Martins Cove Trip

Just before leaving on our trek

Luke in his wrap

The outdoor privy

Water break

Jack asleep in the handcart

The makeshift baby carrier

Handcart cover to keep children dry

Sister Pauline Bagley

My mom

Stayin' dry

Reid fell asleep like this on our way

from Martins Cove to the Willie CenterPlaying kick-ball with the kids

Back in June Victor 3rd Ward was able to go to Martins Cove. Our ward had been planning the trip for more than 6 months prior to going. The most common groups that usually go are the youth with their leaders but our ward opened it up to anyone that wanted to from those with little children to empty nesters. We were so excited to experience Martins Cove and we were on board from the beginning. At one point I mentioned to my parents that we were going to be doing this, they were right in the middle of reading "Fire of the Covenant" and asked if there was any way that they could come with us. We asked our Bishop and, of course, he said yes. As time went on and the plans became more concrete it was looking as though my mom wouldn't be able to come. June is a busy time for her at work so it was questionable whether she could make it or not. So we planned on Dad for sure and hoped that Mom would be able to make it. The week before we were to leave I got a call from my Dad telling me Mom was going to be able to come. It brought tears to my eyes knowing that she would be there to share in this experience! The leaders really did an amazing job planning the whole trip from the opening "ceremony" at 6:15am to the food to the treks. With taking little children they gave us a choice of two treks, a 10 mile trek or a 4 mile trek. We opted for the 4 mile and it was great! To give you an idea of how things went, first of all, we were required to be in pioneer clothing from the time we arrived at Martins Cove until we got home which meant we spent some time prior to the trek making skirts and bonnets for the ladies and rounding up khaki pants and long sleeved, button up shirts for the men and boys. Next, everyone was split up into groups with about 8 families per group, each group had a group leader and then 5 or 6 groups were put into a company. Justin was a group leader which meant he was in charge of making sure our people had everything they needed such as water and that they were doing okay on the trek. We assigned about 3 families per hand cart which made it easier to switch off pulling and keeping track of all the little children, which there were a lot of! We left at 6:30am on June 25th and drove to Martins Cove. We arrived at the visitors center around lunchtime and ate our sack lunches, used the restrooms and the group leaders got a little lesson in pulling the handcarts. Next we watched a movie giving a bit of insight into the history at Martins Cove. From there we all started the 2 mile trek up to the actual Martins Cove. At this point you were not required to have a handcart so most of us just walked with our children. Once you get to a certain point on the trail you are asked to be very reverent as you are entering a hallowed place. Our ward decided that we would leave the little children at this point where they would stay and do some activities with some of the adult leaders as to keep the reverence at the Cove. I was really disappointed because I really wanted to be in the Cove but with four little ones I felt I needed to stay and help with them. Janie went with Justin and my parents up to the Cove while I stayed back. If you have ever been there you know the spirit that is felt there, it is truly amazing to be in a place where so many struggled to survive all because of their strong testimony of the gospel. So as we waited for the group to get back I was thinking I had missed my chance to be in Martins Cove, as I was watching for people to start coming down the trail I looked up and I see my mother running back down the trail, now remember, it was a very warm June day and the hike isn't short. As soon as I saw my mom running back I knew she was coming for me, to take my kids so that I could see Martins Cove, it brought tears to my eyes. Before she was back to the trail head I started jogging up the trail to meet her, my dad was a short distance behind her and was waiting to hike back up to the Cove with me. My dad filled me in on a few of the stories the missionaries told while the group was up there and it was amazing. Once we were there the couple missionaries that were there shared another story with us and I have to say the spirit was unmistakable. President Hinckley has said that the Martins Cove is hallowed ground, the difference between hallowed and sacred is that the Savior has been on hallowed ground!! AMAZING! I am so grateful to have been able to go up there and for my mom racing back so that I could. I am grateful that Janie was able to go with Justin up to hear and learn about Martins Cove as well. By the time my dad and I got back to the main trail the rest of the ward was already halfway back to the visitor center so my dad and I got to have a nice hike with just the two of us. After we arrived back at the visitor center we loaded up the vehicles and drove back to the Willie Center where we were going to be staying. Now the difference between Martins Cove and the Willie Center is that the Martin company camped in the cove to be sheltered from the storm and which is where many of their dead were buried. The Willie company camped near the Sweetwater River which is where we were camping. So all this happened Thursday. Once we got to the Willie Center we set up camp and had dinner then hit the sack after a very long day. Friday we woke up to rain, this was the day we were to go on our actual trek with handcarts and all. The missionaries working there said they always pray for inclement weather so that we can get a better idea of what the pioneers went through. After breakfast we loaded our handcarts, put on our rain ponchos, took a few pictures, listened to the inspiring message given by our leaders and we were off. The overcast sky and drizzle of rain kept the mosquito's at bay, which was a great relief and it kept us cool. Most of the children walked while the really little ones rode in the carts or where carried by their parents. At one point we stopped for a water break and were visiting somewhat when I looked over and saw one of my dear friends with tears in her eyes. Her baby was a few months old and to keep him warm and protected from the rain she had zipped him up in her jacket. I didn't realize that she had been carrying him all this way with no baby carrier to help support his weight, her arms and back were exhausted and it didn't help that her skirt was hard to walk in. I felt so bad because I had been carrying Luke in a wrap and had an extra sling in my car which I would have happily loaned her. After a few tears and some much needed hugs we made a makeshift sling out of the jacket she had been wearing. People probably thought I was crazy but at least it helped support some of the weight of the baby and made it a bit easier to trek. As we walked along getting muddy and wet, trying to help kids across puddles and soothing babies I was struck by how much we need each other. That we have to work together to get where we are trying to get. As fathers traded places pulling carts so others could tend to the children and as parents carried sleeping babies, the spirit really touched me. Our experience was glorious compared to what the pioneers really went through but to get a small glimpse into some of what they must have felt was a life changing experience for me. Next was the Women's Pull. Now this didn't happen to the Martin or Willie companies but to a previous company. At one point during their trek the men were asked to join the Mormon Battalion and fight against Mexico in California. The men felt it was their duty to go and defend our freedoms, by doing this they left the women and children to go on alone. This was before the point called Rocky Ridge, as you can imagine by the name it was one of the most difficult parts of the trek and these women had to do it on their own. We weren't at the actual Rocky Ridge but it was similar in that it was very steep and somewhat rocky. A man dressed in army uniform came and asked our men to go with him, the difference was that the men went and stood along this "Rocky Ridge" and had to watch their wives and their children struggle to make it up the mountain. Before we did this both the women and the men were spoken to, in separate groups, about the importance of working together in their marriages and how important our spouses are. As we all reached the top of the mountain there wasn't a dry eye around! It was quite the experience! After the climb we went back down the trail and started the trip back. We crossed the Sweetwater River and had a nice talk there about leaving our problems in the river, like throwing a rock into the water and watching it disappear. The rest of the way, we walked, carried tired children, pulled the handcarts and and swatted mosquito's. The weather was perfect with slightly overcast skies which kept things somewhat cool. When we arrived back to camp we were very tired and very hungry. We ate and then rested while we waited for the 10 milers to get back. Saturday morning we packed up camp and headed for Rock Creek Hollow. This is a very sacred place where 13 more were burried in a common grave. We had a short program and then testimony meeting before traveling home. The Spirit I felt not only on the trek but even before while planning and getting ready for the trek were so strong. I was moved to tears a number of times just thinking about the trials that these pioneers went through, the loved ones they lost along the way and the strong testimonies they had. I hope that if you ever have the chance to visit Martins Cove that you jump on it, your life will be ever changed for the better.