Trek

Taylor had the opportunity to go on the handcart trek this year, and we were pretty excited.  We spent a lot of time getting ready.  We made her pioneer clothes, read books, and researched our handcart ancestors.  She trekked for her Grandmother Charlotte Priscilla TAYLOR Richins.  We thought the name thing was pretty cool.  She was quite the lady.  She lost a daughter, gave birth to a son, had her hair frozen to the ground and subsequently cut off, and arrived in the valley with frostbitten feet.  Taylor wore a necklace with her picture on it and it provided a lot of opportunity for discussion.

The family had the "opportunity" to drive to Wyoming and pick her up.  Jake and Torey saw their first buffalo, so that was exciting.  They trekked at a place called "Muddy Creek" which is along the actual trail.  The landmarks included pioneer graves, wheel indentations, and "Brigham's Arrow" which is a rock formation Brigham Young created to point the way to Zion.

We welcomed the weary travelers in by waving the white handkerchiefs.  Some of the kids looked tired and dirty but we were met with a smile!

We were so happy to see our baby after a long three day absence.  We discovered that she does about 95% of the talking in our house, and we couldn't stand the silence any more.  We were unable to get a trek family picture because as I gave her a welcoming hug, she clearly stated she needed a hamburger now.  We happily obliged and made it to McDonald's before the crowd.  Some of her trek highlights included the women's pull, and a special outdoor Sacrament Meeting.  She was a little disappointed that they wouldn't let them cross the creek, which was at flood stage, and also that "all they did was walk."  Turns out that is exactly what the pioneers did too!