Saturday, July 11, 2026
The last miles.
It's a funny thing about the final day of trek. You've never wanted your bed more in your life, and at the same time you kind of don't want it to end. The trail feels like home. The families feel like family. Turns out four days, 20+ miles, and shared blisters will do that.
We started the morning the same way we started every morning with family devotionals and breakfast. But today it felt a little different because we all knew that it was the last day. With nervous excitement, we loaded up the handcarts one last time ready to hit the trail.
Then tragedy struck. Several key members of each company were taken away to help the families appreciate what it was like for the pioneers to lose loved ones along the trail. Like the pioneers, the families closed ranks and kept going.
During a difficult climb on the trail, the deceased family members—adorned with a white sash—rejoined to help their families up the hill. They did this to remind us of the pioneers who testified that when they could push no further, the angels pushed their carts for them. Reunited for the final stretch, the wagon train pushed on.
At noon, we arrived. Handcarts unloaded, packs dropped, and 20+ total miles officially behind us. Several youth (and leaders) found the refrigerated trailer and tried to cool off after a hot and dusty morning. We then celebrated with hot pizza, cooked on location with portable pizza ovens.
To the youth reading this:
You just walked 20+ miles. You pulled a handcart. You made it through the long day. You felt the Spirit. You now know something about yourself, about the pioneers, and about your Heavenly Father's love that you didn't know before you left. That's why we do this.
Welcome home, pioneers. We're so glad you went.