We just returned from a family vacation to the Mormon Handcart sites in Wyoming. The sites commemorate the disastrous events of 1856 when 2 handcart companies and 2 wagon companies started their cross-continent journey late in the year and met early blizzards in October with over 300 miles left to go before they reached safety in Salt Lake. Our family met Sarah, Joe, Zina and Grandma and Grandpa in Idaho and we made the long drive to central Wyoming together. Our first stop was the Sixth Crossing Visitor's Center which highlights the struggles of the Willie handcart company. Their group was farther along the trail than the others and while they suffered miserably, fewer people died. The sixth crossing of the Sweetwater River marks the spot where the handcart pioneers struggled up Rocky Ridge in a blizzard.
The visitor's center lets you pull a handcart down a short trail to get a feel for the pioneer experience. In the photo are Brandan, Helen, Abe, Sofi, Gibson, Zina and Grandpa.
The trail crosses through the Sweetwater River. We had heard stories of young men carrying the weak pioneers across the river so Sofi gave Abe a ride. You'll see later we had our details mixed up. It was a hot day so our biggest trial were the hungry mosquitoes.
The handcart sites are literally in the middle of nowhere. To make more time for the pioneer sites, we decided to camp at the missionary campground located between the two sites. Grandpa brought a drill and mallet (and safety glasses) and showed us how to drill a hole in a rock the way hard rock miners would do it.
At the campsite we met up with Elder Jay and Sister Nedra Taylor. They are the parents of Sarah and Joe's close friend and are serving a 6 month mission at the Martin's Cove visitor's center. They gave us a VIP tour of the site, taking us to some spots not included in a typical visit.
Sister Taylor showed us the concrete markers the state of Wyoming has placed along the trail. Four of the major trails of the westward expansion follow the same route across the state. The markers have 4 sides and each side lists the name of a trail: the Oregon trail, the California trail, the Mormon Pioneer trail and the Pony Express trail.
There are many spots along the trail where the wagon ruts are still visible. This photo shows one of them. It's hard to believe they haven't washed away, but over 500,000 people passed over this same spot and left a permanent impression.
About 2,000 young men and women from a variety of stakes were at Martin's Cove the same day we were. They dress in pioneer clothes and pull handcarts for mini treks to gain greater appreciation for pioneer sacrifices. Their treks last from one to three days, depending on the stake's preference. Elder Taylor kept us moving along so we wouldn't collide with any of the groups out on the trail.
This marker commemorates the young men who carried frozen, starving and despairing pioneers across the icy Sweetwater River. The Martin handcart company was miles behind the Willie handcart company when the first blizzard hit. They struggled to continue traveling, but exhaustion, lack of food and clothing, poor equipment and the bad weather made travel nearly impossible. Brigham Young had sent rescue parties from Salt Lake. The first to reach the handcart pioneers brought hope, but not nearly enough supplies to meet the urgent needs. The pioneers decided to cross the Sweetwater River and camp in a sheltered location (now called Martin's Cove) to wait out the storms. The thought of crossing the frigid river made some of the pioneers sit down on the ground and cry. At least four of the rescuers, called Valley Boys by the handcart pioneers, waded back and forth through the river, safely delivering all those who couldn't walk across the river.
Three large statues show the boys carrying the weak and feeble pioneers. The missionaries at Martin's Cove like to emphasize that the Valley Boys were young-- only teenagers-- and still capable of great service and sacrifice.
Elder Taylor told us the story of his great-great grandmother, Mary Taylor, and great grandfather, Jesse Taylor, who both were part of the Martin company. Mary's feet froze and Jesse (a 10 year old at the time) was deeply affected his entire life by the deaths he witnessed. However, Mary left a letter for her descendants so they would know she made the journey because of her faith in Christ and in the restoration.
We walked back in to Martin's Cove. It is a profoundly sacred spot. The cove did not give the pioneers the relief they sought. The wind and snow raged. Food ran out. More people died-- the exact number has never been determined. After 5 days, the company made the difficult decision to leave the cove and continue traveling. Rescue parties met up with the handcart pioneers and eventually all the handcarts were abandoned. About one fourth of the Martin company died before reaching Salt Lake City.
Sofi, Zina, Helen and Abe pulled a handcart for about 4 miles. (We walked 5 miles, but handcarts aren't allowed in Martin's Cove.) Gibson pulled and pushed some of the time and also got a ride at the end of our walk.
We were impressed by the sacrifices the modern missionaries are making. At an age when aches and pains are plentiful, they are living in RVs, leading tours, teaching square dancing, digging ditches, painting benches and other maintenance work. In their free time, the sisters knit hats to donate to humanitarian projects. (Sister Taylor told us she kept one of the hats because it was so cold when she started her mission in April.) This little truck has a special hitch that allows it to pull a handcart. With all the work the missionary couples do, they don't need to pull a handcart, too.
Our family has a special connection to the handcart sites. Grandma's great-great grandfather, Thomas Moulton, his wife and 8 children crossed the plains with the Willie handcart company. Sofi is named for his daughters Sarah and Sophia Moulton.
Grandma's great grandfather, John Bennett Hawkins, was one of the rescuers. He married Sarah Moulton after rescuing her. We love our handcart pioneer romance story.
Another of Grandma's great-great grandfather's brother, Henry Starley, was in the Hodgett wagon company. The wagon company was caught in the same blizzard as the Martin handcart company. The wagons left a lot of their freight in a stockade near Martin's Cove to make room for people to ride. Henry Starley died before reaching Salt Lake.
Independence Rock, a major landmark for all westward bound travelers, is a short drive away. It got its name from fur trappers who arrived at the rock on July 4, 1824. Afterwards, pioneers said if you made it to Independence Rock by July 4, you still had enough time to get to California or Oregon before it started to snow. Martin's handcart company made it this far by November 2.
Worn out from walking and long car rides, we drove back across Wyoming the way we came, stopping in Jackson Hole for a couple of relaxing days in the beautiful Teton mountains. The photo shows Joe, Grandpa and Joe on the deck outside our condo.
Sofi learned two new recipes. Grandma taught her how to make her famous biscuits and sausage gravy.
They improvised and used a tin can for a biscuit cutter.
Sarah taught Sofi how to make a delicious raspberry concoction. We are all fans!
The Grand Teton National park was in our backyard. We drove to Jenny Lake, a beautiful alpine lake at the foot of the Grand Teton, the highest mountain in the park. Some of us took a ferry across the lake and hiked up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Since Hidden Falls is the most popular hike in the park, it really needs a new name. In the photo are Zina, Becky, Helen, Brandan, Sofi, Gibson, Sarah and Joe.
Helen, Zina and Abe played a monopoly game that lasted 3 days. We don't think they ever finished.
Abe, the local tycoon, kept the game rolling by donating money to anyone who looked like they might go bankrupt.
Joe and Keri's family joined us on Friday. We went to see the shootout that is held in downtown Jackson every night at 6:15. The shootout has a complicated plot and we lost track of how many people got shot. The girl in the photo is a double crossing murderer. Great fun! In the photo are Zina, Sy, Hayden and Gage, Abe, Helen, Sawyer and Gibson.
Here we are in front of one Jackson's signature elk arches. Back row: Sofi, Becky, Brandan, Joe, Keri, Sarah and Joe. Middle row: Gibson, Helen, Abe, Sy and Zina. Front row: Grandpa, Hayden and Gage and Sawyer. We're thankful for the effort everyone made to spend time together and for a wonderful, family drenched week.
Brandan's aunts and uncles and their families were having a reunion in Hooper, Utah the same weekend. We made a detour on our way home and stopped to visit for a few hours.
Brandan's Uncle Robert and Aunt Sue were in charge of the reunion this year. They live in Alaska which is a bit far for everyone else to travel, so they held the reunion in Hooper where Brandan's family has farmed on the same homestead since 1870. Robert and Sue collected hundreds of family stories for the reunion and encouraged everyone else to share their own memories. It was a golden afternoon and we felt lucky to be there.
