It is another trek year and this will be our 6th if you count the ones that we did in Huntsville. We should be very experienced, or I thing better, very old! We met at the Stake center at 5:40 am and were assigned out families. I think the family that we had was fantastic! On of the girls in our group hurt her knee the day before and was unable to go so we had 3 boys and 3 girls in our family,( just like my real family.)
This year we did not go to Martin's Cove because with a group of 320 people it was just too expensive. We went to Deseret Land and Livestock and it was an adventure.
The kids in our family were Brock Hansen, Bryce Neilsen, Tate Bradfield, Dulce Patino, Abby Olsen, and Adeline Pugmire. They were all fantastic individuals and I think if I would have hand picked my family this would have been them. Ryan has commented several times today what a great family we had and how much love we felt for them through our 35 mile trek. Not any complaining, just helping each other and getting along, it was great.
Our buckets and water.
One of our trials was that that 2 of the kids would go bare foot for 20 minutes, they fought over who would have to do it. Bryce and Tate were the winners.
I didn't fight them for it, ( didn't really want that trial.)
Ryan makes such a great Pa.
The girls were hardworking, strong and such a joy to work with.
Loved this group.
trekking,
still trekking,
fording the river, or more like a swamp, this is where I lost my blister patches. It actually felt quite good to have the mud ooze up through your toes.
The boys got the job of pushing the cart.
Yea, we made it!
Some nights we camped in lush pastures like this. This night our tent was right next to some baby birds, whose nest was on the ground about 10 ft from us.
Brock was the youngest and was a great younger brother.
This was the day of the women's pull. The girls wanted to pull it by them selves but we had lost one daughter before we even started so it was rather difficult with just 4 of us. Before we started the 3 girls had decided that if one of needed to go and help another cart that we should do it. ( this was their idea, not mine, see how great they were.) We were almost to the top when a couple of girls that had made it to the top came back to help us. I wanted to tell them that we were doing okay but because of their service like attitude I didn't say any thing and was grateful for their help.
I am sure glad I have been trekking to the top of Giraffe Hill at least 3 times a week, for the last few months.
My legs felt strong.
We had another trial with a snake bite and Brock had to ride in the cart for 40 minutes, this was the hardest thing for any one to do, because they didn't like not being able to puss or pull.
This was our 4 ounces of flour for the day. All of them tried it and almost succeeded eating it, but it is pretty hard to let it slip down your throat.
Dulce made a stiffer dough and I think if we could have cooked it, it would have been easier to eat.
Tate trying to flavor it with a bit of beef jerky.
Bryce trying a little salt and pepper.
Pa Jones just trying to eat the left overs, even he was unable to finish it, which is surprising because he is like Mikey, he likes everything.
Before we got to Rock creek several people were picked from the group and died. When we got to Rock Creek the 13 people were in the circle with their feet pointing towards the middle, in a very shallow grave. This was quite sobering and these that died were not seen for the rest of the day, even for meals. Many of them were Ma's and Pa's so this was quite a trial to their families.
We had a trial for Bryce and it was to be blind for 40 minutes. It was quite a trial for him. There actually was a women from our ward who is really blind. Her husband and her were called to be a Ma and a Pa. She is amazing and with the help of her husband and kids trekked the whole 35 miles and did not once get in the cart. What is most amazing about this that every mile there were about 100 badger holes that we had to dodge and step over and around. That's not counting the numerous fresh cow pies we had to dodge. She is an inspiring lady and I never hear her ever complain, I visit teach her and she always makes me think about what and amazing person she is and how grateful I am to know her.
We had to cross this bog, it was quite the bog and our cart was never the same after this crossing.
Mud socks.
literal mud socks. Yes, they did come clean with oxi clean and the washer set to sanitize.
I think one of the thinks hardest on the trek is setting up, putting down, rolling up your gear over and over and over again.
Way to go Brock this bag was a monster!
This is a picture of the kids and adults that went on the trek from the Cub River ward.
I was amazed at how little you want to eat sweets when you are trekking everyday, even the kids didn't like the sweets and sugar. Instead of eating all of the candy Tate made a master piece from it and decided when he was finished that he had to take one bite, he just chewed it and spit it out and still felt sick.
Water break, we had many of these.
We made it to Zion and oh, it felt good.
No blisters, with the help of this blister patch.
It was a tremendous trek and very spiritual, I think it was even more than when we were at Martin's Cove. My deep appreciation to those pioneers that sacrificed and did so much to make it to the Valley. I am truly grateful for all that they did, after doing this for 4 days you really see how amazing they were.
