The Women's Pull - They do this with all the youth treks that come. The guys say goodbye to the girls and they walk up the hill and have a talk about how many of the men died or were called away and the women had responsibility for the family. The idea is to help the men appreciate the women in their lives and understand what many of the pioneer women had to go through. The women are talked to about some of the women that ended up traveling across to Zion without their husband. The men then line up along both sides of the trail, take off their hats, and watch in silence as the women have to pull the carts up this tough sand hill. This is all done in silence and no matter what, the men cannot step in and help. It is a very spiritual experience for all. There are some amazing things that happen with the youth when they do this.
Crossing the Sweetwater River - The youth trekkers are prepared for this by learning about how the pioneers came to the Sweetwater, with temperatures below zero, fierce winds, and ice floating in the water. They were nearly starving to death and had very little hope of survival. Many of the members of the Martin Company began to cry and just couldn't face another river crossing, especially in these conditions. This is where the four young men from the valley helped carry many of the members across the river. Clark Allen Huntington, was one of those men. They went back and forth all day, carrying people across the river. Today, some of us decided to walk the river. It is also done in silence.
This is the statue of one of the four rescuers that carried the people across the Sweetwater. Without discussing it, both of us felt that one represents C. A. Huntington. When we walked up to it both of us looked at him and couldn't believe how he looked like a Huntington. I couldn't help but get quite emotional. The Fenns, who are our directors, are related to Nellie Unthank whose statue is in Cedar on the SUU campus. They believe that it represents Nellie that he is carrying. I like to think that it is Mary Barton Allen, my great, great grandmother who was fourteen when she came with the Martin Company. Her father and two younger sisters died and she came into the the SL Valley with her step mother.
Our first snake of the year! Oh well, it's just a blow snake. At every post and in every rover there is a snake catcher, made from PVC pipe.
Looks like a couple of pioneers to me. Elder Turek and Elder Swope pushing our cart over the Sweetwater on the Memorial Footbridge. One of them is a pretty well fed pioneer, don't you think?
Taken from the Martin Cove area, looking down toward the Sweet Water River and the valley it runs through. The original National Trail is about a mile away towards the mountains that are in the back ground. It was the 'super highway to the west' back in the mid eighteen hundreds. I think these pioneers have on as much clothing or more for this sixty degree but windy day than those of the Martin Company did for a 10 below day with forty to fifty mile an hour winds. That is why were are called "fair weather" pioneers.
The Women's Pull - They do this with all the youth treks that come. The guys say goodbye to the girls and they walk up the hill and have a talk about how many of the men died or were called away and the women had responsibility for the family. The idea is to help the men appreciate the women in their lives and understand what many of the pioneer women had to go through. The women are talked to about some of the women that ended up traveling across to Zion without their husband. The men then line up along both sides of the trail, take off their hats, and watch in silence as the women have to pull the carts up this tough sand hill. This is all done in silence and no matter what, the men cannot step in and help. It is a very spiritual experience for all. There are some amazing things that happen with the youth when they do this.
This is the statue of one of the four rescuers that carried the people across the Sweetwater. Without discussing it, both of us felt that one represents C. A. Huntington. When we walked up to it both of us looked at him and couldn't believe how he looked like a Huntington. I couldn't help but get quite emotional. The Fenns, who are our directors, are related to Nellie Unthank whose statue is in Cedar on the SUU campus. They believe that it represents Nellie that he is carrying. I like to think that it is Mary Barton Allen, my great, great grandmother who was fourteen when she came with the Martin Company. Her father and two younger sisters died and she came into the the SL Valley with her step mother.
Our first snake of the year! Oh well, it's just a blow snake. At every post and in every rover there is a snake catcher, made from PVC pipe.
Looks like a couple of pioneers to me. Elder Turek and Elder Swope pushing our cart over the Sweetwater on the Memorial Footbridge. One of them is a pretty well fed pioneer, don't you think?
Taken from the Martin Cove area, looking down toward the Sweet Water River and the valley it runs through. The original National Trail is about a mile away towards the mountains that are in the back ground. It was the 'super highway to the west' back in the mid eighteen hundreds. I think these pioneers have on as much clothing or more for this sixty degree but windy day than those of the Martin Company did for a 10 below day with forty to fifty mile an hour winds. That is why were are called "fair weather" pioneers.
Love it, I'm feeling like I must come there to see it! I can see why it is a very spiritual experience. Love you guys. Barb
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