Foot steps of the past
On the farm here there are some hand carts, like the ones that the pioneer used to go to Utah in the 1830. We had a visitor from Tulsa that said a group of adults will be here Saturday to use some of the carts for a short 4 mile track and at noon they would be having lunch. We were invited if we wonted. This would be a training run for the adults when the rest of the group of the group of 160 young adults will be going on a three day track at the first of the month.
So early Saturday morning people started showing up by the car loads. All dress up in pioneer clothes and hats. They had all the carts out cleaning preparing them for the big event. They divided us up in to group of eight. We were assigned each one of us who we would be. We were assigned to be children. and they assigned another couple to be the parents. We load up the hand carts with all our gear. everyone had a five gallon bucket with a lid on them to put there clothes and other things that they wanted to keep dry. also it made a good seat for later on. We grabbed a bonnet for Connie and a hat for me put them in a bucket for our coats and some water and we were off. The group started off at a very fast pace. We all took turn pushing or pulling the cart. They had red handkerchief that they would put over the eyes of some to show blindness or on a leg for lameness, just a way of letting us see some of the problems that the pioneers dwelt with. after the first mile we came to our first hill, we would stop every half hour to rest and drink water. They waited a bit between the carts going up the hill to get them room to maneuver their carts. It was exhausting and exciting at the same time. When we all got to the top of the hill we rested. Some went back to help the others. Then we took a moment to walk a little higher to the top of the hill to look over the ranch. The trail boss showed us where would eat lunch also that when they had the young adults there this would be a good time to sit and talk to them and lesson to them. Because for a lot of them this would be the first time for them to be away from all convenience of modern life like cell phones, TV, Video games, and etc.They ask us to do was to count off each time we started. They started with the parents so no one would be left behind. Half way down the trail we stop to rest and my wife was missing. We were the last cart and she was trailing behind us last I look. Father and I headed back down the trail to find her. After about 10 or 15 minutes of yelling her name and look for her . She appeared. I ask her later what had happen. She told me she was told to disappear to see if we would miss her because thing like this happen on the trail all the time because someone would get tired or hurt on the trail all the time and no one had notices. They would have to go back to find them. The rest of the trail was uneventful. The ground was fairly level except for a lot of rock and small streams. At the end of the four miles there was the reward of the food it was great but of course for the pioneers then would not have been some one there to cook and a car to hop into to take them back to their cars. It was enough of the taste of the trail to let us know how nice our lives are today.
We were so sore that night and our feet and legs ache. We thought we were in pretty good shape, because we had walked that far before and not had a problem. It was just the fast pace and pushing the cart that made the difference, any way when we hit the hay that night we slept hard and was happy to have a warm bed to sleep in, a hot shower, and flush toilet to use. Life is good and we got down on our knees and thanked the Lord for his goodness to us.
So early Saturday morning people started showing up by the car loads. All dress up in pioneer clothes and hats. They had all the carts out cleaning preparing them for the big event. They divided us up in to group of eight. We were assigned each one of us who we would be. We were assigned to be children. and they assigned another couple to be the parents. We load up the hand carts with all our gear. everyone had a five gallon bucket with a lid on them to put there clothes and other things that they wanted to keep dry. also it made a good seat for later on. We grabbed a bonnet for Connie and a hat for me put them in a bucket for our coats and some water and we were off. The group started off at a very fast pace. We all took turn pushing or pulling the cart. They had red handkerchief that they would put over the eyes of some to show blindness or on a leg for lameness, just a way of letting us see some of the problems that the pioneers dwelt with. after the first mile we came to our first hill, we would stop every half hour to rest and drink water. They waited a bit between the carts going up the hill to get them room to maneuver their carts. It was exhausting and exciting at the same time. When we all got to the top of the hill we rested. Some went back to help the others. Then we took a moment to walk a little higher to the top of the hill to look over the ranch. The trail boss showed us where would eat lunch also that when they had the young adults there this would be a good time to sit and talk to them and lesson to them. Because for a lot of them this would be the first time for them to be away from all convenience of modern life like cell phones, TV, Video games, and etc.They ask us to do was to count off each time we started. They started with the parents so no one would be left behind. Half way down the trail we stop to rest and my wife was missing. We were the last cart and she was trailing behind us last I look. Father and I headed back down the trail to find her. After about 10 or 15 minutes of yelling her name and look for her . She appeared. I ask her later what had happen. She told me she was told to disappear to see if we would miss her because thing like this happen on the trail all the time because someone would get tired or hurt on the trail all the time and no one had notices. They would have to go back to find them. The rest of the trail was uneventful. The ground was fairly level except for a lot of rock and small streams. At the end of the four miles there was the reward of the food it was great but of course for the pioneers then would not have been some one there to cook and a car to hop into to take them back to their cars. It was enough of the taste of the trail to let us know how nice our lives are today.
We were so sore that night and our feet and legs ache. We thought we were in pretty good shape, because we had walked that far before and not had a problem. It was just the fast pace and pushing the cart that made the difference, any way when we hit the hay that night we slept hard and was happy to have a warm bed to sleep in, a hot shower, and flush toilet to use. Life is good and we got down on our knees and thanked the Lord for his goodness to us.
posted by Ma and Pa Buhler at 8:47 AM
1 Comments:
Our local Stakes of Ontario, Nyssa Oregon and Weiser Idaho like to put on these Pioneer Trecks.
They bus all the way out to Martin's Cove in Wyoming and walk for many miles and some pull carts.
It sounded rather awesome when they went in 2005 and this past year.
To begin with researh was made to find out which ancestor we would represent. In many cases that ancestor died on the way, and the duty of pulling the cart would be passed to the mother and sons.
They finished the Trek most every night with a fireside, and concluded the Trek with babtisms for the dead at the Salt Lake Temple.
My brother and sister in law James and Karen Hawks went on the one in 2005. They loved it. The spirit was very strong!
I remember going to Nauvoo and stopping by the Pioneer Cemetary on the other side of Chimney Rock. There were many who passed away from such trials.
Although my back prevents me on going on such a Trek with the Stake I have heard nothing but miracles along the way.
Brent, always look back to search for your wife. Life is short.
DNR
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