Trek

A few weeks ago a sweet, little ole man (*Brother O) came to our door and begged entrance to our home, which Mister and I granted. He sat in our living room and was so sweet talking about small, insignificant things.With1 sentence, this sweet, little ole man turned near evil. He said something like, "We've had a Ma and Pa need to step down from **Trek and we'd like you to go in their place." (Confused about the "Brother" thing, see * below. If you don't know what Trek is, see ** below.) Mister and I looked at each other and agreed if we could get work off, we'd go. This man then told us we had just 4 weeks until Trek and if we couldn't go to let him know as soon as absolutely possible so he could ask someone else - though he had no idea who'd he'd ask. Trying not to let the guilt get to us, Mister and knew we'd be able to get work off. The next day Mister call this man (Brother O) and told him we could go.

Over the next four short weeks, Mister and started walking as often as possible to prepare. Time went too fast and before we knew it, we were on the bus heading to the Trek location with our "kids." Mister and I, along with 2 other couples, were in charge of 28ish kids from 13 yrs to 18 yrs. Each Ma & Pa had 7 to 9 kids. Since this was a ***stake outing, there were 9 (I think) wards, each ranging from 7 kids to 40 - so there were a lot of kids. Each 'family' had their own handcart which carried two 5 gallon drink coolers of water, a water bottle for everyone, a first aide kit and other essentials. Tents, sleeping bags, clothes, etc. were at the camp site. No electronic were allowed, with the exception of kids who brought a camera (camera only, not a phone camera) and adults. Adults could have their phones, though there was no reception, it was nice to be able to take pictures with my phone.

Day 1: Monday, Jun 24. Three buses loaded with kids and adults dressed in pioneer era clothing departed at 7AM and drove a couple of hours to the location. We got off the buses, walked a short distance to acquire our handcarts and we started walking.  

 We walked about 3 miles to our camp location, stopping around noon to eat our sack lunches we brought with us. There was a nice cool breeze for most of the day which helped with the heat. At camp, we located our tent and got to work pitching tents and setting up our sleeping arrangements.

We had a couple of hours where we broke off into groups and played pioneer games, knife/ax throwing, tug of war, butter making, and a stick pull. Fun was had by all!

Then we walked maybe 200 yards to the food location where dinner was served. It was a hardy beef stew with rolls, salad, a cookie and a yummy, sweet peach beverage. All of our meals were catered by a local company which really took a burden off the leaders and all of the food was quite tasty. 

After dinner there was a "rescue" fireside which was quite a hike away. I opted not to go, but everyone else went. There were several speakers that told stories of specific pioneers, many from their own heritage and stories of rescues that had to take place, many of which took place in the dead of winter. As soon as everyone got back to camp, it was lights out. 

 

Day 2: Tuesday, Jun 25. The morning dawned early and chilly - though the chill didn't last long - and overcast but not humid. This was awesome because not having direct sunlight made it cooler. Everyone was sent to breakfast of pancakes, eggs, ham, milk and juice. While there, we picked up our sack lunches which consisted of a ham or turkey sandwich, a bag of chips, a cookie, and a can of lemonade. After breakfast, we filled up the water coolers with a big chunk of ice and water. Because we had less stuff on this day, our 3 families decided to combine into 2 handcarts thus providing less pushing/pulling for everyone and longer brakes from pushing/pulling. The idea was genius! Once we were ready, we set off. 

This morning, however, the leaders took the men and boys away and the women and girls pulled/pushed alone. This is called the Women's Pull. This is done to symbolize the many families who had to be separated for whatever reason (death, illness, etc.) from the men in their families. The Women's Pull started out not too bad. An incline on a well driven road. Then we went off road to the trail. Again, not too bad. A little bumpy and a bit steeper, but doable. And then Hell started. We looked up to see an incredibly steep (albeit fairly short) and very rocky and bumpy hill and saw the men and boys standing on the sides of the trail, hats in hand. Our families did terrific as they pushed and pulled our carts up this hill. They didn't stop and made it to the top almost with ease. I, on the other hand, did not touch the handcart and was sucking air wondering how in the crap I was going to make it. By some miracle, I did make it to the top, my chest heaving, my calves and shins burning and screaming in pain! 

At the top of this rise it leveled out enough where we could park the handcarts and take a good, long break. It was at this time that one of the main leaders (President W.) advised me that a girl with special needs and possibly another girl were going back to camp and not completing the rest of the days trek. He said there was another brother at camp to keep an eye on things while everyone was gone and asked if I could go back as well so that the girls wouldn't be alone with the man. Not that there was a worry - but it's safer for everyone involved. In hindsight, I'm sure Pres. W was confident I wouldn't make it through the day. I agreed and while a part of me was relieved because I was hurting and worried about making it through, it was really tough seeing my 2 girls and husband go on without me. I knew it was going to be hard. I knew they were  going to struggle. But I also wanted to be with them. I don't know. It's hard to explain. 

Two and a half hours earlier than expected, the handcart company arrived back at camp - hot, hungry, tired to the bone. Talking to Mister, he explained how hard and awful the day actually was. He said it was 2 more miles of very steep, uphill filled with rocks and holes. Two more miles of the handcart jolting and slipping off rocks. Two more miles of stopping every 8 to 10 minutes for quick 2 minute drink breaks. Two miles of the most difficult thing many people have ever done. Finally, finally they reached the rise and it leveled some and they stopped for their lunch and an extended break. Too soon, they continued on around the mountain and made their way back to camp, crossing a creek along the way. 

The men all carried the women and girls across the water. This represented the many rivers the pioneers crossed before bridges were built. Sometimes the water was so cold there was ice chunks floating along. The day for our "pioneers" was grueling.  

That night, we had a yummy dinner of barbeque chicken, fried potatoes, salad, a cookie and the same peach drink. After dinner there was dancing and hanging out as a whole group. President J spoke a little bit and asked, "In one word, describe Trek." Some responses were, "hard, hot, interesting, eye-opening, humbling." Then he asked, "In one work, describe the women's pull." Some responses were, "hard-to-watch, inspiring, extreme, wow." My favorite, "guilty." The young man who said that felt guilty that he couldn't help us. That warmed my heart. I expected the boys to snicker at us 'weak' ones, to maybe joke with us about how nice it was to be on the side. Not one said a word as we worked and struggled to make it up that hill. In fact, several boys and men had tears in their eyes, on their faces. It affected them. It was kind of amazing! After this discussion, we sat together was a ward and talked about Trek so far. More of the same was shared. Then some kids sat with a few leaders and played a game and others hung out in their tents until it was lights out.

Day 3, Wednesday Jun 26, mine and Mister's 20th wedding anniversary: It wasn't quite as cold this morning at it was the day before. We hurried to get dressed, rush to breakfast so we could be one of the first one to take down our tents. There was limited room on the trailer for tents and stuff and whatever didn't fit would have to be taken on the handcarts. We wanted to be one of the first to get our stuff packed up so we wouldn't have to take anything extra on the handcarts. Breakfast consisted of biscuits, gravy, sausage, milk and juice. 

It didn't take long to get everything packed and before we knew it, we were off. We had no clouds or breeze this day and it was pretty dang warm. Around 11:00 we finally got a breeze - which was welcomed! This day, we had 3 handcarts but I didn't mind because we were just going back the way we came, right? Wrong! We started out going back the way we came, but we turned. We trekked up the former women's pull or Rattlesnake Ridge. They warned us to look all around a rock before we sat on it and to be on the lookout for snakes. OK, I have a serious problem with that. Snakes? Um, excuse me? That does NOT sit well with me - at all. I am not ok with this. I did however, hope with everything that I could be bitten by one so I wouldn't have to finish Trek. I've read up on rattlesnake bites and I know that it's rare for an adult to die from a bite if they're given the anti venom - which all hospitals have. I didn't even hear one, much less see one. So I kept putting one foot in front of the other and it was hard - so very hard! 

This trail wasn't near as rocky and not quite as steep as the trail the day before but it was so dang long. I was close to the top when I looked up and saw Noodle walking toward me with my water bottle in her hand and I nearly broke down. She walked down to meet me and then she'd have to walk back up - I felt blessed she would make such a journey for me. Together, we walked the last bit to the top and met up with Mister and eventually the rest of our trek family. When I looked at what was to come I nearly cried. We had 3 more hills - actually I'd call them gullies. Really steep up, really steep down but short. Would this never end? Again, taking one step at a time, drinking as much as possible, we continued on. Trying to get the handcarts down those steep slopes was nearly as difficult as getting them up. 

Finally we made it to a meadow. It was grassy and there was an easy decline. However the soil was damp and clearly cows had recently walked through when it was muddy because there were deep hoof prints. We had to really be careful not to twist an ankle. Here they stopped us and handed a blindfold to each of the youth. This represented the fact that many had no idea where they were going - they were just going west in search of something better. The adults guided the kids with voice commands. We did pretty good and it didn't last long. Then we went over a slight rise and we saw the buses and knew we'd reached the end. I did cry then! There was a tasty lunch spread set up of barbecue beef sandwiches, potato salad, a cookie and the peach drink. We ate, loaded up the buses, counted to make sure we had everyone and started for home. 

We got to the church parking lot, unloaded the buses and the trailer, the kids retrieved their belongings, found their parents and left. During 3 days of Trek, 15 miles of walking, pushing, pulling, sweating the only complaint I heard was in my own head. That's right. I did not hear anyone complain. I heard several times how hard it was, but I don't consider that a complaint, it's just stating a fact. We have amazing youth. They, we, can do hard things. We can endure to the end.

Finally, we (Mister, me and our girls) were home and it was glorious! We unloaded our vehicle and hung out tiredly for a little bit before we showered. Oh, my, that was such an amazing shower. It felt so good to be clean! And home! With flushing toilets! In our own bed!

The next morning met us with stiff and sore muscles. So stiff and sore I could hardly climb our stairs. So stiff and sore I limped when I walked. So stiff and sore, I called and asked someone to work for me because I wasn't sure I could make it in. The day found us grateful for the experience. Grateful we made it. Grateful for the sacrifices made on our behalf. Grateful for our amazing girls who endured and never complained. Humbled. Feeling more blessed than we already did. 

The day left me reflecting on much of Trek. I barely touched the handcart, much less helped push and pull it. Mister, however, never stopped helping, except for a short time on Day 2. He took his turn helping then he took my turn so I wouldn't have to - because he knew I couldn't. That really humbled me. That really touched me deep. A few days after Trek, we had a Family Home Evening where we talked about Trek. (Our son was able to go on a Trek 4 years ago, though it was different location. He was supposed to go with us on this one, but he hurt his foot and was unable to go.) We talked about the best thing, the worst, our favorite thing, etc. Toward the end, I talked about how Mister sacrificed so much so that I didn't have to help. I then said to them, "When looking for a spouse, look for one who will pull/push your handcart when you can't." And then I gave Mister a framed picture of a handcart. It was really special.

 

Would I do Trek again? If I was in better shape, absolutely!

* In our church many people call others 'Brother' Smith or 'Sister' Jones as a way of addressing someone. It kinda takes the place of Mr. and Mrs.

** Trek is a reenactment of the pioneers of the mid 1800's who traveled hundreds of miles across the planes to settle the West. Some traveled by wagon, but some pushed and pulled a handcart. By participating in Trek, youth as well as leaders, gain an appreciation of the sacrifices made for us.

*** Our church congregation is called a Ward. Each ward has an organization specifically for children 3 - 11, youth ages 12 - 18, and adults. There is a nursery for kids 18 months to 3. Several wards together are called a Stake.