THE TREK

As we left our house just before midnight on Sunday I was full of so many emotions. Travis was just full of one--excitement. When we got to the Stake Center it was buzzing with people, and Travis had plenty to do. Before I knew it I was alone, but surrounded by people. The tears came, as did the questions...What in the world am I doing? How am going to leave the kids? Am I strong enough to do this? 12 hours on a bus?...

We loaded the bus just after midnight. Mr. Bonnet here snuggled in and thoroughly enjoyed at least an 8 hour night sleep. I dozed a little after Burley and was awake again by Ogden and it was light outside! I had to do some serious deep breathing exercises. It was a sudden realization of the activities of the week ahead and that I was beginning with no rest. Soon though, the bus was full of chatter, laughter, and snacks, and I was better. I didn't even really feel tired anymore.

Other than Jackson Hole, I don't recall ever traveling in Wyoming. Looking out the window I wondered if the Saints ever thought, "oh dear, THIS is Zion?". Wyoming is its own unique beauty, but it really is beautiful.



We got off the bus at the Sweetwater campground. We were a little behind, and so as soon as we were unloaded, we got our handcarts and started on a five mile trek. Not far into the trek the men and boys were called away. The sisters stayed and had a meeting while the boys went to the top of a hill. We talked about the many faithful sisters who lost the husbands along the way and who then continued on with their children. We then gathered up our carts and pushed--just the sisters. We had a pretty good hill to climb and I looked up to see all the boys standing there lining the trail with their hats off, completely silent. We had such a small hill to climb and my heart ached for the many sisters truly walked the trail alone so many years before.

Part of our walking that day included crossing the Sweetwater River. This is a different part of the Sweet Water than the Willie and Martin Companies crossed in the winter, but it was quite the experience getting our carts down the banks and across the river. I know I nearly slipped and went all the way down!

On day two we headed out to cross Rocky Ridge. It was a long 15 mile day. The reality of what happened there was close to our hearts as we made our way. There were so many of us and it was hard to see what was coming if you were behind a handcart. We would yell out, "HOLE!" or "ROCK!" hoping to keep our ward members from falling or stumbling.

My sweet friend Jenny

Amber

The Rocky Ridge hike ends at Rock Creek Hollow. Words can't begin to describe the feeling that is there. This is the place where after so many of the Willie and Martin Companies were rescued over Rocky Ridge, that many perished in the night--some because they had worked so hard to help others that they simply weren't strong enough to survive the night.

As we went to sleep that night, it was a fairly calm nice evening. By 4:00 the next morning our camp nearly blew away. We were up early trying to put our things away before rain hit and it all blew away. The sunrise that morning was amazing.

After successfully packing up camp, we loaded the bus and went to Martin's and Dan Jone's Coves. In the middle of the Wyoming prairie there suddenly exists these huge rock formations. It was as though the Lord made the earth and created a place for the Saints to find safety from the cold. Both coves have a very sacred feeling.

This is the side of Martin's Cove where the Saints camped:

On this side they buried the dead in the snow:

My biggest irrational fear coming to fruition....

After the Coves came the Sweetwater crossing. This is the very place where the pioneers came and when they saw the river flowing high with ice, they simply could not face it. Three young men then waded into the river and worked tirelessly until every member of the company was safely across. Our youth reverently reenacted the event.

After one more night in the wilderness, and one more day of out houses it was time to pack our things and head to Salt Lake. We had sometime Thursday afternoon to tour temple square.

Guess what Travis is doing to poor Kirsi? He couldn't be teasing her... Thursday evening we had the opportunity to take the youth to the Salt Lake temple for baptisms. It was the best part of the whole experience. The pioneers suffered and walked in order to have the blessings of the temple. It was amazing to not only go to the temple, but to the Salt Lake temple. It was a very special experience, one that none of us will ever forget.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go on the trek. Travis and I could not have imagined how life changing it would be. Annie, Emma, Jacob, Megan, and Justin did so well without us thanks to lots of love from Grandma Jo. We hope to be able to take them all to experience the handcart trek when they are old enough to appreciate it.