Trek- Part 1

I have recently just returned from a pioneer trek. It was a lot of fun! Well, by fun I mean it was a good experience. I have to admit it was hard. Especially when you discover your "broken in" shoes really aren't broken in. I got six blisters. Four on one foot two on the other. But gratefully our wonderful support staff saved me!

Day #1:

The day began at 6:30 on a Thursday morning. A bunch of teenagers in pioneer clothes meeting to walk and walk and walk and walk. I was way excited when I got there. We all file out of the buses that were AMAZING by the way, and we walk over to the hand carts. I am still feeling pretty good at this point. Looking around and seeing that my family is much stronger than I am, which is great because I would die without them. I am a weakling. So the leaders explain to us the dangers of a hand cart. Don't get to close to the wheels, your feet might get run over; no running, someone might get run over; if you are on a hill, put rocks at the back of the wheel so you don't get run over; etc.

Anyways so we start walking, and my family is pretty big, twelve people. The boys got the front with one girl. And the rest get to push the back. on my experience in the front (since we all took turns) I was basically along for the ride. They were way too fast for me. I was to busy keeping up that I couldn't push any! So finally I am done with my turn. And we walk.

I was really surprised about the food. It was like a buffet. No joke. I don't recall a time when I was EVER hungry. I was more hungry during Oakcrest than I was on trek. And I don't think I could eat any more hard candy than I did on the trail. So a thanks to the kitchen staff who always supplied food!

The Womens Pull:

After about ten miles of walking we had the womens pull. We were all tired and we knew it was going to be hard. This was the most spiritual and memorable thing we had on trek. It definitely changed my perspective on the priesthood. I appreciated it a ton more and the blessings it has given me.

After the men left, we had a discussion on the pioneer women and what they had to go to. Then we started on the trail again. It was one of the hardest physical things I have done in my life. We had to major hills. The first one was really short but really steep. Which killed my calves. the second was really long but not as steep. And that killed every other part of me. But when we reached the top there were the men. They just jumped right in to help and then everything seemed so much easier. Definitely a life changing experience.


I slept like a baby that night. In my own little sleeping bag cave.