Trek 2012

Alex had the opportunity to take part in a pioneer trek for youth conference this past week.  Below is an article found in our local newspaper that gives more details:

Alex is near the front in the red shirt, light pants, and straw hat

Quoted from the article in the Leaf Chronicle:

"In February of 1846, a group lead by Brigham Young left Illinois on a journey that would eventually take 18 months to complete. In an effort to escape religious persecution, the Mormons relocated to Utah. Eventually, 70,000 people took the journey to Salt Lake, and today the religion flourishes there, with millions of members.

This week, members of the local “stake” (an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations) held a re-enactment to commemorate the historic event that was so pivotal in the history of their church. Seventy local church members between the ages of 14 and 18 set out Wednesday on a 20-mile trek on the trails of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

Almost all aspects of twenty-first century living are left behind in an effort to more accurately portray life as it was in 1846. Each “family” is given a handcart resembling a small covered wagon, which they must assemble. This will be their transportation for the next three days. They must walk the trails and, as a team, pull the cart which contains all their supplies.

“It’s a chance to hang out with friends and take a nice walk,” trek veteran Monica Flake said. “You learn what the pioneers went through, and it makes you appreciate it more. They tell a lot of stories, and you get to learn a lot. The hand carts make traveling a little faster.”

Alex with friends: Jared, Derek, and Matt before heading out on the Trek

Girls from our ward that went

They were assigned to family groups: Brother Collis was Alex's "pa"

Sister Grant was Alex's "ma"

Josh and Matt in the yoke

Assembling their handcarts

There was a time when the girls had to pull the carts when the men went off to "Mormon Battalion"

The orange family

Everyone got a survival guide

What they carried in their handcarts

Alex's friend, Derek

Swimming on the last day