Our Pioneer Experience

This past June, our family got the opportunity to actually experience a piece of history. Our ward went to Wyoming to do a portion-a VERY small portion- of the Pioneer Handcart Trek. The trail is the route the pioneers used to come across the plains from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley. This three day camp trip had been planned for a year. Ususally done by the young women and young men of LDS wards, our bishop (DW) felt that this needed to be experienced by all.

What an amazing trip it was! You truly had to be tough to be a pioneer! We only walked 17 miles- the original trail is over 1,200 miles through dirt, grass and rivers- and the things we did only represented a portion of what the pioneers experienced. Unlike the pioneers, we had full bellies all of the time. Three meals and snacks a day were a luxury that we had. I even had a mickey mouse scone made for me by one of the cooks. The pioneers had flour rations at times that were less than half a cup.
Ben and Ellie really shined. Scott and I were so proud of them and how they represented themselves. Ben walked at the front of the crowd leading them on the trail to the campground- this was about a 3 mile hike! Ellie walked the entire 17 miles, while so many of the other children rode in the handcarts. Ben walked about 14 miles. Many of the ward members commented on how inspirational they both were.

The last day as we hiked back to the visitors center- many of us quiet from the walk, possibly thinking about what the pioneers really had to endure, the many deaths, the lack of food, how truly tried they were- the only sounds that could be heard at times were the wheels of the handcarts turning on the dirt trail and footsteps. Now and then cheers would go up as carts were pushed down small hills and back up the other side. Smiles and hugs were shared by all as we dropped off our handcarts at the visitor center. The Martin Handcart Company and the Willie Handcart Company unfortunately did not come out as well.