TREK

 For forever, Cass has wanted to do Trek. I've never been sure why since she will not camp, but she has been IN for Trek. The last 2 times our ward did it, we were asked, but could not go because we were pregnant. Well, this time we could go, and with Cass serving as Young Women's President, I was not getting out of it. We were really excited to go, and it was great that Bridger was not old enough.

On the morning of Trek, we met at the Stake Center and loaded up in the buses. Cass rode in the Murdocks air-conditioned truck, lucky duck. We headed North up to the Wyoming border and started walking. We were organized into families within our wards, each ward forming a company. We felt like we got a great group of kids as the Hansen family; Malia Bowen, Reese Hreinson, Abby Coston, Tommy Harmon, TJ Rose, Cole Sincich, and Nathan Woolf.  We got to stay with our ward the whole time as companies took turns leapfrogging each other to be at the front. The 1st day had some steep hills, but we all made it. We were all pretty exhausted when we got to camp. We got things set up, ate dinner, and had our firesides. We noticed that evening that our ward was 1 tent short...that tent happened to be needed by Bridgers family. The boys had to find homes in other tents and it made for a squishy night. Just as we were getting ready for bed the sky opened up and it started to downpour as hard as I've ever seen it in my life. The wind was blowing hard and it was crazy. I went out with some of the other men to try to secure tents that were filling with water. The rain lasted for about 2 hours and left everything soaking wet. 

The next morning we got up and started getting ready. There was a big hill climb to start the day. Cass was feeling super sick and ended up riding in a truck for the entire day. We did get to see her at breaks and lunch and she felt awful missing out on the super fun wagon pulling and singing. It was amazing how ready the stake was for everything. There were a bunch of Doctors on hand to help out and check on her. There was an entire staff of people preparing food and giving us snacks....way too many snacks. 

We got to camp and had dinner and then had games and dancing. Almost all the kids joined in, as well as some crazy Ma's. For the last one, they got in a big circle and boys and girls went opposite directions, just as the song was ending Cass ran into Bridger who happened to be right in front of me. That night we had a testimony meeting. The weather was great and some of the boys slept out under the stars, which cleared up some space. The next morning we hit the trail and got back to the bus pick-up. One more long super hot, non-airconditioned ride later, we were back at home. 

Trek was challenging, hot, and exhausting, but a fun, great bonding, testimony-building experience.