DAY 1 - The Kingman Stake Pioneer Trek began at noon on July 15. We packed our meager belongings, donned our pioneer clothing, and took a 3 hour journey to Williams, AZ. When we arrived, we were assigned a handcart, complete with a jar of fresh cream that shook into butter as we rumbled along. We were thankful to share our Cart with a single gentleman from a ward in Kingman by the name of Victor Martell. We feel it was a great blessing, and he became a fast friend of the children and indispensable to Carl as a helper in pulling the cart. We loaded our water, bed rolls, and tent and a change of clothes for each of us and began our first walk, about 3 miles on a flat, rocky road. We stopped in a pretty clearing around 4:30pm, kicked as many pine cones and rocks out of the way that we could, and set up our tent. We were served dinner, pioneer style. We each received 1 bowl of soup, then cleaned up and prepared for the evening. We had an evening devotional and some shared personal pioneer stories, we sang, prayed and headed to sleep.
DAY 2 - Day two began with a somber spirit, tired from the long day before, and a night sleeping on rocks, we awoke and heard the hustle and bustle of movement within our camp, tents coming down, whispers, the crunching of pine needles. We joined the activity and cleaned up and organized in record time. We wore the same clothes, as we imagined the real pioneers would have done, enjoyed a nice breakfast of oatmeal and rolled out for the hardest day. The terrain became increasingly steep and rocky, the still heat diminished spirits and we began to taste in a small way how a day on the real road west may have felt. Poor Leia stepped in a cactus that went straight through her shoe! Lacey and some young women helped console her, we carefully removed the spines, and the final one had to be removed with Lora's teeth--She recovered well, and moved along as only sweet Leia can. We stopped in a beautiful setting for lunch, peanut butter sandwiches and apples, and then headed out for another stretch of our journey. Little legs began to ache and Luke offered a prayer that he might feel better. After a few feet, we were told that the men were being "called away" (in likeness of the Mormon Batallion), and all of the women and children were left to push the carts. Carl marveled at the determined look on Clay's face and became overcome with emotion as he could see the young man rise to his calling as the priesthood leader, and he gave it all his effort. In contrast, this proved the most disheartening part of the trail for Lora, as with Cora in arms, Luke and Christian eager to help, but dangerously too small for the wheels, rolled forth in the heat of the day, up twisting, rocky terrain. A young man, aged 14 helped Clay. His nose began to bleed due to exertion, and Lora stepped in to help, with eyes now to the ground pushing, we heard a yell and discovered that Luke caught his foot under the heavy, metal wheel. Fearing the worst, we stopped as frustrated sisters some passing, some helping looked our way. His prayer was answered as the injury was minor. With Christian and Cora now in tears, Catie, Clay and Lacey near exhaustion, we stumbled forth while kindly sisters grabbed the hands of our crying children and we moved forward. Soon, we began seeing some of the men reappearing, stepping toward their wagon. Carl never looked so handsome. A monument to marriage, yoked together once again, we moved forward with ease, Carl by the sweat of his brow, Lora with increased sorrow, nurturing the little ones, the burden was lightened.
The journey continued, the clouds moved in to provide a much appreciated cover from the hot sun. They grew heavy and a gentle rain began to fall. At first refreshing, but as the lightening and thunder rolled across the sky, little ones hearts began to falter, Christian began to ask to "go home", his big sad eyes pleading to be held, an impossibility given the circumstances. He walked almost 2 miles in tears. My arms ached to hold him, but little Cora's legs couldn't manage the rocks, a kindly sister walked slowly with us, cheering him on. The rain soaked his little body, but when we told him we were "going to see daddy", he took a few more steps. When we finally were within sight of the camp, he ran to Carl. We saw his tired face as he shared their difficulty pulling through the thick, clay mud. We shook the mud off of our gear, and set up for camp again. No walking tomorrow...the sleep was well deserved and deep.
DAY 3 - This day began slower and with lighter hearts. We knew we were staying. We ate some pancakes and around 11:00am, some activities began, tug-of-war, an egg toss, string games (Lora was in charge of this...we made yarn dolls and necklaces), handkerchief dolls, homemade ice cream, etc. It was a free, relaxing day, a time to chat and use creativity to entertain. Leia, Luke and Christian spent the hours playing with other children just using their imaginations, Cora clung to Lora, Carl looked after the kids, and Clay itched to be doing something more productive. Idleness makes him restless. The day ended in a "Hoe-Down", All of the children participated in some dancing. It was a fun way to end the day.
Day 4 - Originally intended to leave at 9:00am, the clear skies were a warning of a hot day approaching. We awoke at 6:00am, once again greeted by the noises of hard working saints, repacking the handcarts for the last leg of the trek. Only 2.5 miles this day, but it was rumored to be steep. Breakfast of granola bars and apples was quick and good enough. We got an early start, somewhat apprehensive given the memory of Thursday, but we began knowing that each step brought us closer to our destination. This trip proved unique, as although the hills were steep, within the first mile, we could see the base camp off in the distance--this reassurance, with our "eyes single to this goal", made the journey quick, and the carts all arrived within an hour. It was amazing the difference in attitude and speed when the goal is in sight. Lora had a unique opportunity this day, as with Cora once again in her sling, and sweet Christian and his little legs at her side, she became the very LAST of the almost 300 saints on the trail. She was a bit forlorn when she realized that 3 people were behind her, the stake president (a blonde reincarnation of Johnny Cash...:-)), his wife and a young man. Due to an unusual pain in his back and legs, he was unable to walk more than about 30 yards without stopping to rest. The young man carried a folding chair for him. Our strides were well matched as Christian spent most of his time chasing grasshoppers and wanting to be held. We shared a quiet walk together, reflecting upon the pioneers and their sacrifices. Imagining leaving a loved one behind, buried by the side of the road. Emotions were high, quiet lessons of the heart were learned. Words cannot convey the feelings of those last steps. Watching this good man make each painful step, determined to make it to the end, I couldn't help but think of Brigham Young, and then Joseph Smith, as he kindly bid farewell to Christian, and dropped a grasshopper into his hand. That grasshopper rode all the way back to Bullhead City with us in a little boys shirt pocket. Ask him if he liked the "trek",he'll say, "yeah"...Two words: Life Changing.
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8 years ago
