The Spirit of Trekking!

Short Version: Too tired to dictate or type this week.
Elder Sigmon

For the Longer version read on.
I haven’t always had space to put in a lot of the nature pictures because there are just so many and you wouldn’t believe how many of them are not cows. I think they raise more antelope around here than cows. This first picture I need to give a little background on to appreciate the humor of the picture.

I know I have mentioned Sister Gillespie and what a cheerleader and excited person she is. Well she asked if we were going to do things to our yard to make it look nice. The Gillespies live in neighborhood back home where they would go around and give yard of the month and it could be in your yard when you came home. She thought it would be fun to do something like that here. Well the Wards are an adventurous couple and had bought those spinning things at Dollar Tree which he figured out how to reinforce so they don’t fall apart and blow all the way to Nebraska. Hence they decorated their yard some and ended up with the yard of the month sign. Then magically there were flowers put with a rubber duck on the front of their yard. With no confession of who put it on their lawn. Well one day Karl and I were sitting in our truck and I look over onto the Ward’s lawn and see their new lawn décor. I couldn’t resist texting them to ask when they got the new lawn décor. By the time they came out to check it out Bucky had left.

He totally was relaxing, enjoying the scenery.

I also wanted to mention a great thought which was shared on one of our previous treks. It was a smaller group and they had a little talk before going up into the Cove about hard things. It is all a matter of perspective. Sometimes our problems seem so big and we just want them to go away and be gone. But the Lord may have another thought and He knows it is something that really isn’t as big as it seems and may be necessary for us to go through in order to become better. He has the bigger picture. They had handed all the kids a rock to carry with them. The speaker had the kids get out their rocks and wrap a towel around them and hit them with a hammer. Just like we are hit by our problems or trials. But when it broke open there was something more beautiful inside. We too can become better and more beautiful to the Lord as we go through our problems and trials. I loved the analogy and being such a visual person it really made an impact on me. They were geodes they had given them and it looked like an ordinary ugly rock. They gave them a baggie to put their broken rock pieces into to remind them they can do hard things and be better for it. So can we all!

Tuesday, June 20th we were at the Visitor’s Center. I always enjoy that and visiting with the various people who come through. But one thing funny I saw was someone laying on a rock with their feet up. I couldn’t figure out exactly what they were doing. So I went and investigated and took some pictures.

I actually only saw the legs with feet from where I was sitting. I took the picture when I got a little closer. It was just Sister Hill weeding. Our landscape is very green and full of flowers and fun plants. We don’t want any obnoxious weeds.

Toward the end of our shift at the Visitor’s Center Elder Turpin came up very concerned and said “We have a problem. The pump at handcart parking where everyone can fill their water containers and water bottles before going up into the Cove is broken.” So Elder Sigmon and Elder Roundy went with Elder Turpin to go check it out while Sister Turpin stayed to cover for the missing people. It turned out the bushing wore out and so it won’t pump. The decision was made to check some of the other well pumps at the campground and see if they had the same type of bushing and steal one off of it and put it on the one at handcart parking so we could function with all the treks tomorrow. So on the way home we stopped at the 2 pumps and one did have the same bushing but it was about ½ way worn out but would do for now. The other one was totally different. So Karl took it off and hammered his hand in the process (but he’s okay). We left it for Elder Roundy to put it on in the morning since we had a trek before everyone is out on the trail again. Phew! Another crisis solved. It is ongoing but keeps things different and definitely never boring.

Wednesday, June 21st we had a trek with Orem Canyon View. It was a big group of 466 people. They split it into two groups and the Turpins had the first half and we had the other half. They were such a great organized, group. They had everything covered by their youth. All the stories, music, etc. There was a special feeling with this group and I loved working with them. This picture is in the Dan W. Jones Amphitheatre before going into the Cove. They sang a song called “Hallowed Ground.” I love the song and they did a beautiful job with it.

I complimented the Trek Leader on how organized both groups were and how wonderful the spirit was with their group and their youth doing everything. Their trek leader told me “you told us what to do and we did it.”  Yes they did and they did it well! We have had a couple groups who have been similar and others who have not. You really see the difference! 

We were training Elder Swingholm so he could go out as a Trek Host. He did a good job and will be fine.

Thursday we had RRA RRA duty (Restroom Assistant.)We had to be up early because we needed to get the bathrooms cleaned on the trail before people are out on the trail. The nice thing is you get done earlier.  BUT then Elder Sigmon worked on brother Roundy’s rover and I went in and worked in the office so we ended up having a longer day instead of a short day. 

Friday was handcart parking duty. This was a new duty for us since we haven't done it yet. The day actually was quite pleasant weather wise! Actually perfect! It wasn’t too hot, there was a nice cool breeze and it was the perfect day for trekking! What is handcart parking? Let me tell you. This is the spot where all the trekkers come and line up their carts according to flag color which they are assigned at the beginning of their trek. The lead cart has the flag and we all talk to each other identifying ourselves by the flag color, i.e. Blue Flag 1 to Blue Flag 2 (us the missionaries, Trek Hosts) or Blue Flag 1 to Base, etc. They come to handcart parking twice during their trek. The first time is after going to the river crossing, statues and before going into the Cove. The second time is after coming out of the Cove. They eat lunch there one of the times they are there. Both times it is used as a restroom stop too.

While you are working at Handcart parking you make sure those people who just want to walk into the cove who are just a basic visitor/tourist are prepared to do so. You ask them if they have water, bug spray and if needed sunscreen. You also answer questions they may have. For the trekkers you direct them in to line up behind their flag color. You have already put out the color flags coming in for the day. You listen to the radio and figure out which treks are coming and in what order. It can change from the schedule depending on if they were late or if one group is tending to be faster, etc.

There was this one boy with the group who went off by himself (at the pump which Karl fixed). He was playing the Harmonica and it was nice. He was self-taught.  Those other things by him are rickshaws. They are for those who end up with medical needs and can’t walk. Other people will pull them on the trail.

The other picture is of a group which is there and are having a bathroom and lunch break. The boy above is with this group and there are more groups to come but so far they are the first ones here.

There was a lull and Karl had gotten a new hat about 2 weeks ago and I was looking at it and decided to put it on. I kind of liked the hat. It was a smidgen too big but not bad.

The Honeys came in with a trek and Sister Honey doesn’t do too well with walking into the Cove so Elder Sigmon offered to go with Elder Honey and Sister Honey to stay with me. She thought about it but he convinced her he was fine and he went with Elder Honey but there went my hat and my man! He did return though lol. I’m glad he offered because she would have been suffering later if he hadn’t. It was a long day for her as it was.

Monday, June 26th should have been our preparation day but Sister Scussel is going to have surgery on Wednesday for carpal tunnel and pinched nerve in her elbows on both arms. She wanted me to be in the office to help her get Week 7 schedule ready so she doesn’t get behind. We are starting Week 5 this week. But you need to get emails out to the Trek leaders to find out vehicles they are bringing, final numbers, what activities they are planning on doing, if they need missionary assistance, if they need rickshaws for their group, etc. Sister Scussel had talked to scheduler to have me in the office to help to get it done. I was scheduled for Tuesday but Sister Scussel is going to be on a trek and they also had me scheduled to do 5 pie stories. I am not sure how that was even going to work? There are so many facets to making this all work. So we talked about it and Sister Scussel asked if we would be willing to change our preparation day to Tuesday and me working with her in the office on Monday. So that is what we did. 

Karl was able to catch up on the pile of equipment building up in the shop which he couldn’t work on last week because we were scheduled everywhere but work crew. He fixed a riding lawn mower, a push mower, a pressure washer, and a 4-wheeler. By the end of the day the 4-wheeler is back in for repair. Not Elder Sigmon’s fault. Here he is in his home away from home.

The month of June seems to be the month of the birth of antelopes. We have discovered they are like sheep and have quite a few twins. It was funny because one of the missionaries said “Oh this one mom had 8 babies.” We both looked at each other and smiled. Antelopes are a herd type of animal and as such they tend to stay together. What we have seen is one antelope is usually with the babies and the others all kind graze not too far away. So we have determined they must take turns of who is in charge of the babies. Now that would have been great when my kids were little. Although I can’t complain because when my brother lived nearby and the kids were little they were often together at one house or the other. So I did have some breaks and Kathy is a fun mom!

Here are one set of the twins that live by us. So we always say “Oh there’s the twins, hello twins!”

That’s about all of what is going on here in Wyoming. Hope all is well with you and love hearing from everyone! It is a highlight. Love you and miss you!

Elder and Sister Sigmon

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Short Version:
It sure has been busy couple of weeks. We are in the beginning of the busy trek season and broken equipment has had to stack up in the shop. I know the Lord will provide and we will get everything fixed someday. It never ceases to amaze me who comes through Martin’s Cove who I had association with. The other day a gentleman by the name of Don Hausteddar came through the Visitor’s Center. He was the owner of Don’s Kawasaki in Alamosa when I bought a motorcycle from him 40 years ago. Of course he knew my father and was telling me about the time my dad gave him a ride in an old stock car that he had. He said he loved my dad and always admired him. We had a great visit. We had various assignments over the last few weeks from Trek Hosts to Campground Hosts, cleaning restrooms, work assignments, Visitor’s Center, etc. I really don’t have a favorite cause I am blessed every time I serve in any capacity. I have been thinking a lot lately about families because that is what we get most coming through the Visitor’s Center. It is so neat when we take them through the restoration room and ask the children questions about Jesus and Joseph Smith and to hear them answer with such conviction and humbleness. I also know many families are struggling in the world and as we ask many of them to think of who they can rescue their eyes become filled with tears as they think of someone in their own family that needs help whether it be a kind word or a kind deed. We also have many motorcycle clubs come through. Some of them just want to use the restroom and others will come through the Visitor’s Center. Even these adult men have the inherent need to be in a family. We are doing great here. Every day seems to bring new challenges and new successes. Hope everybody is well.
Love,
Elder Sigmon

Read on for the longer version:
Things are getting into full swing and getting busy. We are having bus & van loads of kids, leaders and support staff coming in for their treks.

• What happens with the groups are several different things. They can have anywhere from 1 day up to like 4 days scheduled on their itinerary. They can arrive the same day as their trek and then leave for home.
• They can arrive in the afternoon, pick up handcarts and trek to the campground, Trek the next day and then go home. Or camp that night and go home the next day all at Martin’s Cove.
• Some groups come into Sixth Crossing, an hour away, and do camping and trekking there and then come over to Martin’s Cove for a day of trekking and go back and camp at Sixth Crossing.
• The groups can also add on going over to Rock Creek Hollow and camping and spending a day there too. Rock Creek Hollow is where the pioneers came into and camped after climbing Rocky Ridge.

I know it is a little confusing but I wanted to lay a foundation for how the treks work since there will be a time when Elder Sigmon and I will be over at Rock Creek Hollow for a week being Campground Hosts there and tending to those duties needed out there. We will be there the end of July and first of August. While we are there we will have in one group 800. That is going to be a lot of handcarts to get washed and returned. There will be another couple with us from Sixth Crossing. I’ll explain more when we have experienced it and done it. Rock Creek Hollow is 2 hours away by car but not by trekking.

Sister Harris and I were asked to do the pie story for a group as they trekked out to their campground after picking up their handcarts. The next day they will go out for their trek. I had heard that it can be an interesting experience. We are acting out the Louisa Mellor story where her mother is so tired, hungry and weak. She had lost twins before boarding the ship to come to America and left her father behind which took a toll on her emotionally too. She had hit a point she just couldn’t go on any more and kissed her children and her husband to send them on their way and wanted to be left on the side of the trail to just give up. Louisa stayed with her and encouraged her to continue. Her husband promised to get the other children settled into camp and then come back for her. After everyone had moved on Mary Ann, the mother, sat on a rock and wept and told Louisa to go on and leave her, saying she was tired, hungry and didn’t think she could go on. Louisa didn’t know what to do and so she went off a little ways and knelt in prayer asking the Lord that he would protect them from the wolves and help them reach camp. Louisa wrote:

“As I was going back to where Mother was sitting, I found a pie in the road. I picked it up and gave it to mother to eat, and after resting awhile we started on our journey, thanking God for His blessings. A few miles before we reached camp we met my father coming out to meet us. What a joyful meeting that was. Many times Mother felt like giving up and quitting; but then she would remember how wonderful the Lord had been to spare her so many times, and she offered a prayer of gratitude instead.”

I love this story and it reminds me of the tender mercies that the Lord does bestow up us and we need to remember them when times get hard. The Lord is there for us and can buoy us up when times get rough.

I had been told when we were trained and going over doing some of these vignettes that we will be surprised how those fake tears will actually become real tears as the spirit comes into play and you actually feel those emotions.

Sister Harris and I were prepared and walked out to our assigned rock and had our fake pie ready and waiting for those unsuspecting trekkers to come along. (the leaders knew and had arranged for us to be there but not the rest of the group.) Sister Harris was Mary Ann and I was Louisa. It was a sweet experience. As Sister Harris was crying on her rock I was trying to stop the trekkers and get their attention saying “Help me, I don’t know what to do. Mother is tired and hungry. She doesn’t want to go on.” Meanwhile Sister Harris is crying saying “Louisa you are only 15 go on you are young, I’m tired, I’m hungry. I can’t go on.” A boy in the group said “what do you need?” Another said “Get in our cart, we’ll take you. We’ll help you.”

The leaders gathered the group around to hear what we had to say and so we began our vignette. It was so true I remember feeling those emotions Louisa must have felt in this situation. Her franticness of not knowing how to help her mother continue. The thought of maybe having to leave her here. Then the total wonder and surprise, the miracle of a pie appearing out of nowhere in the road. The joy of it all and feeling the love of a most caring, loving Heavenly Father to be mindful of them at this time. I was totally in character. (So not like me lol).

When we finish we are hugging each other and grateful for the Lord’s mercy. So to get the group to move on we say something like “Ok mother let’s go find father and head to camp.” So I say that and start to move her and Sister Harris says “Let’s not forget the pie.” We had set it down to hug each other. It caused some giggles from me and some in the group.

Here is a picture of us waiting to go out and meet the group. And then us doing the pie story.

 Magpies have become not one of my favorite birds. They are pretty to look at but that is the only positive I am discovering about them. They will tear open trash bags, they steal baby eggs out of other sweet innocent birds nest and eat them, PLUS they poop on everything so we have to clean off their poop from benches, picnic tables, statues, bridges and fences. Anyway, Sister Roundy, our most loving person you will ever meet. If you are around her or she hears any hint of you desiring a certain food she will feed you or give you some. Even if it was her food. She is always doing someone else’s cleaning assignment so they won’t have to, etc. You get the picture. Well one day in correlation she said “If President Pace will let me shoot one magpie then all the others will come to the funeral and we can get them all.” The room filled with laughter because we couldn’t believe Sister Roundy was the one who said that. It apparently is the custom for magpies to gather when one has died. It was hilarious.

Then later on in the week there were a bunch of magpie feathers on the visitor center lawn and President Pace joking said “we aren’t sure what happened but it has been reported there are a bunch of magpie feathers on the Visitor Center lawn, Sister Roundy.”

One afternoon I was working at the visitor’s center and a magpie came along and ran the bird out of her nest just above a light under the eve. It managed to grab 2 eggs and had them in its beak. I was able to scare it off and it dropped one egg into the grass and I got it with a Kleenex and put it back in the nest. The mother accepted it and sat on it. The magpie ate the other one. Later on during the week I noticed the mother bird was not there anymore and so that darn magpie obviously came back and finished stealing the eggs. I was not very happy with it. I have added a picture of these naughty birds. If I was home the mother bird would still have some eggs in her nest.

We had a trek on Friday, June 2nd with a group from Omaha, Nebraska. Any way things were a little crazy with it and it was a big group of about 220 people. We had us and the Wards as Trek Hosts. When it was all said and done it ended up splitting into two groups and our backpack was on the lead handcart. We usually pack things in the backpack we may need on the trek such as water, neck coolers, water misters, aspirin, duct tape, bandaids, rain coats, our lunch, etc. Well by the time Elder Sigmon and I came in with our group the first group of handcarts were all emptied and cleaned out and our backpack was nowhere to be found. We looked and other people looked but it was gone. We determined it must have made its way off to Omaha. It was an old backpack one of the kids had used in High School making it a little sentimental to me. Then I started thinking of the things in it. Most importantly my light weight gray down jacket which is so important in my layering in this crazy weather. Elder Sigmon was telling me it was okay we can buy a new one. (I wasn’t in agreement since it is the wrong time of year). The other sad thing was we had put our lunch bag in there. We have many at home in New Mexico but we forgot to bring one and had to buy one at Walmart. So now I am going to have to buy another one I don’t need (Sigmon luck). After a day someone reminded me of another missionary and how her shoes went off to Canada with that group and they called them and they mailed it back. So I talked to Sister Scussel and she made a call.  After about 4 days our backpack was finally found and they were going to mail it back. I was so excited. If nothing else I wanted the jacket. I can’t believe they found it and it is going to be coming back. It really did make me kind of sad to lose it even though most of it was easily replaceable. We had even used those rain coats on that trek.

Our 35th Anniversary was on Sunday, June 4th. It was a nice day and we got a candy bar each from the President and his wife and everyone sang us a Happy Anniversary song. Later in the evening our neighbors, the Wards had their daughter visiting and they had made a fire ring in their yard. They had an impromptu campfire gathering. Everyone was invited and we brought chairs and roasted marshmallows and enjoyed each other company. It was a very nice relaxing evening. Although when we came inside later I realized my clothes and I smelled like a campfire lol.

Well so far there are definitely snakes out here. Elder Sigmon has been blessed to not see any rattle snakes. Although we have seen bull snakes. I am not going to lie I have seen a rattlesnake but apparently Elder Sigmon missed it. The Lord is blessing him. This bull snake we saw was along the road into Martin’s Cove. It was about 5-6’ long. In the picture part of his tail is still in the weeds.

The next picture is a crazy one. We watched as this bull snake first tried to go in the bathroom door with his little head hitting the door but it was closed and so he headed over to this tree you see him on. The significance of this tree is it is right by the sidewalk where we all walk from the chapel to other places but it is by the sewing center building. It is also a tree which Sister Tobler walks under a million times a day to a water hydrant to water the various hanging flowers and window boxes. We couldn’t believe it was going straight up the tree and ended up in the branches. You could barely see its tail and if you weren’t looking you would have no idea the snake was there. It may have been on a mission to get eggs from a birds nest but whatever the reason I kept expecting it to fall off the tree. Of course I showed Sister Tobler the picture of the snake and let her know she should look very carefully before going over to the water hydrant. She was very appreciative of my information. I thought it would be nice to know instead of some snake falling on top of you and figuring it out that way. If you don’t like snakes just skip the next couple pictures.

Thursday, June 8th we went on a trek with Ceadar City North group from Utah of 269 people and it went very well. They came in to trek with us for the day at Martin’s Cove. They had all the stories and events covered so we only had to be there to make sure they had permission to leave from one site to the next so we weren’t bumping into other treks and that everything went ok. From what I have observed it seems so much better when the groups come prepared with their own people doing the stories and participating either by singing, playing an instrument or bearing their testimony. They all know each other and it means more to them when it is someone they know doing their part. Some groups think oh we want the missionaries they know everything and it will be wonderful for them to do it. But those people don’t know us and we don’t have the same connection that someone from their group would have with them. I’m not saying we can’t or won’t do a good job and they won’t enjoy it. I’m just saying I think there is deeper feeling and meaning when it comes from their own group. The spirit is just a little stronger because of the connection they have.

That day was a busy day. There were 9 treks on the trail and 1600 people. At one time there were 23 buses in the parking lot as the kids were coming and going. Everyone was busy and it was a warm day in the upper 80’s. I enjoyed the trek leaders we worked with. They were organized and had prepared well. At the river crossing they had a girl sing a song and it was beautiful. I have attached a picture of the girl singing at the river.

From what I understand it is one of many weeks which will be this busy. Oh my goodness!

By the time we left for the day there were only 13 buses left in the parking lot. We weren’t the last group of trekkers. There were some other groups behind us so there were other missionaries still out on the trail with their groups but there were also others who were ahead of us and those missionaries and trekkers had already left.

On one of my work days I put together a baby quilt so that there could be something for the woman to do on a day when they needed to be in doors or when the work was heavy labor and the woman needed something lighter to do while the men did the heavy work. They had quilt frames and stands but they only had plain wood and used thumb tacks to hold the fabric. As many of you know I have been around quilts all my life being my mother’s daughter. Sticking a thumb tack into fabric and then into a piece of wood is NOT what I have grown up doing and do not understand. So I went and talked to the Mission President and his wife before altering their quilt frames. Of course I don’t want to do something they wouldn’t approve of and I also wanted to explain my reasoning for wanting to alter them. So when I spoke to President and Sister Pace and explained I only had 3 thumb tacks so we will need to buy more if they want to keep it that way or I propose since we have an abundance of fabric--stapling fabric to the wood and then you can just pin the quilt to the fabric to be able to work on them. They both looked at each other and said great as they remembered a quilt they had worked on trying to use thumb tacks and how hard it was to put them in and to take them out. Not to mention sometimes it can tear your fabric. So I got the go ahead and President said he knew we had a staple gun and someone could surely help me get it done. I assured him Elder Sigmon could do it and has done it many times for me and my mom already. I with the help of another Sister picked a fabric we thought no one else would use for another project. I also put a picture of one of the done quilts.

Monday is usually our preparation day for now and we had a trek coming in and trekking to their campground and having the pie story on the way. We weren’t sure how this was all supposed to work since they were to be coming in during the afternoon time. What we found out was we could just let outfitting know that we wouldn’t be there and to tell them we would meet with them later at their campground.

Well we had been checking out the weather and it was supposed to be 54 degrees, 20% chance of rain and 20 mph wind. As you know we lost the backpack with some important items. I was just sure it would show up on Wednesday, the day after the trek. So while we were in Casper we bought another lunch box and rain coats. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for a coat and was pretty sad about being cold. I hate to be cold! 

As we got closer to the Homestead about 5 pm we can hear the chatter on the radio of what is going on and we realize our trek is just getting in. They had some car troubles and were about 3 hours behind schedule. So we stopped and met them and were introduced to the group at the Trek Center as their Trek Hosts but we didn’t take them to the trail to trek to their campground. We let outfitting do that since we had groceries still in the truck and it is an hour drive from Casper and then the time we spent with their video, etc at the Trek Center. 

BUT for the cool part! Before leaving to where we stay we stopped to pick up our mail and lo and behold there was a big box, our package, from Omaha, Nebraska!!!! Our backpack made it home from its field trip just in time for me to use my lightweight down jacket! I was so excited. I also discovered my water shoes were also in that backpack. That would have been very hard to replace. What a tender mercy to have it just in time!

Well the river has been rising again with the last of the snow melt and the water is crossing over the trail in several places. It was decided Monday night while in conversation with one the guys from Base and the Trek Coordinator when we were trying to figure out how high the river was and how much of the trail was covered. The Trek Coordinator suggested I have some of the boys let me ride in a handcart over the part of the trail covered in water since in some places it was up to mid-calf and the first section is about a quarter of a mile long. The last section is much shorter but also still a little deep. This way my knee brace wouldn’t get wet and it would give them a little more of the real feeling. 

So when we talked to the Trek Leaders that night at their campground we asked if they would do us a favor and have some of the boys let me ride in the cart. They totally agreed. They were very nice and it is a small group of 33 people. I’m so excited to have a small group and I will even be able to see Elder Sigmon with only 3 handcarts in our whole group! 

While we were waiting for them to come up the trail on Tuesday morning from the campground Elder Sigmon and I were busy taking some selfies, shadow pictures and how we look pictures to use some of the time. So you get to see them lol. Ok I want you to know in my defense in the how we look pictures I did mention the high was going to be 54 degrees and I am a California girl and I don’t like to be cold. Hey but my Carhart jacket isn’t even zipped up! The sun helped some lol. Now on the other hand Elder Sigmon is from Colorado and wearing a jacket is cold weather attire even if it appears to be a lightweight jacket.

As we got to the first stretch of water the last cart closest to me had 3 boys with it and when I talked to them they were very kind and happy to carry me across in their handcart. It was very nice of them and from what Elder Sigmon said I also didn’t end up with cold feet.

We ended our busy week with being Campground hosts at Cherry Creek Campground which is about 4 miles from the Homestead and about 6 miles from where we live. It is in the middle of both. Part of the responsibilities is to be there 45 minutes prior to when they need to leave the campground to meet their Trek Hosts at the footbridge bathrooms. Also in the evening if they have square dancing then we made sure there was a sound system where they were going to do that. We would have their group send us 2 priests to help lift the equipment into the rover and ride with us to the location and unload it. Then repeat the process when we returned it to the shed they are stored in. So a couple of the mornings we had people needing to leave camp at 7 so we needed to be there at 6:15 a.m. which meant Elder Sigmon wanted to be up at 5:15 so we wouldn’t be late. Let me just tell you with 20 mph winds it doesn’t take me that long to get ready. I just need a handy dandy hair clip, some clothes, breakfast, and a toothbrush. Especially since I can come home, eat lunch and shower before having to run back out again. But I don’t always win the discussion of what time would be best to wake up.

Here is one of the groups getting ready to leave camp, trek to return and clean handcarts before going on to Sixth Crossing for their activities there. It was cute because the trek leader was proud that they were on time and ready to go at their assigned time of 7 a.m. but we couldn’t let her go because their medical vehicle wasn’t over at base. It has to be there before they can start trekking. We had told him 3 times. She was bummed.

Hope you are all well and doing good.

Love you—Karl and Monica