Scouting the Territory

So, guess where Steven and I were last Friday. We visited a section of the Mormon Trail. This seemed like a good idea because Steven and I are on the Cody 2nd Ward Handcart Treck Committee.




For those that are unsure of what I am talking about, our ancestors crossed the plains in covered wagons. Later during the migration, persons wanting to migrate to Salt Lake, but who had insufficient means to travel by wagon train, formed handcart companies. Of the ten handcart companies, two (the Willies and the Martin Handcart Companies) met terrible hardships due to inclement weather, poor cart construction and several other calamities which added up to tragedy; one third of the members dying along the way.

In reverence to their sacrifices, many groups of LDS persons walk parts of the trail. Our ward has been scheduled to participate this July. We will be pushing handcarts and living the experience except without the snow.


Steven took me up to what is known as "7th Crossing," where our ancestors had to cross the Sweetwater River for the 7th time. Then we went to Martin's Cove, where the Martin Company sought refuge for several days.


The first picture is of the ward committee's leadership Orientation and Training session last July.





This next picture is of Martin's Cove during the winter. Steven and I decided to hike from the visitors' center to the cove itself. We walked through the snow and got a little cold and wind-burned. We did it without a handcart, but we had a small appreciation of what the original group may have experienced.