It's been a long time coming, but here it finally is. On our recent vacation in Wyoming, we had the opportunity to visit several Church History Sites. Our first stop was Sixth Crossing (so named because it was where the Willie Handcart Company crossed the Sweetwater River for the sixth time), where we said goodbye to our brother-in-law Mark and his company (stake) as they started on their 3-day trek. There, we browsed through the visitor's center, where we listened to some pioneer stories told by the senior missionaries and learned a little more about the lives of the handcart pioneers.
The Sixth Crossing visitor's center:
An example of food rations during the worst of times:
An example of what a pioneer woman might have brought with her across the plains:
Our experience at the Visitor's Center was very humbling.
Later that day, we drove to Martin's Cove, where members of the Martin Handcart Company found some refuge from a terrible, days long, winter storm during their trek west.
Starting off! We were lent a covered handcart (a much nicer one than anyone in the Martin Handcart Company would have had) at the visitor's center there, loaded up our lunch and water bottles, and were on our way!
I was the photographer for the day, and had a interesting time running ahead of everyone from time to time to get some pictures!
Pull! Pull! (This handcart was harder to pull than you would think--especially when you're trying to keep it level for the two small children sitting inside!)
Gavin loved riding in the handcart!
We stopped at "handcart parking" for a lunch break, before heading up the Cove.
Here we are hiking up to the cove:
Everyone at the Lower Cove. Gavin had fun climbing all over the rocks here--so much so that he wasn't too keen to move on!
This is a view of the whole Cove from a distance. (The Cove was located around the grassy hill in the far end of the picture).
This is likely where the members of the Martin Handcart Company would have camped during their refuge from the storm. Members of a rescue company from SLC had met them just before the storm hit, and led them into the Cove in hopes of finding further protection there.
One man in the company was asked to go cut down 3 trees for firewood by one of the rescuers. He was reluctant to do the task at the time, being nearly starved and exhausted, but later explained that completing the task surely saved his life. These trunks may have been those from the trees he cut down:
On the other side of the Cove from where they camped, the pioneers buried their dead (approximately 60) who hadn't survived the storm, in the fallen snow. This grassy patch is about where they would have buried them:
As we were in touring the Cove, some very strong winds hit. It gave us a glimpse of the terrible weather that the pioneers must have endured.
After touring the Cove, we picked our handcart back up and headed for the Sweetwater River Crossing. This is where members of the Handcart Company had to cross the River amidst the harsh winter weather. Some felt that this was the last straw--they couldn't do it; it was just too much. So, several teenage boys from the SLC rescue party helped carry those across who could not make it by themselves. This bridge was built to commemorate those brave young men:
There were also 3 statues located nearby that depicted these young men carrying their fellow pioneers across:
A sign right by the River Crossing:
The boys, just before they cross the River. (I love the way Travis is looking ahead--as if he is readying himself for the task.)
The river crossing. (I thought this picture well depicted what it might have been like--minus the chunks of ice, of course.)
After crossing, Travis decided to go back in the water for a little bit. (I like this picture because it makes me think of one of those young men coming back across the river to help someone else across.)
Gavin, ever Travis' sidekick in adventure, decided to go back in the water too. (This picture is so sweet to me. Travis is such a good uncle.)
Heading back to the main camp, feeling refreshed from our stint in the river:
"Pioneer children sang as they walked, and walked..." (I like how this picture shows everyone being involved in the Handcart pull.)
These guys were fast little trekkers! We had to keep begging them to slow down a little, and stop dragging us along! If they were part of one of the original handcart companies, they would have gotten us all across the country in 2 months flat!
The strong men:
The fierce women...
...pulling the handcart.
The kids taking a nap in the handcart =)
When we got back to the Martin's Cove Visitor's Center, we toured a replica of what used to be a trading post. When the Martin Handcart pioneers reached it, it had already been abandoned. However, many were able to find some kind of shelter here. (Nearby the replica was were the original post was, and where people had recently excavated it in order to make a replica.) It was a neat place--interesting to look about.
Taking a picture in the wagon/car (shown in the above picture). It was pretty cool to be inside an oldtime vehicle like this.
The end of our handcart journey!
It was such a neat experience to tour these two Church History sites. Niether of us had been to them before, and the tour gave us a much greater appreciation for the trials and triumphs of the Mormon pioneers, including a real glimpse into who these people were and what they really went through. Like I said before, it was a very humbling and rewarding experience--something we hope to do with our kids someday. Thanks Cassie, mom, and dad for taking us on the tour. You made the experience so much more meaningful!
