I'm Back from my Amazing Pioneer Handcart Trek!
I just got back from a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Martin's Cove and Rocky Ridge Wyoming! Around 400 youth in my area between the ages of 14-18 (plus 100 adults) walked around 30 miles through rocky mountains, sandy trails, creeks and lots of sagebrush in 90-100 degree weather pushing and pulling handcarts (which contained all their gear). Everyone was dressed in the time period. There were no cell phones, ipods, televisions, makeup, or even showers. There was no indoor plumbing--only outhouses. Just lots of walking, lots of sweating and many, many faith promoting experiences along the way. It truly was an amazing experience for Steve, Kade and myself (Kade's the big guy in the middle in a cowboy hat pulling the handcart through a creek).
During the four-day experience, I didn't hear one complaint from the youth. It was very hard and very hot and very monotonous, yet they all had cheerful dispositions, were anxious to hear stories on the trail and were willing to help people in their group who were having a hard time. Every person walked in behalf of a person from the Willie or Martin handcart companies in the 1800s (many of these people died due to starvation or freezing weather). Every person wore a bracelet with the words "He Carried Them" (meaning Christ helped them through their trials). The themes of each day were so cool. The first day, "He Carried Them." The second, "He Carries Us." The third, "We Carry Others." And the fourth, "Carry On!"
I'm still on a huge high from this experience. I'm so lucky I got to go!
Enjoy the last few weeks of your summer.
Lisa
(More photos of Wyoming trip below!)
40 Comments:
Wow Lisa, that sounds fantastic. Is there an age requirement? (wondering why the other kids didn't go).
Looks hard, but a great life/experience lesson all the same...as most are :)
Thank you for sharing your experience.
What an awesome experience - kind of bring one "full circle". And for kids, a good "humbling" experience. Just found your blog and was browsing through - and my jaw fell open about the old house and finding the pictures. Being a family historian for 26 years, I was so happy to see someone found these treasures and they are once again loved. Thelma (Winnipeg)
Sounds like a great trip....so when are we going to see the next kit of the month...i am filled with anticipation and can't wait!!!
That sounds like a wonderful trip! And I love the themes for each day....truly a life changing experience, I am sure.
That does sound like an amazing experience! Fun pictures, and how neat that you got to go with your son. ~Tanya
That looks like such a great trek! I did the same sort of thing when I was younger, but we did it locally and it was only 3 days. Such a great experience for the youth! Thanks for sharing, as always!
what an incredible journey! I am amazed!
Awesome experience! Our next door neighbors did the same kind of "exploration" here in Texas a couple of years ago and came back with the same high (and extremely bushed). It's hard for us to ever imagine how people lived before us unless we participate in a journey like that. We are so spoiled in our everyday lives with things we take for granted such as electricity, air conditioning, cars, etc. Just think, those people didn't even have coolers or bottled water to keep them even remotely comfortable. What a hard life--but simple in that they weren't distracted from God's word and His will for them by those things that distract us today. In some ways they were more fortunate! Glad you made me think today, Lisa! ha.ha.
p.s. Those Wyomians are savages!
What an amazing experience, Lisa. What a beautiful thing for your husband, son and you to go through together. You are such an inspiration.
Sounds like an amazing experience. I read your description, and I realize how difficult it would be for me to do something like that. Honestly, I'm not sure that I would be able to. I do believe that I am way too accustomed to all of the comforts that I have gotten used to. I completely admire you for being able to experience something like this and to happily blog about it afterwards! You're a tougher chick than I! Good for you!
sounds amazing. you have been blessed with an awesome platform for sharing your faith, and it's always inspiring to see how you put it to good use.
sounds like an awesome trip.
you have been blessed with an amazing platform to share your faith, and it is always inspiring to see how well you use it!
Hi Lisa
Wow! What an awesome experience! I think that we are learn so much more about our faith, ourselves, each other with a hands on experience like this! So fortunate!
Definitely makes you understand how difficult live must have been for our ancestors. We take for granted all the modern conveniences we have!
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
Sound like you had an amazing experience. My two oldest boys had the opportunity to go to Martin's Cove a couple of years ago. They both loved the experience too. Although, sometimes their weather wasn't so warm. I have an awesome picture of a funnel cloud behind a group pulling a handcart.
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~ alli ~
I often read your blog, but this is the first time I was inspired to comment. Tears came to my eyes when I read your about your trek. What an awe inspiring experience. I love the pioneer time period, but it is often romaticized in the novels I read. What a wonderful rememberance for those that lived and were lost during a time in history that had so many hardships. Hardships that we will never know. Thank you for sharing.
an experience that I'm sure will live deep in your heart forever :-)
Linda
LOL! Love the Indian photo. The look on your face is priceless. You have to scrapbook that one for sure!
Lisa, I am happy that your faith is not just something that IS for you. You LIVE out your faith and that is just something that is very rare. It's very inspiring.
I've heard so many amazing stories this week from others that were on a pioneer trek. What an experince this must have been for you and especially Kade.
I'm sure you will all remember this forever!
Matt went with our youth group last year. He loved it. That is one amazing trek.
we are probably coming to slc on the 2nd have to go to the homegrown party on the 1st...tessa wants to meet kade...they can talk about thier trek experiences....email if you guys will avalible...janet
sounds great! I want to do this someday.
Thanks for sharing the experience! We've done it in our Stake, though NOT through Rocky ridge and Martin's cove! THAT would have been amazing! Aren't the youth amazing? That rising generation stuff is true!
Lisa: I have heard about these trips--and it looks fantastic! I love your photos---and am wondering, is there a website that promotes this kind of experience? Thanks for sharing your trip! God Bless! Lori C
I teared up a bit while reading your daily mottos. They are awesome. I have never had the chance to do trek yet. Maybe someday.
Oh, that's sad you took the Indian picture down because of the bullies on 2peas... I thought it was adorable... I've heard the treks are hard work but the spiritual experiences are amazing..
It's sad you took the Indian picture down because of the bullies on 2peas... I thought it was adorable... These treks are hard work but amazingly spiritual...
Lisa, I just wanted to thank you for removing the photo of you with the men dressed as Native Americans. I am sure that you meant no harm by it, and although my feelings of finding it offensive were probably in the minority, I think it shows what a sensitive and caring person you are to remove something that may have unintentionally offended just one person. Kudos to you!
Lisa, I'm so sad to see August's kit of the month! I was expecting something different for July and August! Why are the kits not what was originally advertised on your blog?? I know my friends feel the same way...
Hi Lisa,
I have a question for you, that you may have already addressed, but not sure :)
Your "kit of the month" for July and August are not the ones that are featured in the magazine....is there another place to get those, as I was excited about the vacation one and then it changed. Thanks in advance and have a great day!
Ruth
Asked for you at the CK Media booth at the CHA summer show and my new sales rep said that you where on this trip with your husband - it made me so proud !!
Spoke with you about our common faith at another CHA show, and I understand why this is so important to you.
My oldest will go on her first youth camp in a week and she's really exited about it.
Thankyou for being such a good example and sharing it with all of us !
Iben - Denmark
i love that. what an incredible experience.
is this a trek about the original mormon pioneers being chased out of missouri? I dont know much about this or what itrepresents, but i am very interest.
Lisa, just reading the comments left on this post. I hope I didn't get you in more "hot water" by calling the indians "savages". I was really just playing. Wouldn't want to offend any one intentionally. Sorry! Kat S.
My hubby and I did a trek in '99. We too got to be the ma and pa of 14 teens. Really a neat experience that everyone should have atleast once in their lives. I still think about our trek and the family we had to take care. Glad yours went so well. Ours was in Pennsylvania, since that is where we were living at the time, so our trek was by Gettysburg.
Hi Lisa, WOW! Trek's are truly life-changing events. Our stake did one 2 years ago, what a powerful experience for you and the youth. Our youth were changed forever, for the better!
thanks for sharing!
carrie smith
busycarrie@yahoo.com
soo sweet! I just did that last week too! it was something I will never forget!
such a sweet experience! I just got back last week from there! something I will never forget!!
My husband and I were able to go on the trek to Martin's Cove last year with our two oldest sons. What a great expeerience it was! It brought back fond memories when I read your post and saw your pics. Thanks for sharing!
I don't know how to participate in the contest. I know the answer, I just don't know WHERE to answer!
angiescraps
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