For two weekends in the Spring and another three weekends in the Fall we hold Trek Leader Training.
Leaders of trek groups are required to attend one of these sessions in order to bring their groups here. We have many stake and ward youth groups, but we also have ward family treks and many family reunions.
In preparation for their arrival our missionaries already had the handcarts out and ready for the Trek Leaders to pull.
We start out at Martin's Cove where they all come to register, get a packet of information, and a nametag showing us where they are from.
Then we all meet in the Trek Center - a large, log building that can hold about 300 people - and they are given an overview of what will be taking place for the next 2 days. This time we were treated by a harmonica playing a solo of Come, Come, Ye Saints. Then we watched a video produced by one of the Spanish Fork stakes after they came last year. It is very well done and gives the trek leaders a great example for their own trek experience.
Just before the trek leaders left the building, Elder Bushman, our Trek Coordinator, set the mood for the trek by talking about how difficult it was for those freezing, starving, exhausted pioneers to even cross the little stream known as Pete's Creek.
Then everyone got a chance to do just that as they began their trek.
These trek leaders got trained on how to handle a medical emergency . . .
. . . and how long it takes to get 250 people through a potty stop (about 45 minutes.)
Then they did a Women's Pull and then went to one of the river crossings where one of the sisters was stationed there playing Come, Come, Ye Saints on her flute. The river was deep, fast, and cold, so we did not encourage our trek leaders to cross, although a few did it anyway.
They came over Footbridge instead.
They were shown the statues sculpted in 2006 by Rusty Bowers to represent the young men from Salt Lake - "the Valley Boys" - who carried many of the weary members of the Martin Company across the Sweetwater River, which was full of ice that day, so they could take refuge in Martin's Cove.
Everyone ate lunch at Handcart Parking and then left their carts behind as they first listened to stories at Dan Jones Amphitheater and then headed up into Martin's Cove.
They spent a few minutes at the tip of Martin's Cove looking out over where those handcart pioneers would have camped, and trying to imagine the destitute conditions they were in.
Then everyone headed back down the other side and met at the Cove Overlook for a few more stories and the chance to look out over the vastness of the Wyoming plains - exactly the view the handcart pioneers would have seen.
In the evening we were all treated to a wonderful meal prepared by our excellent cooks, and we trained them all about how to dress on their treks, what kinds of medical personnel and vehicles they need to bring, how to prepare simple but nutritious meals for their groups, and how to have a fun experience with the Pony Express. Finally we took them out and taught them how to square dance so they can teach it to their group members.
The following day - Saturday - we did a different kind of presentation at Sixth Crossing so the Trek Leaders had a chance to visit both sites. Elder Moench spoke and went over the Trek Guide, Sister Bushman and Sister Martin spoke, and another wonderful trek video was shown. Then we did a Readers' Theater with journal entries from some of the handcart pioneers, and finished with Come Take Your Place, a presentation inviting some of the Trek Leaders to come up front and represent all of them as it is now time for them to go home and prepare for their upcoming treks. Everyone did such a wonderful job, and we hope it helped and inspired all those Trek Leaders.
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