Martin's Cove Trek

This picture is for McKay who probably doesn't recognize Spencer V. sitting on the bull at Little America.  This picture is the end of a great journey to Martin's Cove. 
I didn't know really what to expect since I was not involved in the planning and didn't belong to any Presidency, etc.  I was just along because I know how to talk loud and sleep in a tent and my husband is the Stake President.  We have lived in the Stake for 17 years now and this was the 5th trek for Kim and 4th for me.  I opted out of the one the summer after Bryce.  Kim didn't take any pictures.  How can you do something as significant as a Trek and not take pictures?

This is the beginning of the trek.  See how clean Kim is?  He is sitting on his bucket that has all our clothes, etc. for the 4 days.  See the handcarts in the background.  This is the Martin's Cove Visitor Center.  In 2000 we came to this very place in an RV with all our kids.  It was the end of a 10 day tour to see all the pioneer sites from Utah to Nauvoo.  The kids said they were "toured" out and could we please just go home.  It was still another 5 hour drive and they were ready to see their own beds.  I was glad to get a second chance at this place and learn the stories of the Martin and Willy Handcart Companies. 

I am wearing an apron from Mozambique.  I walked for Jane Manning.  I had lots of relatives that were pioneers and some pretty important ones but it was all about the men when I tried to read up about them.  I liked learning about Jane ..an African American woman that joined the church and gave up everything to be with the saints.  This is pretty much what each place we went to looked like.  The wind would come up unannounced and the clear sky would become cloudy in the afternoons.  However, to me and my apprehensive mind ...the weather couldn't have been better. 

Kim and I lead out the first day.  These guys were on our tails the whole day.  We heard about it later when people complained we went too fast.  I just didn't want to be run into. 
We were the largest group they had had in a long time.  320 of us.  They complemented the leaders to the reverence that was shown by our youth.  They also told Kim that he got an A+ for being involved with the kids.  We like those kind of comments.   The meals were simple.  The mornings were beautiful. 

Breakfast...sausage and pancakes

Ran into by a cart..some kids were not watching! This is a young man.

Music added a lot to feeling the spirit

My friend Melanie at the river crossing...got to see a different side to the people in our stake!

There were a lot of sacred moments.  A lot of hard moments.  I became the megaphone when someone needed to get the word out...my loud voice surprised a few people but it came in handy.  I could feel a lot of tender things as we would listen to the missionaries described what happened in the different places.  Kim gave a blessing on the youth to complete the trek in a place where 13 people died from exposure and the two that buried them died the following morning.  Some kids were distracted by the dirt and the walking.  They were not entertained but I hope later they will connect to what they did and how they can do hard things.   I know I will not quickly forget this unique opportunity to tread where the Saints showed their commitment to the gospel.