Scott and I got the amazing opportunity to go on the Martin's Cove handcart trek. We have both always wanted to go and had multiples opportunities to go that never worked out. The opportunity came when Scott's dad was doing some printing for our old Stake we used to go to church with. Scott happened to look at the booklet Craig had printed and noticed that the Stake going on the trek was our old Stake and before we knew it all the arrangements had been made and permissions had been given for Scott and I to include ourselves in their handcart trek.... Did I mention this was less then a month before they were going?
I was excited to go but very very nervous at the same time. Two weeks before we were supposed to go my morning sickness had gone from okish to really bad. It terrified me to be hiking out in the middle of nowhere for 3 days with no idea how I was going to be feeling or if I'd even be able to go at all and not be able to just lay down if I needed to. Well 3 days before we left I was able to get to the doctor to get some nausea medicine that would hopefully help me. These three days were the only hope I had in going. If it didn't work then I wouldn't be able to force myself to do the trek. We were both really excited when the medicine did work and helped me feel a lot better. But I was still nervous because three days isn't a very long time to test a medicine. I was still waiting for it to just stop working at anytime.
Well my many prayers were answered and the Lord blessed me greatly on our trek. I went almost the whole week without hardly feeling sick at all. In fact... I felt so good that I was actually worried that I was miscarrying because I knew I should feel sick. That is not the only place the Lord blessed us. Before we left on the trek one of the questions that came up during our preparations was whether or not we would be taking Jacob. For me it was a no brainer. If we were going to do the trek at all it was going to be with our family. And not just part of our family, our WHOLE family. We were probably asked 5 times if we were sure we wanted to take him and were told that he would be the youngest participant by 4 years. Regardless of everyone's concern we took him and he did AMAZING! I mean over the top amazing. In all the 30 miles we walked in 3 days and all the time he spent in the backpack carrier he fussed, on the first day, for the first couple miles and that was it. I know that the Lord was blessing him as He also did the pioneers of old.
We started our handcart journey at Martin's Cove. It was our shortest day of 4 miles and we got poured on. Everyone was completely soaked! It made it easier to relate to the things that had happened in that Cove. As we walked through the Cove I tried to imagine myself in their shoes. Cold, hungry. I tried to remember the coldest I have ever been for the longest amount of time. I thought of Jacob and trying to keep him warm with maybe the only blanket we had. Of him crying of cold and hunger and not being able to do anything about it. It was heartbreaking. I could feel the sacredness of that place.
Our second day was a 10 mile trek and our first day pulling the handcarts at 6th Crossing.It was prefect weather the whole day. Overcast, high 60's maybe low 70's... Our handcart family consisted of Scott, Jacob and I as well as the Beck's. Dan, Courtney and their 3 children. Kalli - 12,
Tarek - 8 and Dreyken - 5. Needless to say we didn't have a ton of man power. Especially with either Scott or I having to carry Jacob. Of which I carried him maybe 10 of the 30 miles and Scott carried him the rest. Both Scott and Dan were like super hero's. Thankfully we did get some help from some of the men in the other handcarts that had an abundance of men. We kept a pretty quick pace. Quick enough that most of the younger kids had to jog to keep up. Most of them just ended up riding in the hand carts the majority of the time. As we trekked along and listened to the stories of the pioneers it was impossible to not feel the spirit. You wouldn't think that pulling handcarts for 16 miles would be a spiritual experience but it is. I felt completely spiritually uplifted the whole 3 days we were there.
We also got to participate in the women's pull. I have to say that I was a
little disappointed.... I've always been excited to participate in the
pull. To try to put myself in the shoes of so many women that crossed
the plains alone with no husband. I guess the thing that kind of
bothered me was I felt like all the women started strategizing on how
they were going to make it up the hill instead of just trying to make
the situation as realistic as possible. It was still a good experience.
It was nice to see how everyone helped everyone to get all the handcarts
up. No one was left behind and no one had to pull the handcart up the
hill by themselves.
Near the end of our 10 mile loop we got to do 3 river crossings. We were told the story of the men who spent all day in the freezing cold water helping pull handcarts and carrying people across. I really can't even imagine how hard that had to of been. When it comes to cold water I am the biggest wimp there is. I hate it and I haven't even been in water so cold that you had to break away ice just to get into it. I think of all these things and wonder if I could have even done it. Because I had forgot my water shoes Scott carried me across each river crossing. He would first bring Jacob across and help with the handcart then come back for me and carry me across.
Our last day was a 15 mile trek at Rocky Ridge. We traveled the same distance that the pioneers traveled on that very snowy, stormy day as they tried to make it to the rescue wagons at Rock Creek Hollow. Today was probably the most spiritual day for me. The Rocky Ridge trail is not easy. I'm very grateful for the men that came and helped with our handcart. When we reached the peak of Rocky Ridge we had a little fireside. During the fireside we were told the story of
Jen's and Elsie Nielsen. During the trek Jen's had fallen very ill and Elsie was left alone to pull him in the handcart over Rocky Ridge by herself. After the story they did a demonstration of one of the women in our group trying to pull her husband up Rocky Ridge. I don't know why this was so emotional for me but I had a hard time watching without tears running down my face. To see her struggle and to know the strength she had to have as well as the love she had for his husband to be able to pull him up those ridges. I know that she was not alone during her struggles. I know that she was getting help from the other side to even have the ability to make it up those hills. After watching her struggle we were told we could go help her, and to watch how many people rushed to her aid brought more tears to my eyes. Because I know that no matter how many struggles and difficulties each pioneer was facing individually, they were always willing to help another if they needed that extra push.
I found it amazing that during all those miles pulling the handcarts, and all the children we had with us that non of them complained. I know how tired they were. Their little legs are a lot shorter then mine and I knew how tired I was. And yet they just kept walking. I think another tender mercy from our Heavenly Father. Giving them all the strength to continue on. To keep putting one step in front of the other. When we finally reached our camp at Rock Creek Hollow, I had such a huge sense of accomplishment. I was so grateful for the opportunity I had to put myself in the shoes of the pioneers. To experience just a very small piece of what they had to go through. To feel those tender mercies from our Heavenly Father and to be strengthen and lifted by him. I have always marveled at the unwavering faith of the pioneers. It has always been something that I hope someday I might be able to reach myself. Visiting the 13 graves in Rock Creek Hollow was a very humbling experience. The spirit there was very strong and the hollow has a very sacred feel to it. So many men, women and children sacrificed themselves for the gospel as well as for their families. Pushing themselves to their very limits.
During the trek I think Jacob ended up being a little group mascot. :) On the first day we heard a lot of, "You guys are crazy." On the last day we heard a lot of, "You guys are awesome for bringing him". It was kind of funny to hear the change. Everyday when we would get back to camp we'd let him just wonder around through camp and a number of people would come and ask how he did? How he slept the night before? Everyone knew who Jacob was after the end of the 3 days. While we were pulling the handcarts I think he was a moral booster. He was happy the majority of the time and smiled and waved at everyone that walked past us. There was one point during the trek on the last day that Jacob had fallen asleep in the carrier and the rest of the group had stopped to rest so Scott continued walking to keep Jacob asleep. Once he woke up Scott stopped and waited for all the handcarts that were in front of our handcart family to pass so he could walk with us again. While he was waiting Jacob smiled and waved at every group that were in front of us as they passed him. They all loved it! He really is such a little happy social butterfly. :) We also had a few little babysitters. Some of the little girls had little brothers or sisters that were Jacob's age and didn't come on the trek and they loved Jacob and wanted to take care of him always. It was so nice for me because that meant I could just sit and relax and not have to worry about him.
Did I mention he also slept GREAT every night! Because he did... Like I couldn't have asked for better sleeping...
Oldest (73) and Youngest (1) of our group :)
I am so very grateful and glad that we went on this trek. It was better then I even thought it would be. No, it was not easy. But it wasn't supposed to be. I'm grateful for the pioneers and the sacrifices they made and the faith they had. I'm grateful for the gospel in my life. For the experiences that have strengthened my own testimony. I hope Scott and I will be able to do the trek again someday.
