The Trek

Tyaan came home safely from our stake youth handcart trek. It was a great experience and it sounds like she had a really good time.

On the first day it was very hot and they went about 6 1/2 miles. It was the furthest distance they covered in 1 day. There were 7 handcarts total and about 10-12 youth per 'family' along with a ma & pa. There were also several other leaders that went to help.


Here is Russell and Ty ready to get going again. I had several people tell me that they were 2 of the strongest trekkers. They actually won an award for "super trekkers" on the first day.




One morning all of the men and young men were taken for a 'meeting' and ended up walking ahead, leaving the girls alone to pick up camp and get the handcarts going. They went for a while on a downhill slope, but as they turned a corner there was a steep hill. The young men were waiting at the top of the hill but the stake president drew a line that they weren't able to cross and couldn't touch the handcart until it had gone further than that. It was apparently hard for the boys to watch all of the girls get those handcarts up that hill so they prayed, sang and encouraged them. The girls all worked together to get each handcart up. Tyaan helped with all 7 handcarts, and had to convince her ma that she could go back for the last one. She's a strong girl and I had dozens of people approach me to tell me how hard she worked, how much she impressed them, what a great leader she is, and even that she always had a smile on her face. What a girl!


One of the handcarts going up. Notice the guys along the side giving encouragement.


Tyaan and a few of her 'brothers'

There's that smile!


The last day they climbed Testimony Hill. It is long, uphill, and in many places extremely steep. It took a lot of endurance, and teamwork to get all the handcarts to the top. Jon and I had the opportunity to drive down and back up this hill with one of the leaders that had a rhino (4 seater, 4x4 vehicle) and I was stunned at how long this hill was. I pictured one big hill, but it was a long, windy, up and down (mostly up) dirt path. I am so impressed with these youth.



Once they reached the top of the hill they would head back down to help the next handcart come up. From where we were waiting at the end of the trek we could see the top of the hill. We saw the first handcart make it to the top and waited about 45 minutes before they had gotten them all there. Tyaan said that the whole way up the hill they didn't know how much further until the first handcart got to the top and could see us all down below. She said the message got passed all they way down that they were almost there and they were able to work together to get the last of the trek done.



Once all 7 hancarts were at the top of Testimony Hill it was a short downhill section to where we were all waiting to bring them in. This is Tyaan's group, who was first in line, coming in. They were all singing Come Come ye Saints and looked very happy to be 'home'.



She's finally back. We really missed her but are so glad that she got such a great opportunity. She always does good, and impresses us. We love her and are always so proud of her.