Pioneer Trek - Walk As A Witness

Mel and I returned from the 3 day pioneer trek on Saturday. This is one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I have so much respect for the youth, and all the leaders, Ma's, and Pa's who came with us. Words couldn't do justice to the feelings I felt and the lessons I learned.


Our trek was around a beautiful area in Cedar Canyon:


There was only one thing I didn't like about the trek: my allergies went NUTZ! My nose was running like a broken water fountain and my eyes looked like I had been sucking back on Grandpa's cough medicine for five days straight.

Our dinner on the second night made some people queezy (including me). The meal had a beaks. And feathers. And some big ol' attitudes. I prefer to not eat anything that I've had to look in the eyes.

These kids were strong, bold, and inspiring. There was a "Women's Pull" during one particularly challening section of the hike. It was so hard to watch the girls pushing by themselves. The boys all went ahead and moved rocks along the path to make it easier.

During a fireside that night, a young girl who is wise beyond her years said something profound. She said that she was in the back of the cart and couldn't see anything ahead of her. She didn't know that the boys were ahead moving rocks. She said "I think this is how our lives are. I think there are probably angels ahead of us moving rocks to make our paths easier and we don't even know they're there."

I'm not a very emotional person but there were a few times over the three days that I was brought to tears. The fireside was one of those times. I couldn't even blame it on the allergies.


I was so thankful to have Mel with me for the whole weekend. I can't think of anyone I would have rather shared this experience with. And it was quite funny to watch her get tossed by Elizabeth during the stick pull.

Our weekend was a truly unforgetable experience. Every single person there - everyone - made a deep impression on me. The theme of the trek was "Walk As A Witness". I hope I can do this.