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LDS Church Pioneer Handcart Commemoration

Last month around 70 LDS Church youth and adult leaders from Susanville, Quincy, Loyalton, Westwood, Clear Creek, Greenville and Portola participated in a handcart trek to commemorate the westward migration of the Mormons to the Salt Lake Valley in the mid-nineteenth century.

Between 1856 and 1860 almost 3,000 church members made the trek from the mid-west to Salt Lake City, but lacking the money to purchase livestock or wagons they opted instead for handcarts. In the first two handcart companies alone, after braving harsh winter conditions, 210 of the 980 pioneers died en route to Utah.

The younger members of the expedition were broken up into families of eight to ten with a married couple serving as the ma and pa of each family. The families pulled six handcarts along the scenic and historic Beckworth Trail. For three days and two nights they traveled through beautiful meadows, creeks and along dusty Forest Service roads covering around twenty miles during the journey. The purpose of the trek was to give participants an idea of the ordeal the early Mormon pioneers endured as they headed west.

Mormon handcart pioneers depicted by C.K. Price

The groups all dressed in period clothing. The women wore long-sleeved, ankle length dresses, aprons and bonnets. The men wore trousers, long-sleeved button down shirts, suspenders and wide-brimmed hats.

Throughout the journey stops were made to rest and reflect on the experience while the ma and pa of each group related stories from journals of Latter-day Saints, who had left behind all but the barest essentials. Some gave up their established and comfortable lives and homes; others lost children or spouses along the long and dangerous excursion west.

At the end of the first day of trekking, the pioneers ate a hearty dinner of chili and corn bread and then gathered around a campfire where Daniel Lee, age 16, spoke to the group about how believing in something was important in everybody’s life. Elias Lott then spoke to the group about how hope can turn to faith.

The wagon master, Brian Lupkes, encouraged the group to use hope and faith to endure life’s challenges. The group then sang Come, Come Ye Saints, a prayer was offered and the group retired to prepare for the next day’s trek.

At the beginning of their long journey over Beckwourth Pass

Friday was the longest of the three days, covering about half of the total distance. After travelling for several miles, the young women had the opportunity to pull the handcarts up a steep hill without the help of the men, this to remind the women of their own strength and faith. It also reminded them how many pioneer women lost their husbands or fathers along the way and had to complete the journey on their own.

That evening the families performed skits around the campfire for everybody’s entertainment. Following the skits, local musicians played the violin, viola and guitar for a good old-fashioned dance.

The last morning of the trek, after talking about what they had learned from the adventure, the families then packed their handcarts for the last time and headed back towards Portola. After trekking about four miles, the group was “rescued” by their parents and taken back to the twenty-first century.

More pioneers enjoying their time in the outdoors

 

Zion or Bust

 

Daniel packing a heavy load on the trip
 
Ma and Pa Petersen and their clan
 
Ma Petersen and her girls
 
 
 

 

Jeremy Couso
Jeremy Couso
SusanvilleStuff.com Publisher/Editor
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