So, on Monday, I left for Trek, and it was soooooooo fun!!!! It was from Monday till Wednesday, and I really really wish it would have been longer. We had to fit all our belongings into 5 gallon buckets, but that wasn't too hard. We hiked 7 miles the first day, (when I say hiked, I mean walked up and down steep hills pushing and pulling handcarts) and the first day was by far the hardest. We didn't start hiking till after 1 in the afternoon, and we finished at about 5. I felt super sick after that, and so did my friend Miriam, so we just lay on the grass for a long time and didn't eat diner. The next day, we both were feeling better, but not all the way. That night everyone slept in tents, and we were all so tired we fell asleep quickly.
On Tuesday we walked and pulled handcarts for only 3 miles, and that was the easiest day. We had a really long brake in the Afternoon when we learned how to do stuff like split wood and do archery, and it was really fun. We also had to cross a gorge that day. First we had a bucket brigade and moved all our buckets through the gorge one at a time. Then the boys had to use ropes to slowly lower the handcarts without dropping them. They said it was easy, but it looked hard! We also had to cross a “river”. It was a big watering hole for cows, but it was still pretty deep and big. It was also very fun to cross. To cross it, the boys had to carry the girls, either on their backs or in their arms, and it was really funny. One of my guy friends carried me across, and when he first stepped in to the water he slipped and got almost all of his pants wet and muddy, but he held me up really high so I didn’t get wet hardly at all. The only part of me that got wet was the hem of my skirt, and that dried quickly. When some of the younger shorter boys crossed, the water came all the way up the their necks, and it came up to the waists of most other boys. (I was glad I didn’t have to get wet.)
That night we had a hoe down, so we danced to Square dancing music. It was sooooooooooo fun, it was probably the best part of Trek! I think it lasted about an hour, and I was dancing in squares and circles and lines for pretty much the whole time! It was awesome! I danced with a lot of people, some friends, some strangers, and that made it extra fun. My old seminary teacher was one of the "Pa's" (the adults) there, and I danced one of the dances with him, and it was really fun. After that, I was so tired I couldn't sleep, though, because I kept dreaming bugs were attacking me every time I started to fall asleep. (hmmm, I wonder why...)
The last day was Wednesday, and that was another hard day. We had breakfast at 7, then we had a devotional and got ready to go. We started pulling our handcarts, but we only went a little ways before we were all told to put them down. Then everyone went under some shady trees and they started talking about the Mormon Battalion, and how all the men would have to leave, and only the girls would be allowed to pull for a little while. The men left after that, and they had to go do military training sort of stuff, while the girls did some crafts like making candles and embroidery. Then, while the boys were still gone, we started pulling the handcarts by ourselves. We had to go down hill for a long time, which was hard because we were lighter, and couldn't pull on the wagon as well. Then we had to go up to really steep hills. Right before we started going up the first hill, all of the boys came up to the edge of a cliff that was really far away and started cheering for us and singing. They sang "The Spirit of God" and it was really cool. We pulled up the two steep hills, then took a brake and waited for the boys. ;)
After the boys came back, we all took a little brake, then started up the hardest hill on Trek, call Testimony Hill. It was really long, and really steep. It took a long time to climb up, and it was hard for me because I had pneumonia a few months ago, so it was hard to breath. About 1/2 was up I was having a really really hard time breathing and I couldn't catch my breath, so I just stopped and waited till I could breath, and my friend Rachel waited with me. Then, another friend had me hold onto his arm and he helped half guided, half pulled me up the rest of the hill, which really helped. I sat in the shade for a long time after that, then my brother and I helped pull the last wagon up. That hill was very hard, but very fun.
After the hill, we had lunch, then a testimony meeting. After that we had dinner, then we all got on the same school buses that brought us there, and went back to the church where our parents picked it up. I thought it was really good experience, and I am so glad I could go. I only wanted to go home one time, and that was Monday night when I felt too sick to eat and I was worried I would feel like that the rest of the time. I think my brother also had a really good time, and I know he enjoyed it too. :) Since you were nice enough to read all of the above, here are a bunch of pictures. :)
Day 1.
The bandannas they gave us for trek looked like this.
Rachel and I getting excited! We were on the bus on the way there! For trek, you could choose one person to be your buddy and be in the same group, or family as you. Rachel and I chose each other!
A guy on the bus we sat by. I think his name was Brandon. 
A friend named Kraig. Rachel took my camera and started taking pictures of him. :P
It was a windy ride!
Rachel looking happy.
Claire and I soon before we started treking.
Laurie and I before we left.
My handcart and family pushing it. (I pushed too, I just stopped for a minute to take this picture :P
The handcart behind us. We were making a lot of dust fly up!Day 2
Rachel and I getting ready to start!
Me!
My ma, she was super nice!
Another wagon coming up the hill below us.
My "big sister" Haylee.
Pushing the handcart. I'm the one right by the wagon wearing a purple skirt.
My pa. He was really nice too!
The "river." (I don't know anybody in this picture, I just took it any way)
Me getting carried across the river. It was fun. :)
Rachel and I.
Me getting ready to through a lasso.
Someone showing us how to split wood with a wedge and hammer. He started off telling us how by saying "ok, so, I've only actually done this once, and that was last week when I cut my hand on the wedge and had to get 6 stitches..." We felt bad for him...
Me with wet hair. There was a sink by the porta-potties that we could put our hair under if we wanted to, so I did and it felt really nice.Day 3.
In the morning at about 7:30. I was very tired.
Rachel and I. We both look tired.
Kraig and I, right before we started treking on the 3rd day.
Me! By the 3rd day, I started looking very tired and dirty.
In the line for the last diner we ate on trek. This is Claire.
Laurie.
Me.
Claire.
Rachel.
Brother and Sister Bitton.
Claire, Rachel, and Laurie thought my bonnet looked better like this. They said it looked like a fancy ladies sun hat. :P
It was very pretty there!
On the bus going home. Yay! We made it!Thanks for reading, I know this was a really long post but I don't want to forget anything. Now tomorrow, I'm off to Utah! :)
