TREK 2011

When pioneers moved to the West,
With courage strong they met the test.
They pushed their handcarts all day long,
And as they pushed they sang this song:
For some must push and some must pull,
As we go marching up the hill;
So merrily on our way we go
Until we reach the Valley-o
(John Daniel Thompson McAllister 1827-1910)

About every 4 Years our Stake has a Pioneer Handcart Trek to commemorate the valiant pioners who traveled from Iowa and Nebraska to the Salt Lake Valley. Between 1856 and 1860, nearly 3,000 Latter Day Saints traveled by handcart in 10 comapnies. This year The Dalles Oregon Stake joined us....there were nearly 300 youth and scores of adult leaders. There were a total of 25 handcarts that were broken down into companies of 5 handcarts each. Each company had a captain and his wife that oversaw their 5 handcarts. Each handcart had a "Ma and Pa" who were assigned youth ranging from 12-18 that made up their families.
Trek 2011 took place on the Barlow Trail up on Mt. Hood. The kids began their trek Thursday morning along the bumpy and dusty trail. They traveled 30 miles over 3 days. The weather was cold but clear the first day, warm and sunny the 2nd day and started out with rain on the last day....ending with clear skies over the valley where it ended. Everywhere else was raining EXCEPT over where the kids were traveling!
The 2nd day of the trek the companies came to a clearing where we had stations set up: Foot washing, Leather braclets, Bow and arrows, Hair washing, Tomahawk Throw , and Blindfold toss. I was on the hair washing crew. We washed about 200 heads...including boys, girls and adults.Here are Sheri and Mary Ann who were also part of the hair washing crew. The water was heated up and put into buckets by 2 wonderful men who worked very hard to keep up with us. We used portable camp showersheads to wash with.
The kids were able to take some time to relax during lunch.
On this day all the young men were called to join the Mormon Battalion (they did a service project for the forest service) and the girls were left to load their handcarts and pull them up a steep hill....just as they were left to do on the Mormon Trail. It was a day of many spiritual experiences for the kids, where they were stretched to their physical limits. They were able to realize the strengths they never knew they had. It gave them hope and courage to overcome the personal handcarts they will face in their own lives. Here is Josh with his family....this picture was taken and given to the kids in a frame for them to keep.
On this, the last day, halfway through their journey, they spent 2 hours reading their scriptures, writing in their journals and reflecting upon the pioneers and all they had learned on this journey. All 25 handcarts arrived safely in the "valley". In all they made 3 water crossings, 2 of which were on the last day. They were about 4 hours later than anticipated and when they arived they were hot, hungry and very tired....but there were smiles on their faces. Hundreds of people were there to welcome them. Trek was a year in the making and many of the youth were not so sure about going....Josh included. This was his 2nd trek. But he, along with all the others are so grateful for the experience. It made them stronger. It drew them closer to Heavenly Father and it gave them a small inkling of what the pioneers went through. I am so grateful I was able to be a small part of trek...it was a GREAT experience!!! Eating the feast that was prepared for them....
This is for Jenny...Heather and Makenzie, who Jenny babysat when she was a little girl.