My friend Carla, that works with me at the Family History Center made my dress and apron along with the shirts for Justin and Michael. I provided the fabric and she did the rest. She was such a blessing. She had so much fun doing it.
As late as May 22 when we were to go on a mini training trek for the Ma's & Pa's we had major trouble. That weekend we were hit with a late storm and there was a huge snowfall in the area and we could not even get to the area in which we were supposed to trek. They scambled and changed the place to a new facility that the church recently purchased in 2008. It is a church farm in eastern Washington, actually on the WA/OR border literally. We were only 10 miles from Hermiston, Oregon and a stones throw from the Columbia River.
Here are 2 links to places with photos of trek http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=182460&id=121601903556&fbid=405605978556&ref=nf and http://www.blainewilsonphotography.com/Events/Trek-2010/12743657_y7U58
We had to leave the day before the rest of everyone left to get things set up and be ready to go when they arrived the next day. Michael stayed with the Byron family as there was 3 in their family going. We knew they were going to have some issues as the day we arrived it was 93 degrees and we had come from just barely 60 degree temperatures for weeks. It was also rather muggy. Justin and I had cots, a tent, screenroom and lots of water, ice, drinks and snacks. We were in the afternoon shade of lots of trees. They arrived and started out. The very first day they trekked for about 14 miles. Michael's family was really happy to have him. He was almost always in the yoke the entire trek. The other kids were small and had a hard time with the cart. He and Brother Snyder from our ward were their rescue team. His Ma & Pa, Brother & Sister Ogden of the Kingston, WA ward.
They ferried the carts across a pond on the property as well as hard pulls straight up and down hills. They kept being shorted water at the rest stops. There was another stake there from Eugene and they were only supposed to take 5 gals per cart and we found that they were taking 10 gals and leaving us nothing so we got behind. The first day they had almost 20 get hit with heat exhaustion as they were not able to drink enough. Not to mention the blisters and heat rash that hit. Heat rash hit some of the adult men......ouch!
They were supposed to be out until Friday afternoon, but were called into base camp on Thursday afternoon as it was too much as too many were starting to fall. They marched in and made camp and were just excited to have access to drinkable cool water at all times. They were doing activity stations and the most used and enjoyed was the trough to wash their hair. The guys went to the faucets and stuck their head under the faucets.
Justin and I left early on Saturday morning before they broke camp as I was bitten up by biting flies and the doctor that was on staff wanted me to get home and get on a regular dose of benadryl so that cellulitis did not set in. I gladly did so. The busses were due back at 6:30 pm or so and they did not arrive until close to 10:30 pm as they had a long testimony meeting. They were all worn out, bitten up, stinky and sunburnt. I know Michael was happy to see the shower. I think he had about 15 layers of dirt to scrub off and he said it took about 3 showers before he really felt fresh again. LOL!
I am including the letter from his Ma & Pa, Brother & Sister Ogden as well as a picture of his family. He came home a lot more mature and with a healthy respect for those in our family that were pioneers on the trail.
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