by Rob Samuelsen and J. J. Lamb
While some of their peers may have spent their Rodeo Break sleeping in or traveling to Disneyland, for over 300 teenagers from the Rincon and Tucson South Stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this Rodeo Break was spent building friendships in one of the
most unconventional of ways – reenacting a Mormon Pioneer Trek. Hiking on the historic Empire Ranch and modern Smith Ranch, they dressed in period costume, pulled heavy handcarts filled with their supplies, camped in freezing temperatures, and unplugged from all technology for three days. They all chose this excursion voluntarily and most of them were sad when the adventure ended.
Between 1856 and 1860, ten companies of Mormon pioneers (3,000 people) pulled handcarts 1,300 miles between Iowa City and Salt Lake City. Handcarts were used because they were cheaper and faster than wagons. Although less than 10% of Mormon pioneers came by handcart, their hardship and fortitude have become culturally memorialized 160 years later by Mormon youth “handcart treks.”
For this trek, each youth was assigned to a “family” headed by an adult couple Ma and Pa and each family included about 10 kids of varying ages and abilities. The families were organized into companies and the entire trek was led by a trail boss couple. Meals were prepared by family and tents were arranged by company. They had to trust and rely on each other in order to complete their 22-mile journey.
Pulling handcarts is hard work. The carts roll evenly on flat ground, but any rock or rut causes the cart to awkwardly jerk from side to side. Pushing and pulling uphill and downhill requires the strength and ingenuity of everyone, sometimes even the help of the entire company! On a couple of especially steep hills, the boys were asked to cheer the girls on as they managed the heavy carts themselves and then later, the girls watched the boys struggle the same way. Brooke Henderson, a Cienega High School student, remarked that “the first big hill looked impossible, but as we started pushing the cart uphill, it was hard at first, but then it felt like angels were helping!” Bob Davis, an unsuspecting spectator commented, “Wow! These kids were pushing and pulling these big carts by hand. It was cool to see!”
In our fast-paced cyber society, it’s rare to escape the chains of technology. To see the youth without smartphones, reliving their pioneer history, builds faith and appreciation for their heritage. “My ancestors had to go through so much,” said 16-year-old John Osmun. “Our trek lasted for just three days while they went for many months!” Missy Van Amburgh Blair commented, “We were camped nearby and wondered what was going on when the trek came. Our son asked one of his Mormon friends about it and received an education on it. We were amazed at how far they walked carrying the carts. I admire their fortitude. It was neat to watch as they went by us.”
Families and friends were invited to cheer their arrival at the Empire Ranch. “It was a remarkable sight,” said one spectator. “Making history while reenacting history gives these kids a real sense of their faith and heritage. For this reason, every teenager in America should participate in a Pioneer Trek!”