Rock Creek Hollow

We had a wonderful Pioneer Trek! I entered the dates into the blog of the actual dates we were there and since the blog puts the most recent date at the top, then you will actually be reading it backwards -- starting from the last activity we did, moving on to the first...

One of the things I was most worried about before going on the trek was the heat. But it really wasn't bad at all. The temperature was in the mid-80's and there was always a breeze and so for the most part the temperature was comfortable -- much to my relief!! At Rock Creek Hollow we saw the monument for the 15 saints who died in one night, one of which was James Kirkwood.

The story of James Kirkwood is one of the stories that touched me the most while I was on the trek. My son, Jase, is eleven years old -- the same age James Kirkwood was when he passed away.

Last December the kids and I had walked a few blocks home from where we had met for a Christmas Caroling activity. Jaiden (four at the time) was tired and Jase had carried her home on his back. It was so sweet and made me think of the story of James Kirkwood and how he carried his little four year old brother through the snow all those miles and then died from exposure and exhaustion.

"James was from Glasgow, Scotland. On the trip west, James was accompanied by his widowed mother and three brothers, one of whom, Thomas, was nineteen and crippled and had to ride in the handcart. James’s primary responsibility on the trek was to care for his little four-year-old brother, Joseph, while his mother and oldest brother, Robert, pulled the cart. As they climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was a bitter cold wind blowing. It took the whole company twenty-seven hours to travel fifteen miles. When little Joseph became too weary to walk, James, the older brother, had no choice but to carry him. Left behind the main group, James and Joseph made their way slowly to camp. When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James “having so faithfully carried out his task, collapsed and died from exposure and over-exertion.” "(Private letter, Don H. Smith to Robert Lorimer, 20 Feb. 1990, quoting account of Don Chislett.) James E. Faust, “A Priceless Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 1992, 84

I can't imagine how that mother must have felt. As I listened to the stories from the saints I often pondered on what the mothers went through. The trek I went on as a youth was incredible and life changing. But this one was a little different since I now looked on the experiences of the pioneers from a mother's perspective. I can't imagine the pain it must have been for these mothers to watch their children suffer from hunger and cry themselves to sleep at night.

We finished out our trek at Rock Creek Hollow with a testimony meeting in the outdoor amphitheater area. There was a neat spirit there as the youth shared their testimonies. Rock Creek Hollow was a beautiful area. When we first arrived I thought, "This is much greener and prettier than Martin's Cove -- why didn't we camp here?" But as soon as the sun started to go down, the mosquitoes came out in full force. They had been bad at Martin's Cove, but this was much worse and most of us were out of bug spray by this time. We were racing to grab our final meal (while waving and swatting like crazy) before seeking shelter in our van! The mosquitoes were bad on this trip, but I was vigilant about applying bug spray (has it been five minutes yet? I had better put more on!) and I only came away with a couple of bug bites -- and I got those on the last evening. I was pretty proud of myself because I usually get eaten alive.

We had lots to think about during this trek. Rick and I asked ourselves why the pioneers had to suffer so much. Why didn't God temper the weather so that they didn't have to go through the horrible afflictions that they went through? After all, it was an early winter which really made things difficult for them. I still don't understand it completely, but I know that those who suffered were ensured glory and eternal salvation and they left behind a legacy for generations to come -- not only for their direct descendants, but for all of us.

I just read this quote from James E. Faust (James E. Faust, “A Priceless Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 1992, 84) and so I will include it here:

"I cannot help wondering why these intrepid pioneers had to pay for their faith with such a terrible price in agony and suffering. Why were not the elements tempered to spare them from their profound agony? I believe their lives were consecrated to a higher purpose through their suffering. Their love for the Savior was burned deep in their souls, and into the souls of their children, and their children’s children. The motivation for their lives came from a true conversion in the center of their souls. As President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, “When there throbs in the heart of an individual Latter-day Saint a great and vital testimony of the truth of this work, he will be found doing his duty in the Church.” (Ensign, May 1984, p. 99.)

Wow. Would I be willing to consecrate my life to a higher purpose if it involved great suffering? It is a sobering thought. I am so grateful for the pioneers and the sacrifices they made for all of us so that we can have the blessings of the gospel today!

Pioneer Games

Rick and Janika

Crossing the Sweetwater River

On Thursday we went on our final trek (4 miles) and crossed the Sweetwater River three times. At first we just crossed a bunch of mud and thought that was the first crossing -- it wasn't. Poor Brother Boyd fell and was completely covered in mud!

At the last crossing everyone got to play in the water and have a big water fight. Many got thrown in but I stayed at a safe distance -- protecting my cameras!

We hiked a little further and stopped for lunch before finishing the hike.

Janika's Pioneer Family

Janika really isn't wearing a red mini-skirt on the trek. It is just that she tied her skirt up so that it wouldn't get wet. So now it looks like she is wearing a big red diaper over her brown leggings! Cute, Jani!

Rick and Wendy's Pioneer Pictures

Program and Campfire Fun

This is Granny Packer. Since we are new to this Stake we never knew her late husband who was the beloved Patriarch of the Stake. Sister Packer was amazing! Here she was, 81 years old, always smiling, and out there hiking with the rest of us! She gave a wonderful talk by the river and also put together the Thursday Night program (which was wonderful). Several of the youth mentioned her in their testimonies and said how much they loved her and that they loved her hugs!

Thursday night we listened to the site missionaries act out pioneer stories. This is a picture of one of the missionaries telling the story of Ephraim Hanks. Later he became a member of the Pony Express and passed out letters from home to all of the youth. After the kids had a chance to read their letters from home and write in their journals, we met again for a wonderful evening program. (Rick is the cute one in the blue shirt). The program consisted of members of our group reading and acting out pioneer stories (and they did a fabulous job!) and six singers who sang various musical numbers (they were great too)! The program ended with Brother Hart singing the theme song he wrote especially for this trek called "On Hallowed Ground." The words and music are beautiful and a fitting tribute to the pioneers we became acquainted with this week. We all joined in after the first verse. The program had a nice mix of humor and seriousness and I laughed and cried throughout.
















Tonight the members of the 8th Ward were shining their flashlights into the smoke making it look just like light-sabers. These two had a "light saber" fight and it looked really cool! Then they shined their flashlights through colored waterbottles to give the light sabers different colors. Pretty cool, huh?

Women's Pull

This was an awesome day. We hiked on the Sweetwater Trail for six miles. It was the exact trail that the Willie Company went on. We stopped for another lesson by the Historic Site Missionaries who told the "Willie Company Story."

Later on we stopped again. A man dressed in uniform announced that all of the men were being called away to join the Mormon Batallion. (The Mormon Batallion actually took place ten years before the time of the Willie Handcart Crossing, but they used this today in conjunction with the women's pull.) We all bid farewell to our men and the men went up a hill to be taught by President Barney while we stayed behind to be taught by Sister Barney. She gave a wonderful talk about the importance of the Priesthood and the powerful influence that these young women can have on those who hold the Priesthood. She also talked about how many of the Pioneer women had lost their husbands and sons due to the extreme conditions of their travels. Many of the men had given everything they had for their families until they couldn't give anymore. Then the women and children were left to push the handcarts by themselves.

We got just a tiny taste of what they must have been like when we were left to push the handcarts up the next big hill by ourselves. We couldn't see the men for awhile but then near the top of the hill, there they were, making two lines, one on each side of the trail. They had removed their hats and held them silently over their hearts. It was an inspiring sight. Many of the young women said that this was the most touching part of the trek for them.

After the women's pull, one of the girls in our company had a severe asthma attack. A hush fell over the entire company as she was given a blessing. She was carried the rest of the way back to camp on one of the handcarts and then Rick and I and some of the other leaders drove her into the nearest town to go to the hospital, which was about 45 minutes away. It was pretty scary because she was hyperventilating and she actually stopped breathing several times for about ten seconds and then she would gasp for air again.

It was good to see her happy and smiling again on the way back!




Oh...and I just had to take a picture of the bathrooms -- always a line! But I have to admit -- for outhouses they weren't too bad. I don't know what they put in there, but they actually did not stink. Wow!