After our windy night's sleep and some yummy breakfast of breakfast sandwiches, we headed to the trail again. We trekked from our campsite to the pit stop. This became one of our frequented stops.
The kids were all great about drinking lots of water.
Taking a break in the shade.
A good view of the handcart.
We were able to cross the Sweetwater. It was nothing like the river that the pioneers had to cross. Our crossing was a little chilly, but it felt refreshing on our feet. It didn't have ice chunks floating down the river or partially frozen over in other parts. It wasn't that cold.
And we had dry shoes and socks to put on after. The pioneers were so desperate for clothing and blankets by this point. They just wore their frozen socks and shoes if they had them.
It is a breath taking view of the cove. Nice green grass and blue skies. Nothing like the pioneers white snow and grey skies.
Our next stop was at the monuments dedicated to the young men that came to the rescue to help the pioneers cross the river again. They were all young. Two were teenagers and the others were in their 20s. It is humbling to think of these boys who sacrificed their comfort and well being to help these poor destitute people. They suffered ill effects for the rest of their lives. I'm sure those who were rescued will never forget.
Brent did a little talk about this. He emphasized that these were Aaronic priesthood holders. Much like the boys in our ward.
And look at those mighty boys who will soon be rescuing people spiritually as missionaries.
Just some shots of the area.
We hiked to the actual cove.
As we rounded this corner, a sweet lady in our ward was playing Come, Come, Ye Saints on her violin. It was powerful. You could feel the spirit in the cove. I know those pioneer spirits are there to testify.
You can't really see it very well. But there is a stump hiding in the leaves. A man was dying and frozen. The leaders told him to go chop some wood for a fire. He was so weak, he laid on the ground to chop the wood. So the chop marks go up instead of down. By chopping the wood, he warmed his body, and saved his life.
I think this is the part where they believe many bodies are buried.
Look! Some beauty in the desert.
Looking back at the cove from the other side.
Brent got to wear a red arm band to show that he was the medical staff. Luckily, all he had to deal with was blisters!
This is a distant view of Devil's Gate, which was a landmark for the traveling pioneers.
This monument is for the first rescue of the pioneers. For the boys that came to carry them across the frozen river.
Across the river is another monument. this one is for the second rescue. In 1992, some members from a Wyoming Stake did all the temple work for the members of the Willie and Martin handcart companies who died before receiving their temple work. So the second rescue was for their spirits.
Devil's Gate.
What a fine group of people!
That night the Pony Express brought the kids some mail.
The Mormon Pioneer Trail is "a trail of tragedy, a trail of faith, a trail of devotion, a trail of consecration, even the consecration of life itself..." Terrrible was the suffering of those who came her [Martin's Cove] to find some protection from the heavy storms of that early winter. With their people hungry, cold and dying from sheer exhaustion, they came up into this cove for shelter. And then they died here, some 56 people. They are buried somewhere in this earth. We stand here with bare heads and grateful hearts for their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of all who were with them along this tragic trail...[May this site be visited by] generations yet to come, who, like we, may bow their heads in reverent remembrance of our forebears who paid so costly a price for the faith which they carried in their hearts.
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, August 22, 1992
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