Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Trek

At the end of our camping trip up in Troy Meadow, the kids, Jake and my mother-in-law headed back home while Chad and I stuck around.  We were then privileged to participate in the Stake Youth Trek that happened the following week. 

For those who may not know what Trek is, it's a 3-5 day event where youth ages 12-18 are given the opportunity to reenact a pioneer handcart trek.  They wear pioneer garb, are divided into 'families' and have to carry all their gear on their carts.  They walk a total of 15-20 miles, set camp each night and cook all their meals with their families.

While I've heard stories for the past few years about this, I never had the opportunity to participate, so I was excited to be able to go this year.  Chad is a member of the Stake Young Men's Presidency, so we really were just there to do ancillary support (Chad was head of the official port-a-potty transport crew), but it was an amazing experience I will never forget.  The youth had an incredible time and it gave all of us a renewed appreciation for our pioneer ancestors a well a renewed appreciation for the comforts of modern life.




The handcarts heading out...


Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked...


A bunch of tired kids at the end of a 10-mile day


Army General coming to take the men off to the Mormon Betallion -- the start of the 'Women's Pull'



Resting and processing at the top of the Women's Pull





The meadow where we camped for the last two nights



Chad taking a ride with the trail boss through the meadow



The whole crew the morning before heading back to civilization



Heading home..

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