Heritage Gateways

July Reenactment Photo Album

April | May | June | July

July 1, 1997

• Special Delivery -- Location: Parting of the Ways, Wyoming Leon Wilkinson distributes the trail mail.
• Shave and a Haircut Anyone? -- Location: Parting of the Ways, Wyoming Margaret doubles as a beautician as she cuts Larry's hair.

July 3, 1997

• Fremont Lake -- Location: Farson, Wyoming Pinedale is a really beautiful little town...quite rustic looking. They have a beautiful hillside drive that borders Lake Fremont and then winds around and up to the Jim Bridger Wilderness Area. --M. Clark

July 4, 1997

• Potty Animals -- Location: Simpson's Hollow, Wyoming It's not an easy job but someone has to do it and this crew is one of the many who have volunteered service to transport the water and porta-potties. Our thanks go out to you.
• Wendy Westergard -- Location: Simpson's Hollow, Wyoming After a dusty day in the wagon, Wendy enjoys a juice box while balancing her journal on her head.
• Dale and Linda Gines -- Location: Simpson's Hollow, Wyoming Dale and Linda Gines sit tall and proud in their pioneer wagon. The couple are from Tabiona, Utah.

July 5, 1997

• Simpson's Hollow Dedication -- Location: Simpson's Hollow, Wyoming A monument was dedicated at this place to commemorate an historical event in early Mormon history. Read the journal entries to find out why. Representatives from the US Congress, the BLM, state officials, and church authorities were in attendance.

July 7, 1997

• Joe and Wagon -- Location: Granger, Wyoming Joe is ready for the challenge of the dry and sun-swept trail. Today the trek was a hot and difficult 23 miles.
• Baby Colt on the Trail -- Location: Granger, Wyoming This young colt finds his strength is not yet up to par with the older horses and makes the most of an opportunity for a rest.

July 8, 1997

• Handcart Maintenance -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Mike greases the wheels of the handcart to keep them rolling smoothly.
• Made in the Shade -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming This modern day pioneer finds welcome shelter from the hot sun under a handcart.
• Dead Mosquitoes -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Leezanna displays a picture of dead mosquitoes. The mosquitoes have been particularly troubling to the members of the wagon train.

July 9, 1997

• Ernie -- Location: Fort John/Laramie - 508 m. left, Wyoming One of the men with the train.
• Tent City -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Tents in the evening campsite at Fort Bridger.
• Dianna Pitcher -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Dianna is a very talented artist. She's found great inspiration in landscape of the trail.
• Bruce -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Part of the handcart pioneers.
• Turbo -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Turbo had an encounter with a run-away horse. He had a dislocated shoulder that has healed remarkably well.
• Friendships -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming The trek has many memories in the making as well as fun new friendships.
• Handcart Ride -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Jennifer and Gina and Jonathan Tyler.
• Hill Family -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Brian Hill and his lovely family.
• Danny and Melissa -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Trekking into town.
• Cecilly and Amy -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Gals on the trek.
• Tennessee John -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming One of the many characters on the trail.
• Sorensen Family -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Steve and Wendy Sorensen.
• Race Family -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Traveling the trail is a family affair for the Race family.
• LaToya -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Riding into town on horseback.
• Tennessee John -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Wagon extraordinaire.
• Tom and Mary Boas -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Covered wagon with roll-up windows.
• Kathy Stickel -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming She's one talented lady.
• Laughter and Family Closeness -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming The Proud family loves and laughs together on the trek.
• Skinner -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Pretty good view from up top the wagon.
• Campsite -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Seven wagons dot the landscape of the Fort Bridger campsite.
• Joe -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Joe at the reins.
• Grain for the Team -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Taking care of the animals is the most important job.
• Max Pitcher -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Max with a relaxed smile at camp in Fort Bridger.
• Sank -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Sank in full mountain man gear.
• Josh and Grandpa -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Grandpa and Josh enjoy their noon sandwich while parading through town.
• Holgreens -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Roger and Lisa Holgreen.
• Reid -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Reid with the handcarts loaded with supplies.
• Ilene -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Bonnets are a girl's best friend.
• Dickens Family -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Shauna Dicken and girls - Jennifer, Kristina, Sarah.
• Esther -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming On parade into town.
• Kimberly -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Kimberly spent lots of time helping the pioneers get ready for their choir performance.

July 10, 1997    

• Mormon Wall Dedication -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming This is a special dedication at Fort Bridger for the stone wall that was built by the Mormons. When Johnston's Army was heading toward Utah in 1857, the Mormons burned Ft. Bridger and Ft. Supply to deter the advancement of the army.
• Choir Practice - Tenor and Bass -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming We had choir practice for the train members. We are practicing a very difficult version of "Come, Come Ye Saints' which we will sing when we get to Hennefer. It is sounding pretty good. -MC
• Camp among the Quakies --Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming John and Kimberly enjoy this campsite.
• Mormon Wall Plaque -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming This wall is all that remains of the original fort.
• Game for Children -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Pioneer children learn about the May Pole game.
• Amy's Button Collection -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Amy has received a lot of buttons. Some of them are absolutely beautiful. Many are very old. We are having a lot of fun looking at them all. -MC
• The Josephs -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Boys on the trail.
• Last Minute Volunteers -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming About ten days before the departure date, Jan and Jerry Pierce were asked if they would be the check-in van and be responsible for the wagon train registration.
• Clothesline -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Laundry hanging out to dry from the authentic camp.
• Danny and Aaron -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Danny and Aaron are on the trek by themselves and making most of their own food. Everything is holding out except their tent.
• Sleeping Arrangements -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Sleeping (?) out on the trail.
• CES Water Boys -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Three cheers for the water crew - men whose regular jobs are teaching in the Church Education System.
• Singing Praises -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Choir practice in preparation for Henefer and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir joint hymn sing.
• Jared and Bre Cornell -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Jared and Bre Cornell are part of the wagon masters who helped organize the trek re-enactment.
• Authenic Tents -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Nighttime in the authentic camp with the tent doors pulled shut.  
• Dealing with Check-in Paperwork -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Jan and Mary. You would think that it would be easy to just simply check people in, but this job has become the catch-all for any and everything that happens in camp. It is really the center of the hub.
• Jonathan -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming From the trek.
• Kimberly - A Broken Thumb -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Accidents happen, and Kimberly is still smiling.
• Jerry Pierce -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Jerry does most of the actual visiting and registration with the people outside of the RV. I have watched him with the people and he is a master with kindness and consideration.
• Covered Wagon -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Wagon from Cedar City, Utah - Margaret's home town.
• Mary -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Pitching in to help with check-in.
• Jan Pierce -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Jan did most of the interactions with the food people through Nebraska. Jan and Jerry now are in charge of all the financial interactions, including the bookkeeping and payment of bills.
• Sank and Art -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Mountain men making the trek.

July 11, 1997

• Sunset at Fort Bridger -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming One thing I have to say is that Wyoming has the most beautiful clouds. The clouds and sunset tonight was just incredible. -MC
• Fort Bridger Sign -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming We have this huge fort area, with newly-mown grass and cute little creeks. It is just a gorgeous place to have our camp. Our tents are in grass...not sagebrush and there are no lumps in our beds. -MC
• Fort Supply - Robertson -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming I visited Ft. Supply. It is a cute little community called Robertson, nestled at the base of the Uintah Mountains. It was good to see pine and evergreen trees again. But I imagine that this place can get very cold in the winter. - MC
• Clouds at Fort Bridger -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming When the walkers left from camp the skies were fairly nice. There were only soft, puffy clouds. -MC
• Fort Bridger Camp Area -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming We clean up and rake up the hay before moving on.
• Buildings at Fort Bridger -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Ft. Bridger has a lot of history. It started with Jim Bridger. Later the Mormons owned the fort and later the US government took over. -MC
• Authentic Camp - Closing Down -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming One highlight for visitors to the train is to wander around and visit with the authentic camp pioneers.
• Cabin from the Past -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming Old pioneer home along the route.
• Wyoming Wild Flowers -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming Tall grass and small purple blossoms.
• Wyoming Blossoms -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming Clover-like blossoms among long shoots of grass.
• Fort Bridger and its Buildings -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Today we went to one of the most beautiful places on our whole trek: Ft. Bridger. This has to be heaven. - MC
• Wyoming Tall Grass and Blossoms -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming Wild flowers nestled among grasses on the trail.
• Wyoming Wild Riot of Color -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming We seem to be walking through more green grass, more obvious wild flowers. - MC
• Wild Flower -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming Sweet yellow blossoms amid tall grasses.
• Mormon Wall at Fort Bridger -- Location: Fort Bridger - 96 miles left, Wyoming Protected historical wall.
• Wyoming Wild Roses -- Location: Piedmont, Wyoming Wild roses bushes along the trail.

July 12, 1997

• Judy and Leon - Check In Helpers -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming Occasionally when things get really harried, volunteers come along to help. Some of the most generous with their time are Judy and Leon Wilkinson. -MC
• Forrest the Camp Jack -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming Forrest made the wooden ferry for the July 6 river crossing reenactment.
• Sandy and Tom - Media Wagon -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming Tom and Sandy brought their own RV and have set up a media center with all the telephones and what not to communicate with the outside world. Many times when the rest of us could not "get out' with our phones, Tom and Sandy usually had that ability. -MC
• Sandy VanLeeuwen in the Media Wagon -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming Tom and Sandy VanLeeuwen from Taylorsville, Utah live and travel with the train and coordinate the media people who come to photograph and write about the train.
• Margaret -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming Margaret Clark is a registered nurse. She's learned many other skills while trekking across the plains.
• Jerry Setting Up the Check In -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming Jerry Pierce tracks all the participants. This job has got to be the most stressful job in camp! - MC

July 13, 1997

• Campsite in Evanston -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming This morning I looked out of our tent and there was frost on the ground and on the windows of the cars. I guess it got a little cold this morning. --M. Clark
• Making a Quilt -- Location: Bear River - 63 miles left, Wyoming We are also working on the quilt today. We hope to get it done....soon. --M. Clark

July 14, 1997

• A New Hairdo for Amy and Maren -- Location: Yellow Creek, Wyoming Amy and Maren sport new trail coiffures. Perhaps they have been on the trail a little too long.
• In the Lead -- Location: Yellow Creek, Wyoming These outriders are leading the wagon train into Utah.
• Ben Kern on Last Day as Wagonmaster -- Location: Yellow Creek, Wyoming Ben is from Wyoming. He retired from the Casper City Parks Department after 12 years of working there. He said he retired so he could fulfill a lifelong dream and participate in a wagon train. That was five years ago and he has done a wagon train every year since then.

July 15, 1997

• Wagons Rest at Castle Rock -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah With so many wagons on the trail today , almost sixty, the dust was flying. It looked like a hazy movie scene. It was truly a sight never to be reproduced in my lifetime. --M. Clark
• Pioneer Handcart Women -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah The wheel of a handcart makes a good place to rest and discuss the day's events.
• Don't Mess with Roger -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah Pulling the handcart is much easier when Roger is beside you. The end of the journey is approaching as the pioneers cross the Utah border.
• Horses Hard at Work -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah There was a rather deep, swampy area we all had to get through. The horses and wagons did great. They just pulled on through. The walkers and handcarters just looked in awe. It was get-wet time. --M. Clark
• Relax, You're Almost Home -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah This pioneer seems content to rest in the grassy field near Castle Rock.
• Campsite at Castle Rock -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah The dust today was bad. I was covered from head to toe when we got to camp.Our camp is near a reddish rock formation called Castle Rock. The wagons and handcarts are in a grassy field. --B.C. Moore

July 16, 1997

• Folks at the Family History Tent -- Location: Henefer, Utah Some people on the wagon train re-enactment can trace their ancestry to some of the original pioneers. These family history volunteers can help those seeking to find their roots.
• Bob Lowe Utah Wagonmaster -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah Utah Wagonmaster Bob Lowe keeps a watchful eye over his wagon train.
• Leaving Castle Rock -- Location: Castle Rock Camp, Utah Bob Lowe and the Sheriff on horseback leading the way out of Castle Rock Camp.
• Family History Tent -- Location: Henefer, Utah The family history tent helps people with their genealogy. Genealogy is the study or investigation of ancestry and family histories. Many people enjoy researching about their families that lived before them.

July 18, 1997

• Handcarts Up and Over the Hill -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Today I pushed a handcart. I walked the whole day and even though it was only 10 miles they were hard miles because it was alot of uphill and it was hot. --D. Whitaker
• Grant and Russ -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Grant is riding Russ's horse and Russ walks along beside him.
• Alice Walker -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Alice is our food and nutrition expert. She always makes sure we eat our vegetables.
• Cooling Danny Down -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Pushing the handcart can make you mighty hot on a day like this. Here Dan enjoys cooling his head.

July 19, 1997

• Wagons at the Upper Camp. -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah The hillside is a sea of color and the beautiful sagebrush surrounds us. The Wasatch mountains are on all sides, but the biggest is Big Mountain off to the southwest. --B.C. Moore
• East Canyon Lower Campsite -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah We are camped on the north side of East Canyon Reservoir. It is a beautiful spot. The wagons and a lot of the support vehicles are up on the hill and the rest of us are down here in a beautiful grassy field. --M. Clark
• Authentic Camp at East Canyon -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Two pioneer are preparing food at the authentic camp.
• Homeward Bound Wasatch Mountains -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah The valley is just over the hill. I can't stand it, but I know if I go there I won' be able to come back, so here I stay.....on this side of the Wasatch Mountains. --M. Clark

July 20, 1997

• Sunday Church Meeting -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah We went up the hill just in time for church to start. It was a large meeting, with over 1,500 people in attendance, only 400 of which were with the wagon train. --B.C. Moore
• Lower Camp at East Canyon -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Our camp this weekend was on the top of a high, sagebrush hill. The day passed with beautiful weather: warm, summer sunshine. --M. Clark
• Jolene at the Hay Wagon -- Location: East Canyon State Park, Utah Jolene makes sure the horses have enough hay each day.

July 21, 1997

• Russian Handcart -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah The handcart that came from the members of the church in Russia and the former republic of the Soviet Union joined us today. It has been crossing part of Asia, all of Europe and the United States. It has been on display in many places. I had wondered if it would even get here, but here it was. It was filled with dolls from members in the towns it had gone through. There was also a large notebook filled with the written testimonies of the members of the church written in their native languages. --M. Clark
• Summit of Big Mountain -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah By the time we got to the top of the mountain we had some younger people running the other direction yelling that we could see the valley. We started to speed up just so that we could. When we did indeed see that wondrous sight, we yelled and cheered. We were a whoopin' and a hollerin'. I think the pioneers must have done much of the same things when they found out that their journey was soon be finished. --M. Clark
• Crystal -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah Crystal wants you to join the wagon trek!
• Handcart Company Ascending Big Mountain -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah Today was the long-awaited climb over Big Mountain. We were all antsy to get on the road. --B.C. Moore

July 22, 1997

• Brass Band at This is the Place Monument -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah The brass band played a cheery tune. In the distance I could see a large group of people dressed in white representing the 6000 people who died on the Mormon Trail. It was overwhelming to me. --M. Clark
• Camp at Emmigration Canyon -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah Tomorrow the wagon train descends into the Salt Lake Valley. There is a quiet, reflective mood throughout the camp.
• Captain Michael Dunn -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah In an heroic stance, Michael Dunn shouts out directions with the bullhorn.
• Rexburg Idaho Riding Team -- Location: Big Mountain Summit - 17 miles left, Utah About halfway down the canyon, we passed about 70 people on black horses. Each was dressed in pioneer clothing and was bearing an American flag. They waited, clapping, until we had passed, and then fell in line behind us. --B.C. Moore

July 23, 1997

• Salt Lake City Birthday Cake -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah Mr. Walenhorst with grand-daughters and the birthday cake he made for SLC.
• Birthday Cake -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah Close up of the immense and delicious birthday cake which fed hundreds of people.
• Crowd at the City Building -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah The tradition of the pioneers of old, was that they would parade through the streets of the city to cheering throngs of people, and would camp at what is now the City and County building. That is what we did today. --M. Clark
• Utah Wagon Master Bob Lowe -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah Bob Lowe can be congratulated on a job well done as he leads the group to the city building in Salt Lake City.

July 24, 1997

• Mormon Trail Wagon Train Quilt -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah Some of the participants of the 1997 Wagon Train Re-enactment designed and created this quilt to commemorate the journey and their pioneer heritage.
• Liberty Park after the Parade -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah The wagon train participants assembled one last time in Liberty Park after the parade to say their goodbyes.
• Day's of 47 Parade -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah Onlookers stood and cheered as the wagon train rolled down the parade route.
• Packed Up and Ready for Home -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah After a long journey west, the wagons and handcarts are loaded and prepared for the journey home. Will there be other trails to travel?
• Quilt Signing -- Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah Linda Whitaker signs the Mormon Trail Wagon Train quilt.