Our Trek family Back L to R: Joey, Andres, Uncle Clint, Korbin, Jake, Skylar- Front L to R: Jerica, Jessica, Kimberly, Kayla, Alex, & Heather (Uncle Jake is missing)
Skylar, Korbin, Kayla, & Kim doing puzzles on the bus
Bro. Hollinger giving instructions on the bus
Buses entering Martin's Cove. You can see Devil's Gate in the distance
Hand cart parking
Pa getting our hand cart
Waiting to get in line- Joey, Kayla, Skylar, Andres, Jessica, Jerica, & Korbin
On our way to camp
Our extra tall flagpole was the envy of the whole camp!
Skylar on his way down the line
Joey swingin' his partner!
Andres is all smiles!
Kayla coming through the bridge
Jessica, Jerica, & Alex do-si-do!
Korbin kickin' up his heels!
Oscar the dog. This dog lives at a farm several miles down the road but comes to visit the trek groups as they come and go. He walked in with us the first day and sat and watched the square dancing!
Singing at the fireside
Uncle Jake in the back of the hand cart holding the water jug for us!
Our family flag
Pulling along-Skylar, Jake, Korbin, & Andres
The entrance to the cove
Pulling and Pushing! Pulling: Uncle Clint, Jake, Skylar, & Andres- Riding: Alex, Kayla, Jerica, & Jessica- Pushing: Me
Joey carrying Kim across the river
Waiting to cross the river-Jerica, Joey, & Jessica
At the river crossing-Alex, Uncle Clint, Joey, Kayla, & Kim
In front of one of the Valley Boys statues-Me, Jerica, Kimberly, Kayla, Jessica, Joey, Skylar, & Andres
Joey, Skylar, Jake, & Andres pulling the cart
Uncle Jake in the rickshaw! We couldn't take the cart into the cove but they had these little rickshaws you could ride in.
Violinist in Can Jone's Cove
Martin's Cove
There was a snake in the picnic area and Bro. Miles set it free!
Joey getting the mail from Ephrium Hanks
Our family in front of our flag pole-L to R: Ma Cooper, Andres, Alex, Jake, Kayla, Pa Cooper, Kimberly, Korbin, Jerica, Skylar, Jessica
June 20-22, 2011- Way back in January Joey and I were asked to serve on the Trek committee as trainers for the Ma's and Pa's. These are the couples who go on the trek as parents of the families and are in charge of a group of youth. As neither one of us has been on a pioneer trek before we kinda laughed at this and did our best. The stake leaders, Gene and Karen Phillips, asked us to take some time in each planning meeting to go over the physical and spiritual preperation that the Ma's and Pa's would need to focus on to be ready for trek. I naturally took over the physical and Joey took the spiritual. I went over a walking/exercise plan, proper hydration and nutrition, and proper clothing. My goal was to have their physical needs completely taken care of so they wouldn't have to worry about themselves at all and be able to focus completely on the youth and their spiritual experiences. Joey focused on finding opportunities during those two and a half days where they could give the youth times where they could feel the spirit and develop their testimonies about the strength and devotion of the pioneers.Karen kept telling us that we should keep the date open as she was sure that we would somehow be invited to be a Ma and Pa on trek. After the final numbers were turned in to the stake there were more youth going than there would be adults to be Ma's and Pa's so since Joey and I had been a part of all the training so far we were an easy choice to ask to come. Our family consisted of nine kids, Joey and I, and two uncles. Jake Crump, Alex Fernandez, Corbin Nuttall, Kimberly Machado, Kayla Vidovic, Andres Escobar, Skylar Higley, Jerica Miles, and Jessica Miles were the kids. Our uncles were Pres. Jake Neiuwland and Clint Rogers. We had a great family! We met our family for the first time the Sunday before we left for trek. They all came to the church to bring their bags and meet us. While they were there we chatted for a minute and had them put their handprints on our family flag. We then met at 5am the next morning to board the bus and begin our long trip to Martin's Cove. The bus ride started a little rough with 13 people who we didn't really know, but after a little while and a few friendship bracelets, everyone started to loosen up a little and get comfortable with each other. When we arrived we all got our things off the bus and sat to have lunch. Our Pa went and got our handcart and we loaded it up with all our buckets and things. Then we pulled it over to the visitors center for the introduction video. Then we all got in line and started our first trek out to our campsite. Once we got there every family dispersed and claimed campsites and set up tents. The tents were organized three per family. One for the boy youth, one for the girl youth, and one for the male adults. Me being the only female adult in my family, I had to bunk with the neighbors. So, I shared a tent with Maredith Harker and Patti Farrington. Our three priesthood brotheren shared our third tent, Pa, Uncle Jake, and Uncle Clint. After we set up camp the cooking crew had dinner ready for us so we ate a delicious dinner of pulled pork sandwiches! Alex boasted when she polished off her fifth one! She may look small and thin but she sure can pack it in! After dinner was cleaned up we headed over to the square dancing field where we were joined by two other stakes for a rousing good time! Even Andres, who came over from Guatamala only three weeks ago and speaks very limited english, seemed to genuinly be enjoying himself! It was fun to see all the youth interracting with each other. After the dancing we all went back to our family camps and had a campfire and Family Home Evening. We were blessed to have Pres. Neiuwland as one of our uncles as he was always able to bring the spirit through laughter and stories. He advised us to keep our hearts and minds open during our trip to the cove the next day as the spirits of those pioneers wanted to be heard. He also asked us that if we were feeling the spirit to turn to our neighbor and let them know that you felt it so they could recognize it too. I have taken this to heart since and tried harder to share it when I am feeling those promptings. After FHE we sat around the fire and told jokes and played games. One by one we went to bed. The next morning we woke up, had a delicious mountain man breakfast, and prepaired to trek to the cove. Uncle Jake, who has a bad back, had planned to hitch a ride with the truck and meet us at the entrance of the cove. As a family we decided to ask him if he would let us pull him in the wagon and if he said no, we would kindly insist that we needed all our family to be with us. After much debate, he graciously allowed us to put him in our handcart and pull him, even though I'm sure he was more that a little embarrassed. We were glad to have him along. We got in line and started down the trail. Our first stop was at the river where we did the handcart river crossing to simulate how the pioneers crossed the Platt and the Sweetwater rivers while coming to SLC. Of course the crossed when the water was half frozen. Our water was cool and the outside temperature was in the mid-80's. The boys felt galant and offered to pull the girls in the handcart as some of them weren't going to cross if they has to walk in the water. So, Jerica, Jessica, Kim, and Kayla rode in the cart. Jake, Andres, Skylar, Korbin, and Uncle Clint pulled while I pushed the hand cart. Joey carried Kim across as she really wanted to be carried over the river by her Pa! After everyone crossed we walked up to the statues of the Valley boys who came from Salt Lake in the rescue party and helped the saints cross the Sweetwater river. Then we stopped at the pavillion at the base of the cove for lunch. There was another group in the cove and we didn't want to rush them or croud up the cove so we ate while we waited for them to finish. Once they were out and our lunch was done we parked our hand carts and made our way into the cove. The first stop was in the Dan Jones cove. When we entered the cove there were three violins softly playing and when everyone was in they sat and Pres. Neiuwland told some stories about pioneer families who had come through Martin's Cove. Then we were asked to stay with our families and as quiety as possible, make our way through the cove. As we approached the clearing where the rescue took place, Pres. Neiuwland whispered to each group about the significance on the spot as they went by. Then at the top of the cove we were met by a missionary couple who told us a few more stories and explained further the importance of Martin's Cove and how the spot was a miricle in itself. It was tucked away enough that there was little chance someone would even think to look for people there. Plus there was a sand hill that was on the opposite side of the rocks that acted as a wind break, yet it was oddly out of place in the rocky terrain. Some think it was placed there miraculously shortly before the saints arrived. After we sat and pondered a while each family left to make there way back to the hand carts. Once we were all down and out of the cove we took our carts and started back. We were stopped again at the status of the valley boys. We all looked around wondering why we had stopped here again. Then the "angels" came out and started taking members of our families. There people represented the lives lost to the pioneer families and symbolized how they had no chioce but to keep going after a loved one was lost. Some families didn't lose anyone, Our family lost three. First they took Jake, our big brother who was our horse at the front of the cart. Then they took our Pa, who when I saw him walk away I immidiatly began to cry! Then we lost Andres, our quiet, yet gentle and loving brother. Now I was left a blubbering mess, having to regroup and be in charge of our family without Joey! Even though I knew he was not really dead and would be returned to us after the demonstration was over, I couldn't get a hold of myself! My worst fears had come true. Now without Jake to man the brunt of the cart, Uncle Jake insisted that we couldn't pull him anymore and he would take a spot at the back of the cart and help push, as this would be best for his back. Alex took position at the front with Korbin, Skylar, and Uncle Clint. While I took hold of the back with Uncle Jake. He quietly talked me down from the ledge and asked me to share, when I was able, with him and the family how I was feeling. Which I did later around the campfire. I truly gained a greater understanding and appreciation for my pioneer ancestors and all that they sacrificed for all of us to be able to endure such hardship and physical strain to get here. After we hiked a ways back to up the trail, we were stopped again by Sister Standing and Brother Hollinger, the stake YW and YM presidents. They split the girls off the the right and the boys off to the left. This is where we would do the women's pull. The boys hiked to the top of the hill and were only allowed to watch. The girls were asked to pull the hand carts about a quarter mile to a steep, rocky, narrow hill where the boys were waiting at the top. Sis. Standing gave us a little pep talk about how we were strong both inside and out and we all believed in each other and our families and we could do this. Then silently, one by one, each family of women pulled our carts up this hill. Some were crying, some were grim faced and determined, but all made it up! Those who went first parked their carts at the top and went back to help the others. When we were all at the top the boys had a ring pop for each girl symbolizing our virtue being greater than jewels. This was one of the most significant of all the trek experiences for both the boys and the girls. At this point our lost family members were returned to us and we walked back to the campground. We rested a bit and had a delicoius dinner of beef stew and biscuits. Then we had a fireside where Ephrium Hanks delivered the mail from home. We each received a letter from a parent and Joey had arranged for my mom to write one for me. I was quite surprized by that! It's been a long time since I got a hand written letter from my mom. Then we had the stake testimony meeting. After, our family had another campfire and we spent our time telling jokes and trying to one up each other for the best joke. We were joined several times by other Ma's and Pa's looking for lost kids. I was very greatful that we had good kids who wanted to stay with us and we never had to go searching for them in the dark or the light for that matter. The next morning we had breakfast and took broke camp. Our family had boasted the highest flag as we put it up on a tripod that extended about twenty feet in the air. As part of our departure we had a flag lowering ceremony where we all stood in a circle as the flag was lowered and taken down. Then Joey cut a piece of the rope we tied it with for each person. It was all very cheesy and silly but everyone seemed to get a kick out of it all! Then we packed out carts and made trek back to the busses and walked that stretch of road for the last time. And as they say, the rest is history!
