Trek this year took place on a church patron's working farm and property in Western KY. It really was a great place for the kids to experience just a tiny bit of what the pioneers had to go through while crossing the plains to the Salt Lake Valley!

The first thing that happened was the assigning of families. Kids ages 14-18 were put in random families with a Ma and a Pa. Sometimes the kids knew some of the siblings in their families but sometimes they didn't. I was impressed how well all of the families got along and worked together! Many of the kids made lasting friendships.

The kids packed their belonging into a 5 gallon bucket (which would also serve as a seat) which were than placed on the handcart. Pioneer clothes only and absolutely no phones! I thought it couldn't be done, but I did not see one phone, from any of the youth, the entire Trek!

The trail boss Rex and leader Sydney giving the Ma's & Pa's last minuet instructions.The hike began on the road, but this was the only time the handcarts were travel on an actual road. They made their way to "Nauvoo" a different barn where the kids would trade their Nauvoo dollars for goods such as sugar, fabric etc. for the long trip. They were encouraged to spend all of their money since it would be no good to them on Trek.

Our fearless young women leaders, who really put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into planning Trek!Marcella and I helped with the trading of money for goods!

The kids took it very seriously and really thought about what would be of most benefit for use, or for trading along the trail.

It was then time to start trekking! There were many hills to conquer that first day and the weather was extremely hot and humid. We actually had three girls end up with heat exhaustions so we ended taking them to our nurses station to cool down.

The kids did an amazing job, and I was so impressed with them!

Every couple of miles there would be a trading post where the kids would trade the supplies they got from Nauvoo (sugar, fabric etc.) for things they could really use like Gatorade and chips!

At the end of the day they headed back to the main barn for dinner and to set up camp.

Hanging out with Thoney, Nicole, and Rex who were all wiped-out and overheated!

The families started cooking cobbler in their Dutch ovens,

While our wonderful kitchen grew served tacos and watermelon!

Rex's cobbler gave him new life!

After dinner it was time to set up the tents. My tent and Marcella's tent are the two orange ones in the pic above!As if the kids weren't exhausted enough, it was then time for square dancing! I filled in for some families that were short on girls, and it was really fun! Even the kids had a great time!

Every evening, and different times throughout the day, the families would get in a circle and have little devotionals, or just talk and get to know one another better.During this family devotional time, I just sat and watched a huge farm machine in the distance, turn rows of grass into hug rolls of hay.

After eating breakfast and breaking camp the next morning, it was another long day of serous trekking. I was the trail nurse so I followed the handcarts the entire day!

The weather was again very hot and humid, but the kids took numerous water & Gatorade breaks which was combined with true pioneer stories told by adults, who ancestors came across the Plains!

Some of the story tellers...their ancestor's experiences would bring a tear to anyone's eyes!

Also on this day, all the able-bodied men were "called to war" so the woman had push and pull the handcarts for part of the time. I helped push this cart (I'm the one with the backpack) because one of the girls was sick from heat exhaustion so I pushed in her place.

I also walked behind this young man because he accidentally pulled his insulin pump out, so I just made sure he arrived at our second camp site without any issues.

View of the place we stayed the second night. It was pretty tight on the top of that little hill! Once our tents were up and we were in the middle of eating dinner a huge storm came through and blew over several tents, ruining some in the process. Several kid's sleeping bags also got soaked. The leader's magically came up with a new 20-person tent to house those who were without a tent.

Finally, around 9:30 pm, the clouds began to clear somewhat! Luckily, my tent was small enough that it did not blow over, but I did have a mote around the inside of it since one of my plastic windows had fallen off, letting the rain blow into my tent. However, the middle of my tent was ok so I slept relatively dry all night!

The next day, we lucked out weather wise which allowed us to have a full morning (after putting the tents down) of fun, playing pioneer game and making pioneer crafts ...

That afternoon the kids trekked back down to the main barn which represented the Salt Lake Valley!

But luckily for them, the Salt Lake Temple had already been built!

The last bit of trekking included a steep muddy trail leading to a beautiful waterfall!

The waterfall and rock overhang were picturesque!

After some touching remarks from our leaders and some of the kids, it was time to ...

Get wet!!!! (Marcella and I watching in the background).

It looked too inviting because we too were melting!! So we got in the waterfall and it was heavenly! The perfect ending to a perfect Trek!!