Rough Riders or rough ridin'?

Our number came up to monitor a trek group on the National Historic Trail over Rocky Ridge. We were 9 1/2 hours and went 14 miles or so. The group took several breaks for various reasons and that's what saved us from being hauled IN in a handcart or hauled OUT by Life Flight. We're still a little sore and it's been 2 days. Ibuprofin helped a lot. There must have been a dozen ma's & pa's/kids say, "My parents would sure like to do a mission like this." We didn't do monitoring in 2005 when we were here before.

Rocky Ridge is a climb of 700 ft in 2 miles. Imagine doing it in sub zero weather, in a snow storm. The rocks are pretty worn down where the kids are on the trail but in the other picture you can see better how the rocks are standing on end. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Many different groups used this trail including: Mormon Pioneers, Oregon, California and Pony Express. The miracle of the Willie Company (and the Martin Co. too) is that any one at all lived through this ordeal. The Lord was watching over and protecting them. There was much of sadness but many miracles and triumph of the human spirit. We too, can trust in the Lord during our trials and though he doesn't remove them like we would like, sometimes, He still is blessing us. Lives are being changed including our own.

Our youth of the noble birthright are still 'Mormon Pioneers'. Hurrah for Israel!!!

6th Crossing Celebration

Veldon gave his reading by John Mitchum, "America, Why I Love Her" and everyone went outside to retire five or six worn out flags, with all due respect. The veterans in the picture from left to right are mostly Elders: Dastrup, Kaiser's son, Coe, Mitten, Noble, Charles (neighbor), Seymore & Kotter. Aren't these the cutest pictures of Kaisers g-kids? We sure miss being with our grand kids. Elder Misken (our fearless leader) is saying, "Rachel, get in. Rachel, Get In. Rachel, GET IN." I loved it. Kinda' like herdin' sheep. Miskin's have been here a year and a half. Their children came from all over the country for a family reunion here. (These probably won't be in the order I wanted them to be but I don't know how to rearrange them.)

Celebrating the 4th of July

The Bills family in Lander, WY puts on the most fabulous fire works with patriotic narrations and music. The missionaries (seniors and young ones) serve up free watermelon and ice cream before the fire works start. The scouts raised a hugh flag up on a crane. We tell everyone how we fire the anvil in Taylor, AZ. In the old movie, Shane, the old timers fire an anvil.

Popoagie Falls

For those of you who went to the Sinks while you were here, where the river goes underground and comes up at the rise, the Popoagie River is what makes the Sinks. It's strange how the river roars like a lion going into the Sinks and comes out like a lamb a quarter of mile further down but it takes 4 hours for the water to make the trip. They've dyed the water to see how long it takes.

We walked up to the Popoagie Falls, 1 1/2 miles each way. The elevation goes up 600 feet in one mile. It seems like climbing stairs forever. Up, up & up. There were a lot of hikers going and coming. One young man had been up on the mountain 4 nights. There was so much snow higher up that he couldn't go any further. The river is loud with the white water rapids screaming down through the canyon. Loved it. It was overcast most of the time and threatening rain, at least it thundered a lot. We carried black plastic bags in case it poured down. There's a place where they slide (sliderock) about a 20 ft drop into a pool. One group of kids had to 'save' their friend from drowning. The river's too high to be fooling around in it now. Awful cold too. It is really spectacular and worth all the effort to get there. The pictures don't do it justice. Just can't get it all in one shot. Come see it for yourself.

Trekkers

Friday, June 27th, was a biiiggg day for us. Elder Seymore talked to 4 trek groups and I talked to four -- we tell them the story of the rescue of the Willie Company. Close to 800 in those 8 groups. The bridge the trekkers are going over was built in Dec. '05 by the Elders while we were here. They used floor jacks on the ice to keep it level while they ran the bolts through the poles to keep it altogether. One girl was on crutches -- reminded me of Chantz doing his trek on crutches. One of the boys said, "I danced with you last nite." We help with the Virginia Reel and Oh, Johnny, Oh. For the younger generation, that's old fashioned dances. We go from talks, dancing, cleaning toilets, spreading dirt, painting--you name it, we do it. We had about 1500 trekkers during the week. We just hope they take something from here that will help them throughout their lives.

Flake's/Pony Express

We had a really nice treat when the Flake tribe showed up for the Pony Express Ride they did. Tawna Flake-Posegate and her dad Sank did a fireside for the 6th Crossing/Willie Site Missionaries. Tawna has the coolest electric violin and she knows just how to make it sing. Wow! They camped a couple of nites in the family campground and boarded their beautiful paint horses in the pasture. Shae & Yvette's family was delightful. The Pony Express switched riders in the parking lot of the Willie Welcome Center around 9pm. They come flyin' in and then the next rider bails on his horse and away he goes. It was all very exciting. Sank, Shae & Derek rode from Jeffrey City (20 miles east of here) to Alcova (about 40 miles this side of Casper). The four in their group rode over 2 miles each and then switched horses and riders from about 11 pm to 5am. I'd guess they rode about 50 miles altogether. Ask them, they'd love to tell you all about it. Derek has been in Doug's scout troop but he's turning 16 and moving on. Little Melanie said, "I'll tell Brynn I saw you." So cute. So good to see someone from home.

Guess who came to the Willie Site/6th Crossing? We knew one of the Elko Nevada Stakes was coming and knew that Carmen and Lenn's son, Lee Shumway, is a stake president in Elko-- yep it was his stake and he said they had a wonderful time and spiritual experiences and he's bringing his family back in the future --distant future (they have a missionary coming home and a daughter getting married and the Shumway reunion at their place) to go over Rocky Ridge. The youth did baptisms in the Salt Lake Temple for their own ancestors on their way home. Their stake had a close encounter with a couple who is Scootin' Across America--he's riding one of those bikes that you lay down on and she is driving a pretty small motorized scooter pulling a little trailer. They stayed an extra day here and went part way on Elko's trek. Kool. Mr. or Mrs. Majka writes everyday on their website:majka.us (click on journals, click on Muddy Gap, Wy to Mormon Handcart Visitors Center and return & Muddy Gap to Sweetwater Station, Wy (that's where we are). It's interesting, hope you take time to look at their site. It's mostly right on and from an outsider's perspective it's great. Has some great pictures. They committed to read the Book of Mormon and "We will" they said on their site. We visited and ate turkey dinner with them --that he writes about. I like the part when he explains our pack it in/pack it out garbage policy--then he says something like it's o.k. if you have 6 support vechicles along with you. You can't believe the stuff people bring up here. Last week one group brought a refrigerated semi-truck. You can't believe what a stake president remembers from his time in Webelos Den--making a little red tool box when Elder Seymore was den leader. It was such a treat to see the Shumway's, Pres. Lee, Becky and daughter Miriam (isn't she Shumway all over or does she look more like her mom?) The missionaries were very impressed by this stake.