It was no secret to anyone that day two was going to be the Woman's pull. I had imagined it to be difficult. My imaginings didn't even touch the reality of how difficult it really was. We spent a long time arranging our hand cart to fit the water jugs and our many buckets. As we lined up in our Company a rider came up on his horse and called all the men off to war. They grabbed their buckets and took off a-walking. It seemed a bit chaotic and strange. My husband went off without kissing me, and my heart ached as I watched him walk away. Our Stake Trek consisted of about 700 people. The scene before me was quite emotional. The women literally watched hundreds of men walk away from us. As I watched the sea of men move away from us and up the trail, I felt some of my strength leave. I never realized how much strength Brent gave me just being by my side. I get emotional just thinking about it.
The women had a devotional and they talked about doing hard things. Yes, we were about to engage in something Very Hard, difficult really. Luckily for our company we were third in line. My Anxiety grew as I watched other women begin their struggles up this daunting hill. I'm mad I didn't get any pictures! I sent both the camera and video recorder with Brent. The hand carts in front of us were slipping in the first few feet of this steep hill. As we awaited our turn, the cart in front of us began to slip back down the hill. Hannah(not my daughter) and I ran up to help them get going again. My heart pounding, and out of breath I raced back to my own cart realizing that I had just spent much of my own energy. Then it was time for us to go. I knew I was trekking with some strong girls. I am so grateful for those young women who I pulled, and pushed with up that hill. There was only 4 of us. Two in the front, and two in the back. I chose to push from the back, better for my own weary back. Along the trail, "Angels" were there to help us up some of the more difficult portions. I kept my head down knowing that tears were at the surface. As I was putting all my strength to push, a Brother came right up next to me and quietly said in my ear, "We are on your left, and on your right." Again, I get emotional as I recall this memory. I thought of all the "angels" that God has sent to me in my life. And there have been many. A little further up the hill(it was a long arduous trail with huge rocks and holes to complicate the climb), another Brother jumped right in front behind the cart. I once again had to hold back tears as his job of helping had finished and he leaned in to kiss his daughter. He was the Dad to one of the girls in our family, McKell. So sweet that I began to cry. I don't know what other women's pulls have looked like. But this one seemed to go on forever, testing the strength of my spirit as well as my physical body. Finally, as we came towards the top of the hill I spotted our hot pink bandanas, our MEN!! I literally had to hold back sobs as I saw the face of my husband and the boys of our family. I had to keep my head down as not to allow my emotions to get the best of me. Brent stayed behind to film the rest of our company come up the hill. When he finally caught up to me I let all my emotions out. I cried into his shoulder and told him, "If I never have to do that again, I will be just fine!". The women's pull was about 1.5 miles in length. I was exhausted. For me, it was more difficult to watch my husband walk away from me. Because some of my strength left with him, it made it that much more difficult to traverse that mountain.
This was only the beginning to a very very very long day. We ended up trekking about 10 miles when they told us it would be between 7-8.
Right after the women's pull we sat down had lunch. We checked our feet and off we went again. At this point we were on the top of the Mountain. Just as we were crossing the ridge a Thuderstorm accompanied by Lightening and Rain pounded us. The trail became muddy and the tires of the cart quickly became caked with mud, as well as our shoes! This made walking so much more difficult.
In normal circumstances I would be in heaven. I LOVE lightening and thunder. But not when it's right over my head. At one point I was between carts trying to get some mud off my shoe, and instantaneously lightening struck right above my head and thunder clapped in my ear. I threw myself into a crouching position and covered my ears while I heard other people around me let out cries of fear. I think I even swore. That part is a little blurry. The part that isn't blurry is the real fear I heard in Bishop Hansbrows voice as he yelled at us to keep going, that we needed to get off the ridge. At that moment I realized that we were in a dangerous situation. We trekked in mud for nearly two miles. We were told that there would be port-a-potties every 2 miles. They purposely moved it off the ridge to keep us going. It was MISERABLE. And this was right after the Women's Pull!!!
Brent jumped in to help the boys pull.
The mud complicated everything!
Mud on my shoes!
View from the Top of the World
A few of families from our Company.
Still thinking their in a race.
Wildflowers!
The wildflowers were stunning. There was pink, purple, blue, yellow and white. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Ephraim Canyon.
McKell, Whitney and Hannah
The only reason we made it through the Women's Pull
Our Family
After trekking 2 miles in the mud, we went an additional 6 miles. The second half was far more enjoyable. It was an easy down hill. The scenery was spectacular and walking side by side with my husband was powerful. When we finally got to camp I was spent. My body ached from head to toe. I just wanted to lay down and sleep for a week. But our adventure wasn't over. After dinner we participated in Square dancing. I thought, "there is no way I can get this body of mine to move another inch!". Brent and I went out anyway and boy did we have fun. We danced and danced until it was dark. And I've never had so much fun dancing with my Husband. I still can't get over that I could dance after all that we'd been through this day.
As I went to bed I lathered up in Deep Blue and took some ibuprofen. I just knew I was going to be sore in the morning. How was I going to manage to go another day?
