Dear Family and Friends,
What a wonderful, eventful, spirit filled, fun week we have had here at Martin's Cove. Monday morning started early when we boarded two big white busses shortly after 7:00am. Elder Lindsey and I were in the Hunt Company and the other bus was the Hodgett Company. The Hunt and Hodgett Companies were the two wagon companies who followed the Willie and Martin Companies and who were stranded with the Martin Company. In fact it was here at Fort Seminoe that they unloaded the wagons so that many of the people who were too sick or weak to walk could ride in the wagons when they left Martin's Cove.
We loaded up our wagons and rode to the East side of Casper where our first stop was at Reshaw's Bridge. This was a bridge built over the North Platte River that was too expensive for most of the pioneers to cross over, thus the need to ford the river in freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions. The cost to cross the bridge was anywhere from two dollars to five dollars depending on the season. In todays market the $5.00 would translate to about $75.00.
This is Brother Kyle Anderson. He works for the Church in Church Education and was one of our tour guides. He and Brother Udy were so knowledgable and made the stories come alive for us.
This is Brother Udy our other tour guide from CES. He was on our bus and none of us will ever forget his name...Howdy Doody Brother Udy!
Sister Jolene Alphin the author of the book "Tell My Story Too" was also with us on the tour. She added an amazing spirit to our travels because she knows these people that we only talk about. It has been her life's work to learn who they were and to pass that knowledge on to us so that we can learn from them and become better people in our own lives because of them.
After we left the bridge we went to the Casper Interpretive Center where we spent about and hour. Elder Lindsey and I had been a few weeks before but enjoyed the beautiful displays again. Then it was back on the bus and a quick ride to Fort Casper where we saw the spot where the Martin Company forded the river in the snow storm which took an awful toll. We ate lunch and then enjoyed listening to brother Udy teach us more of the events of 1856. Then we boarded the busses again but this time we headed for the actual trails with our first stop at Bessemer Bend which is the spot on the North Platte River where the Martin Company was camped in dire straights, freezing, starving and with no knowledge that rescue was coming and where in one brief moment that all changed when the advance rescue riders came up over the bluff and were spotted by the people.
Above is a picture of Bessemer bend looking today much like it might have looked in 1856. Then it was back on the trail to Avenue of Rocks a very unusual formation, stark and beautiful standing as it does alone on the plains. Our last stop was at Sage Creek (or Horse Creek, or Greasewood Creek). It was here that the Martin Handcart Company was met with huge bonfires and warm clothing and food. There was a peace here that could be felt. Brother Anderson talked about Cyrus Wheelock, one of the rescuers who met the Martin Company here. He had served a mission to England for four year and knew and loved these people. He had been home only three days when he turned around and went to rescue them. How tender his feelings must have been to have seen them starving and freezing and suffering so. Later in life he wrote the hymn "Ye Elders of Israel." We sang that hym there at that sacred spot and as we sang the words of the third verse; We'll go to the poor, like our captain of old, and visit the weary, the hungry and cold...brought tears to our eyes as we felt in some small measure the feelings that he felt as he became a rescuer to those he loved so dearly.
After arriving back to Martin's Cove for a hot meal we headed home excited for the continuation of the tour the next day. On Tuesday we all rode in trucks and four wheel drive vehicles as we headed to Sixth Crossing. Our first stop was the Willie Meadow, the spot where the Willie Handcart Company met the advance rescue riders who then went on the find the Martin Company. From the Meadow we drove around to the Eminence, the hill top on which the rescue wagons were first spotted by the Willie Company. Then we drove about 20 miles on dirt tracks to the Lower Monument. This is the area where the Willie Company started their climb of Rocky Ridge and into Rock Creek Hollow a 16 mile trek, pulling hand carts in snow and freezing conditions with barely enough food to survive. Where the Martin Company had 13 people die after fording the North Platte, the Willie Company lost 13 people their first night in Rock Creek Hollow.
Lower Monument
From Lower Monument we got into our vehicles and headed the 17 miles on four wheel drive roads to Rock Creek Hollow. I can't begin to explain in a way you would understand the spirit that resides in these places. You just need to come experience it for yourselves. Come learn about these people who sacrificed so much so that we could have so much.
This is the grave marker for the 13 people buried together after dying at Rock Creek Hollow.
Elder Lindsey and I at Rock Creek Hollow
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We wore our pioneer clothes for a picture at the top. We might look a little weary but we were happy!
When we arrived back at Sixth crossing we had a wonderful spaghetti dinner, completer with salad and french bread. It was soo good! Elder Lindsey and I were so tired we were in bed by 8:30 pm and slept until 6:30 am Saturday and boy were we glad it was P day!
Saturday night we had a huge rain storm complete with thunder and lightening that lit up the sky for a good part of an hour. Sister Stull our next door neighbor got this shot.
Once again we've had a wonderful Sabbath with great talks and lessons and a fireside this afternoon with President Lorimer who was the Stake president of the Riverton, Wyoming Stake and was instrumental in acquiring the Sun ranch and the land that Martin's Cove is on. He talked to us about President Hinckley and his relationship with him. We are so blessed to be here and have these experiences.
Our Tender Mercy for today. I mentioned to my friend Pam on Facebook that I had totally spaced Memorial Day and doing something for Jonathan and Mark. She did it for me placing beautiful flowers on both graves including a hanger for Jonathan. Her kind act of service touched our hearts.
We love you all,
Elder and Sister Lindsey
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