Yes folks, it's that time of year again for our stake's youth conference. Every 4 years, the youth go on a Pioneer Trek that vaguely recreates the journey the pioneers took many years ago. These youth and the "Ma and Pa's" (adult couples) that join them, experience an incredibly grueling 3 day trek across the "plains" of the Marriott Ranch.

Here's their fearless leader before he set off for Day 1! (Notice the surrounding pioneer surrounding?? ha ha Lillie and I, along with 3 children from the family of the 1st counselor, stayed in a nearby hotel during the 3 day adventure)

Here are the beautiful wives of the 1st and 2nd counselors. Anyone associated with the trek are required to dress in period clothing. That means full length dresses, or skirts and blouses, bloomers, aprons, and bonnets and/or hats for the women.
From L to R, Brother Isaacson, a high counselor in the stake and supply man on the trek, Brother Davis and Sister Slade, our Stake YM and YW president.

After the kids are separated into their "families", the first task is for each family to build their handcart.

Two youth from our ward. So cute!

Here is the President Williams, the first counselor in the stake presidency, with his son, who is a youth and was on trek, and his wife.

"Pioneer children sang as they walked, and walked, and walked, and walked..."

Up hills and down hills...

in 90 degree weather, for at least 9 miles on the first day.

Brief moments of rest before proceeding.

At one point, the youth are blindfolded and told to continue their trek.

During the actual days of the pioneers, for various reasons, women were often left to travel with the children alone. To recreate this amazing feat, the young women experience the "women's pull". The girls pull the carts themselves, with no help from the young men, up a steep hill. No one is allowed to speak during this time and the only way the boys can help is by fanning the girls with their hats. The women's pull usually ends up being the most spiritual part of the trek for the girls AND the boys. Each experience a great empathetic appreciation for one another and the pioneers who suffered such trials.

The hill is steep, so much so that girls are told before hand, to arrange themselves so that some girls are actually rotating the wheels.

Aaaaahh! Base camp! The youth walked through the day and ended at their first destination around 1am! At this point they were given a cup of broth and a bread roll. The next morning, they packed their things and walked for another 3 miles to base camp where they set up their things for the day. At base camp, games and activities were planned for the kids to have a little down time. Keola and I joined the youth at this point and helped with the activities. Conveniently, there are no pictures of me in my garb, but let's just say, it was "pioneery"!

That night, a dinner of stew and bread, cooked over an open flame by each family, was made and a hoe down was planned with a live fiddle band and fun was had by all!

One of the activities planned was hair washing. This consisted of 2 metal buckets, some bio-degradeable shampoo, and a creek. The kids LOVED this part because it was the few times they were able to cool off and feel a tiny bit clean.

Oh, I was mistaken, there is one picture of me...well, my back. In the lower right corner, there I am in a blue dress with the bonnet hanging around my neck. I was "in charge" of the hair washing.

The next morning, the kids were joined by their bishops and had a testimony meeting. Then they packed up their things, and walked out another 3/4 mile to their waiting parents. Lillie and I traveled home with one of the counselors wives and their children earlier in the afternoon while Keola and his counselors joined the youth for the last day. The stake presidency finally headed home around 7pm that evening. It was a difficult 3 days for these youth, but I hope they gained a greater appreciation for their pioneer heritage. As for us, Lillie had a great time playing with friends, staying in a hotel and swimming at the pool. I got the tiniest of tastes of what trek was all about enjoyed getting to know one of the counselors wives better. In the end, we returned home with some aching muscles, stiff bodies, jammed toes, stinky clothes, and a greater appreciation for air conditioning, modern conveniences and eachother!