Time necessitates only limited narration. I will be brief.
Our Stake went on Trek June 24-27. Bill was a captain of 50. The yellow company.
I went... because I could {wink}. I didn't have any specific role (other than the journals, which I hope to post about soon), just a captain's wife and trekker's mother. I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
We had a rest stop at the I-80 Lincoln Memorial Monument. We ran into another stake from Nebraska, also en route to Martin's Cove, so the restrooms had quite a run on them. I wondered what the non-trekking everyday travelers thought of the boatloads of people dressed up like pioneers...??
My friend Marci helped with journals and was a captain-of-50's wife and fellow side-kick.
After we were on the road again, our bus driver, Sandy, pulled over because something was loose and flapping around at the rear of the bus.
Nothing a little duct tape couldn't handle. Shout out to Sister Crandall for having some in her bag!
The buses unloaded at the Martin's Cove Visitor's Center.
We watched a brief video, loaded up handcarts, and were off.
Can I just mention how hot it was? I was sweating buckets before we took a single step, I suppose thanks to my hormone levels - or lack of them.
I loved this idea, so I snapped a pic of this beautiful, happy trekker. If I or any of my children trek again, I will make those awesome ancestor buttons. I love it!
The hit of trek this year was definitely square dancing.
I wouldn't have known, since last trek we didn't have time for it.
Mauri sang in the Trek Youth Choir. I love that girl.
The yellow company, ready to trek another day.
Mar, of the gray company, and her fam. Her Ma and Pa were Brother and Sister Norris.
She loved her trek family.
I carried my little chair everywhere (a huge thank you to the yellow company families that kindly and willingly hauled it around for me!). The second day we went to the Sweetwater Crossing monument, hiked Martin's Cove, and did the women's pull. There were a ton of other trekkers, which meant a lot of waiting as the missionaries shuffled everyone around. It was a hot day, but occasional cloud cover and gentle breezes helped a ton.
This cute missionary couple are the grandparents of an Elder that was serving in our ward. They were so excited to talk to someone that knew their grandson. Elder Evans was transferred out of our ward a couple of weeks later. I love the missionaries! So fun to make connections, and so great that the timing couldn't have been better.
Waiting for the women's pull to begin:
Here comes Mar's family.
My heart broke a little for her when I saw she had been selected to ride IN the handcart. 8 years ago Britt had been the one selected from her family to ride in the handcart, too. She hated it. All the girls hate it. But I suppose there are lessons to be learned from both perspectives.
The day had been long, hot, and exhausting. But those kids still had energy to square dance.
The first night, half the kids square danced, while the other half played games. The second night the games fizzled because everyone wanted to square dance.
This is my favorite picture. Oh, how I wish it wasn't so blurry!
Bill and Mar - both in the air - the look on their faces. I love it.
The heat, sun, and all that walking took a toll on me.
{Yes, I feel like an old, old lady.}
Definitely no square dancing for me, and I selected to sit at camp with the cooks the following 9-to-11 mile trek day at the Sixth Crossing. Oh, I debated if I could make it. I asked how far the trekking would be. No one really seemed to know, but I had been given several estimates of 4 miles.
I could make 4 miles, I thought. If there was some cloud cover and a few breezes, I could definitely make 4 miles.
Maybe it was the Spirit.
Maybe it was my worry that I would actually have to ride in a handcart if I couldn't make it.
Maybe it was the crazy sun rash I had from the Martin's Cove day on my arms and neck (my medication warns about being in the sun).
Maybe it was the fact that I had to elevate me feet for a good hour at the end of that day.
Regardless, I made the decision to stay back, so Bill kindly snapped pictures for me.
Back at camp I stayed in the shade, sweated buckets (it was so HOT - record breaking for that time of year), and waited the long, slow day away.
I chose wisely. The trek was much longer than the estimates I had received, and there was absolutely no cloud cover or breeze the entire day.
It always cooled down in the evening, though. Hallelujah.
Once the trekkers all returned, dinner was served, followed by a devotional and journal writing time. Afterwards the youth met with their wards for a testimony meeting.
These are the blister-covered feet of one of the older YW in our ward. She was such a trooper.
I snapped a picture of our ward with Martin's Cove in the background, but Sarah (with the blistered feet) couldn't move, therefore was not in the pic.
So we snapped another pic with her in it (right in the center).
These are good, good people.
The final morning the youth were heading to the Visitor's Center with their handcarts (another 3 to 4 miles), then piling back on the buses for the trip home.
O Captain, My Captain went with his company.
I hitched a ride with my next door neighbors. You can think I'm a wimp.
I'm feeling pretty wimpy these days.
RA is kicking my butt behind.
One of our awesome missionary-minded ward members (maybe because he's the High Councilor over missionary work in our stake?) chatted it up with Sandy most of the drive home.
I am so grateful to live amongst and rub shoulders with such amazing and good youth and adults.
I am so grateful for pioneers who were willing to sacrifice everything for the church I love.
They could not choose to sit out because they were tired, it was too hot (or cold), and their feet hurt.
So many good lessons to learn.
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