August 1st found the youth and their ma's and pa's and various support crew headed for Martin's Cove in Wyoming before the crack of dawn - 4:30 am to be exact. Six buses, 16 support vehicles, 325 youth and adults finally arrived at the Martin's Cove Visitor Center. En route one of our buses broke down just outside of Marysvale and we had to stop and transfer all 50 passengers onto the other 5 buses! We received another bus in Orem and went merrily on our way. From Orem to Evanston - it pretty much rained the whole way and we wondered what kind of weather we were in for. I am thankful to report that the weather served us well and we were without rain unless we had prayed for it (to be explained later - on day #3). The above pic shows us pulled over after bus #2's cargo hatch popped open on the freeway and lost 2 of it's buckets which bounced and rolled across the freeway into the median.
Chris Wood retrieved the beloved buckets - our method for packing. This was Miracle Number 1. Neither of these buckets lost their lids and consequently their contents! Both belonged to pa's.
Upon arrival at Martin's Cove we sorted into families, picked up our handcarts, enjoyed a presentation and movie from the missionaries and then started our trek of 3 miles to camp. We set out and the first handcart passed right by a rattlesnake. The second handcart wasn't so quick and the snake had slithered right in front of it. Thanks to some quick action - that snake was taken care of and we went merrily on our way - Miracle Number 2!
Because of our mishaps with the buses and buckets, we were a couple of hours late getting to Martin's Cove so once we set up camp - it was pretty much time for bed!
DAY 2
Martin's Cove and Water Crossing
Day 2 started with trekking over to Dan Jones Cove and Martin's Cove. We passed by these statues and were promised a closer glimpse later that day. We dropped off our handcarts at the base of Dan Jones Cove, and walked into it where we were met by two Circleville YW playing the hymns on their violins. It was quiet, reverent, and beautiful!
Lexi and Hillard Dalton sharing their amazing gift with us.
Elder Nickle (or as he said "Elder 5 Pennies") talked to the youth about the significance of Martin's Cove as a shelter after passing by Devil's Gate and fording the Sweetwater River just to the east. In November of 1956, roughly 500 emigrants from the Martin Handcart Company sought refuge for 5 days from the snow and cold. It is really uncertain how many pioneers are buried in Martin's Cove. One of our bus drivers, Brother Steve Warner stayed and trekked with our group. He has been to Martin's Cove over 30 times - at least that is when he stopped counting! He has escorted both President Hinckley and President Faust and their families through Martin's Cove. He showed a couple of our group where President Hinckley removed his shoes, wandered into the meadow and offered a prayer dedicating the unmarked site where the pioneers were buried.
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| The meadow just entering Martin's Cove. |
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| The meadow at the back of Martin's Cove. |
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| The meadow just coming out of Martin's Cove. |
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| Our 6 companies exiting the Cove. |
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| McKenna and I just before entering the Cove. |
The Cove really was a special place - a feeling close to being inside the temple was felt throughout the Cove. It is really sacred ground.
After our trip around the Cove - we gathered under a pavilion for lunch. It was a welcome respite from the sun as there we few trees to be found!
Back to the statues. After lunch, we returned to the statues of the 4 Valley Boys who aided the Saints in crossing the Sweetwater River before entering Martin's Cove. Upon reaching this river, many of the saints wept at the thought of crossing the river with slabs of frozen ice floating down it. With tears in their eyes the fatigued and starved Saints looked at the crossing - sure that they would perish. The rescuers spent much of the day carrying across the weary handcart company ensuring their safety into the Cove.
This was my favorite statue. If you notice - this rescuer is carrying a tiny baby in the crook of his right arm.
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| A last view of the Cove from the Sweetwater River. |
After the statues we went to the Sweetwater River where we reenacted the river crossing. Being serenaded by harmonica, our youth and leaders crossed the river where a missionary talked to them on the other side. We then returned across the river to our handcarts. We were unable to take the handcarts across because of the high flow of water. Many of our young men and men carried young women and women across the river - it was an incredibly moving and spiritual time on trek. At this point I will just say that miracles occurred quite frequently - more on a personal level in their families and so I will stop counting. Just know that throughout the trip - youth and adults would come up to me and say "Guess what happened...". I am just so grateful that they were prepared and ready for these experiences. So very grateful!
A monument to the 4 rescuers placed just before the bridge of the Sweetwater - near where we had just crossed through. George W. Grant, C.A. Huntington, David P. Kimball, and Stephen W. Taylor.
After the river crossing we made it back to camp - a total of 8 miles trekked for the day. We ate a delicious meal of pork chops, chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and fruit salad - a far cry from the 4 ounces of flour per day allotted to the handcart pioneers.
After dinner Ephraim Hanks told his life's story. He left home as a youth to avoid punishment for taking his father's carriage out the night before and joined the navy. After sailing all around the world for 3-4 years, he returned home to make amends with his father. He found his father had passed away and his brother had joined some new found religion - the Mormons. He tried to persuade his brother from the faith and ended up joining the church himself. He went on to join the Saints in Nauvoo, helping with the exodus west. He joined the Mormon Battalion, later rode for the Pony Express and was one of the first to find the Martin Handcart Company.
He said that "The most remarkable thing about it was that I had traveled that road more than fifty times, and never before saw so many buffaloes in that part of the country. There was not a member of the party but what believed that the Lord had sent them to us in answer to prayer." Ephraim also acted as medic to the company amputating dead and frozen limbs, many of whom "with tears in their eyes said they hadn't felt a thing."
After Ephraim entertained us, the Pony Express arrived via a stick horse named Lollipop with a letter from home to each and every youth and adult on trek. It was an amazing experience to see all the wonderment, especially from the adults that there was a letter for them too!
After letters, we square danced until sun down and retired to bed exhausted, filled spiritually and ready for more adventure!
Another Miracle happened as well this evening - a girl while brushing her teeth was visited by a rattlesnake. Martins Cove happens to be located at the base of the Rattlesnake Mountains. The snaked slithered right across her feet, she jumped back and was able to get an adult to kill it. You'll have to find out the last resting spot for this dearly departed reptile on Day 3's events! More to come!
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