Day 1 of trek , July 18, 2013

 These are pictures from the Harp's camera.  Bro. McKinney our photographer and Pres. Gledhill will share their photos and videos at our back to school fireside in August.

 Hunter and Bro. Studer arranging the handcarts before most people arrive.

 All 9 of the handcarts lined up and ready to be filled with family belongings and provisions.

The West/Low Company getting to know each other.

 The Martineau/Gledhill Company getting to know each other.

 The Haws Company

 The Haws/Hastings company after receiving their supplies from the quarter master, Bro. McKinney.

 The Brimhall/Nall Company acquainting themselves with each other after they had gotten their supplies.

 Ethan thinking about this new adventure. 

 The Mount/Clark family receiving instructions and advice from Pres. Chadwick.

 President Chadwick welcoming all the trekkers.  Sis. Harp was reviewing notes prior to pulling. 

 Bro. and Sis. Hahn serenading us off as we departed.

 Hunter and Ethan smiling pretty.

 Sis. Brimhall is ready to go.

 The Haws/Hastings company is ready to go.  Just waiting for the signal.

 What are we waiting for?

 Trail boss, President Chadwick and his lovely wife Brenda.  What troopers for braving the conditions to make this happen.

 And we are all!

 Sis. Chadwick makes an adjustment for Pres. Chadwick.

 The West/Low Company is the lead handcart family.  

 Sis. Martineau is ready.

 Following the West/Low Company is the Martineau/Gledhill company.

 The Brimhall/Nall company is all smiles.

 The Haws/Hastings are coming up fast.

 Sis. Haws always had a skip in her step. 

 The Mount/Clark family is the caboose of the operation.  

Aunt Kendra Clark is ready to lead her family

 Sis. Mount thinking about this adventure.  Will they all make it back safe and sound?

Anna Nelson is ready to go with a smile on her face.

 From the rear of the group.  What an awesome site to see.  Nine handcart families with 62 youth and 16 leaders all prepared to be challenged mentally and physically.

 Bro. Barrowes came to support Jody.  He even brought her a chair along so she could rest comfortably>  What a great Dad.

Entering the first path in the woods.  Everyone is optimistic, cheerful and smiling.

Jodi and her Dad walking hand in hand.

 Sis. Haws running to catch up.  She couldn't pass up the ladies room before entering the great forest.

 Bro. Studer and Bro. Edwards.  They followed us along on the first day.  They kept the coolers filled with refreshing water, ice and gatorade.  They helped transport people out that were unable to proceed.  They were amazing..

The Marineau/Gledhill Company successfully crossed the creek.  They were taking a breather and waitin for their turn to go up the steep mountain terrain.

Everyone had to choose which path to go up the mountain.  Either straight up, but that had alot of large roots or to take a tight "S" turn and go to the left.  All of the families took the Left.

The West family was the first to egress the steep hill (mountain).  They really worked hard together and pulled as a team.

It's tough to be the first group up.

Lots of people, including these young women came running down the hill to help the other companies.  It so touched me to hear them saying, "we have to help the others."  Most people helped and went up the terrain at least 3 times.

More youth coming back down!  How awesome!!

They came running so to help quicker! 

Everyone is in a resting place.  There are rocks under the wheels, securing them in place.  Now it is time to rest, refresh and hydrate.

Devin Bowen was all smiles.

President West helped every family get up the mountain.

Off to the next adventure.  We are all still breathing hard, but our good trail boss is pressing forward.

We found a level spot for all the handcarts to pull in at.  The "gator" came through and replendished our water.  Everyone enjoyed the cool, shady spot to revive ourselves.

It's hard to see this, but as we were waititng we heard a different type of noise.  It was a gentle rain falling through the leaves.  It was a tender mercy, just enough to refresh but not enough to muddy the trails. 

It wouldn't be a stop with trees without some monkey to climb them.

Putting a shoe back on that had come off in the thick, gushy mud.

Mud so thick that many people lost their shoes. No way to go around it, just had to go through it.

Another stretch of a break.  We had some wheels that needed attention.

What a good Ma Sis. Mount is.  She was refreshing everyone so they could cool off.

Fixing the wounded.

Drink up!

Some on trail fun!

Go Sis. Brimhall Go!!!

Coming back into camp.  They came running!  It sounded like a stampede.

The West/Low family has arrived.  They look tired but fulfilled.

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Martineau family is all smiles.

Sis. Haws was always running every where she went.

Brimhall family coming in to rest.

Bro. Haws coming in as well.

Note worthy events of the day.  We trekked during the hottest day on record so far for the summer of 2013.  It got up to 96* with 90% humidity.  It was hard to dry out.  We started the trek out with 63 youth.  Two girls went home during the first night.  We gained 2 more girls during the first night as well.  So it still evened out. We started trekking with 9 handcarts.  There were 2 handcarts per large families for a total of 8 and one handcart per smaller family.  Everyone was kind, tolerant, thoughtful and helpful.  We enjoyed great food on our first day.  Everyone brought a sack lunch.  We had snacks of beef jerky and dried fruit.  Our dinner meal was biscuits and bean/sausage soup. Each family cooked for themselves and filled their bellies. Our evening activities were skits by the families and pioneer vignettes by Bro. and Sis. Meadows and Sis. Studer and Sis. Crowe. The Hahn's led us in group singing of songs from our trek journals. Lights out was 10:00pm and it was dark by then.  Sometime during the night, raccoons came and visited each of the sites.  Little damage was done but they sure got a lot of attention.  The temperature only dropped to about 80* the first night.  The humidity was still high through the night.  Our wonderful priesthood took turns at sentry duty surviving 2 hour shifts through the night until morning.  They were awesome! During the day, we had very light rain and lots of rumblings of thunder.  Louisville,E0town and Radcliffe all experienced thunder storms and rain.  We were spared that discomfort.  It was a tender mercy.