A trek to Wyoming and back

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

It was a wet trek, it was a hot trek and we walked what seemed like miles and miles but it was amazing.
What possesses seemingly normal people to don pioneer dress and head off into the wilds of Wyoming.
It is an experience like none other. The lessons you learn can only be taught by being there and taking part.
The pioneers who settled Utah had to get here by crossing the plains. It wasn’t an easy task, nor do I imagine there was much fun in it. It was filled with hardship and struggles, but it was something they were willing to go through to arrive at their version of the promised land. A land where they expected they would thrive and be free from the persecutions that awaited them in other states.
Utah became a beloved haven for those seeking religious freedom. Many of those who came passed across the plains without difficulty, but for the Willie and Martin handcart companies, their crossings were late into the season and marked with hardship, struggles and death for many on the journey.
So to Martin’s Cove this modern day convoy went. The trekkers were to meet at 3:30 a.m. to have a quick breakfast and board the buses. The buses didn’t arrive for the 4 a.m. pick-up. A wagon wheel didn’t fall off, but close, a flat tire on the spare bus the driver Matt was in delayed the departure for this pioneer group.
The real bus on the day before had blown some vital part and a spare bus was taken to Matt high atop SR-6 along near Soldier Summit. Upon this spare bus was the deflated tire.
The pioneers departed at 6:35 a.m. some 2 hours and 35 minutes late. But, along the way, the group wasn’t greeted by snow, but nice even temperatures, the miles went by rather swiftly. Traveling in 8 hours what took the pioneers months to accomplish.
Upon arrival at Martin’s Cove, the missionaries greet the groups, the hand carts are loaded, the group views a video to give the trekkers some idea of why they are there. They will be following the footsteps of those who have walked these paths before. If they feel of their spirit and pioneer determination, they too will make it across the plains.
The trekkers were instructed not to go too fast, leave some space between handcarts and don’t run over anyone or leave anyone behind.
The traveling was easy this day, fresh off the bus, the trekkers were eager to begin. The 2.5 mile trek to the base camp was made without incident.
The trekkers were treated to a fine dinner made by the camp chefs, not the butane stove kind of camp chef, but real people dishing up chicken stew.
Then the fun began after dinner as the rains set in, luckily camp was up and the trekkers quickly retreated into their tents for a relatively quiet night.
Thursday morning began with biscuits and gravy, hearty get ready to trek food. The rains came as soon as breakfast was over. The group started off for their destination this morning of Martin’s Cove. The rain made the trail sloshy and slippery and it was cold. I won’t say it was miserable for it wasn’t because trekking in the rain isn’t that bad of a deal. I happen to be a bit of a mountain man. I have one item in my wardrobe called a capote, it is a coat made from a blanket made from sheepskin and it’s remarkable. It stays dry in the rain.
Of course, others weren’t quite as lucky and many were soaked before too long on the trail. But, this was a good thing, I’m not a sadist, but I was glad for these small hardships. How better to teach these young people that the path of the pioneers was filled with rain and snow, dust and mud.
As the group entered Martin’s Cove they left the handcarts parked behind and trudged single file up into the cove. A program had been prepared by the young women’s presidency and songs and music filled the cove. One of the missionaries told of certain pioneers and their stories.
There are many stories to tell of those pioneers who took refuge in this area. Each of the trekkers was to pick someone who came along on the Willie and Martin handcart companies. They would walk for this person, they would learn their story. Some of these stories were told this day.
They group filed through Martin’s Cove and then back out again. This was done in silence.
In the silence and the beauty of this sacred place, you might more fully understand what took place there, the souls who died from starvation and exposure as a sudden fall storm pummeled the pioneers with snow for five days without letting up. The group had just lightened their loads a few days earlier in order to travel faster and many items not needed in the heat of a Wyoming fall were now needed with an early onset of winter. But these items had been left behind.
The modern day trekkers went onto the Sweetwater River crossing, the river was still high, so handcarts weren’t allowed to cross, and the trekkers walked the river guided by a rope. Most every trekker, already wet anyway, braved the cold river to get a small taste of how the handcart companies crossed this same river, not on a cold day in June, but an icy October day. The missionary told of a group of modern day trekkers that thought this was too easy, this Sweetwater crossing in the summer. They thought they would return to the area at Thanksgiving and try to pull a handcart across in freezing water and up the hill. They tried, but they could not do it. Two body-builders weren’t able to perform the feat the pioneers had at their crossing. Many journals of the pioneers speak of the extra help they had in pushing their handcarts, not from the seen, but the unseen helpers who helped them get through their journey. The Salt Lake boys who had come out to rescue the pioneer company played a great role in getting the hand cart pioneers across the freezing river. One by one they carried the company across, man, woman and child, too weak to cross on their own were carried by these brave young men.
When Brigham Young back in Salt Lake heard of what these young men had done, he exclaimed surely they had earned their spots in heaven with this one selfless act.
Not only did the Huntington Stake trekkers cross once, but back and forth until the leaders called out it was time to move on. The trekkers were back at the handcarts and pushed and pulled back to camp. After dinner the square dance was on. Many who didn’t see themselves as dancers were drawn into the fun.
The pioneers crossing the plains used song and dance as a method to temporarily rest from the struggles of life on the trail.
As Wyoming weather has a tendency to do, the next day was rather warm, maybe downright hot at times. This day saw the trekkers get back on the bus and travel to Sixth Crossing. A place where the pioneer travelers crossed the Sweetwater River for the sixth time.
Hand carts were picked up and loaded here and the trekking began anew. This day of trekking was much different than the prior. No rain, just heat and bugs. The missionaries stopped the trekkers along many points of the trail to point out landmarks. The actual wagon wheel ruts can still be seen at Sixth Crossing.
The story was told of a pioneer woman whose husband had become so ill he could not go on. She stopped and loaded him into her handcart and then somehow pulled him across the plains. This day the young people were asked if this happened today, what could they do to help. The trekkers ran down the hill and helped lighten the load of the pioneer woman.
At one barren location, the marker was shown with the names of all the trails that passed this spot. The Mormon trail, Oregon trail, California trail and the Pony Express.
At one point the male trekkers left the women on their own to pull the handcarts. This was to symbolize the many men who had been called to war and to far off missions and left their families behind.
The women pulled and pushed their way up the hill on their own. It was proof they could do what they had to do to get to the Salt Lake Valley.
A stop for lunch and then a spiritual meeting and more trekking brought the group to the Sweetwater River once again. Many crossed through the water again at this point. Then it was back to the buses for the ride back to Martin’s Cove. Dinner was followed by each group spending time with their newly acquired families. There were 13 families. Each group had a Ma and a Pa and anywhere from 8-12 children. After trekking in rain and heat you might think these young people would be tired. But, this wasn’t the case as they could be heard far into the night whooping and hollering and having a rodeo complete with bull riding, calf roping, bareback and many other loud events.
The last morning, it was time to take down the camp and pack the handcarts for the final trip back to drop off the handcarts. Along the way, the group participated in the veil crossing and a walk to Devil’s Gate. This is where the Sweetwater river runs through a steep canyon. A final group picture was taken of everyone on the rock. Then it was a trek back to the visitor’s center to unload the handcarts. Hamburgers were eaten and then everyone boarded the buses for the trip home. Eight hours later a tired but happy group arrived back in Emery County.
The adults probably wonder what effect a trip like this has on a group of teenagers 14-18 years old. Can they grasp what the pioneers went through. I would say no, unless you were there, you would never fully understand what it was like to be a pioneer in 1840. But, you can get a small taste of what it might have been like. The pioneers of that day might look at us and say, I would never be able to live in your day and age. Communication devices so readily available, but people never seem to talk, to sit down and really communicate with each other without some device interferring. What can be learned from taking 95 kids to Wyoming. You can learn you don’t need technology to have fun. You can square dance and not care if you look cool or not, you can cry and laugh, have fun and sing and forget the troubles of the world for four magical days in Wyoming. You can learn you can walk 20 miles in four days and actually gain weight.
If they can come away with an experience they will never forget, if they can be more kind, more humble, more loving, then it was time well spent. Maybe the trekkers will learn to always keep a piece of the pioneer experience and spirit within their hearts. Never fully return to your life here, but be a little different.
If we can learn that no matter how tough things might seem to be, someone somewhere has it tougher, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, the sunshine follows the rain and you are God’s greatest creation.