete silence while these girls pushed and pulled with all their might to get those carts up the hill. It's so hard for the men to watch, and not be able to help. It was really amazing to see how much these young men care about their young women!
Me and my girls! We made it up! It doesn't look steep, but holy cow! You go from hard ground, to sand, to ROCKS.. It was crazy, but so awesome to experience!
After the women's pull, the men would NOT let us help with the hand carts. They insisted on pulling all the way back to camp. We came back to a tasty dinner and square dancing, but I think everyone was so tired, the square dancing didn't last long! We also had a stake testimony meeting that night. Brian and I sat there like proud parents listening to our kids!
The whole Fox Hollow gang!
Pa Steinke caught a snake at our camp site! NOT a rattler, thank goodness!
Our kids! We sure grew to love them!
Our family getting ready to head out!
Our manly men pushing our cart across the river!
After the river crossing came the women's pull. If you've ever heard about this, it was the most amazing part of the trek for me. The stake leaders send all the men to go on without their women or handcarts. Once the men were gone, they explained that sometimes the pioneer women would lose their husbands, brothers, or sons, and they would have to continue on without them, often having to carry their babies or small children alone. They asked for complete silence while these girls pushed and pulled with all their might to get those carts up the hill. It's so hard for the men to watch, and not be able to help. It was really amazing to see how much these young men care about their young women!
Me and my girls! We made it up! It doesn't look steep, but holy cow! You go from hard ground, to sand, to ROCKS.. It was crazy, but so awesome to experience!
After the women's pull, the men would NOT let us help with the hand carts. They insisted on pulling all the way back to camp. We came back to a tasty dinner and square dancing, but I think everyone was so tired, the square dancing didn't last long! We also had a stake testimony meeting that night. Brian and I sat there like proud parents listening to our kids!
Our little tent city. No wind that night!
The whole Fox Hollow gang!
Pa Steinke caught a snake at our camp site! NOT a rattler, thank goodness!
Our kids! We sure grew to love them!
Our family getting ready to head out!
So amazing! I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Oh my heck, I DID love trek!
4 comments:
you look like cute pioneers! looks like fun!
My bro and sis-in law, and some friends were ma and pa's on their Treks! My friend went in July (with her baby that is only a few months older than Camden!) They both said the experience is so amazing! I really don't know if I would have been able to last! It's truly humbling to think about all that the pioneers went through!
That is amazing! What an awesome experience.
It looks like you guys had an amazing experience! Also, I am sorry that you didn't love your first Bear Lake experience as much as you could have. That water is definitely cold!
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