Trek groups are not to exceed 150 people per start time.
Listen to the trail guides and let them set the pace. All handcarts must stay behind the lead trail guide.
Be considerate of other people on the trails. Please step to the right side of the trail to let others pass as needed.
Use handcarts appropriately.
Do not run with the hancarts
Do not touch the wheels of the handcart or put your limbs through the spokes.
Load them from the rear (balance your load in front of and behind the wheels to make it easier to move)
Please do not pull handcarts behind vehicles
When setting the yoke down do so gently. The yoke can break if it is dropped!
Do not stand, ride or sit in the handcarts.
Do not get off the trail, except at designated stopping points.
Stay within allotted times for stopping points
Do not feed, capture, or chase wildlife.
Watch out for snakes, go around them and advise an adult leader or missionary.
Do not move, cut, or remove any natural material.
Do not climb on rocks, fences, or gates
Use only the provided restroom facilities.
“If you didn’t eat it and it’s not toilet paper – DO NOT put it down the hole!”
There will be a separate place outside for everyone to wash their hands, and a garbage bag to throw away any bathroom items. Please keep this area clean.
WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USING THE RESTROOM!
Each handcart should carry a roll of toilet paper, hand wipes, and a garbage bag for emergencies.
Do not disturb any cultural and historic features or any artifacts you find.
Pack out all garbage
Fires and fireworks are not permitted
No motorized vehicles, including ATVs, are allowed on the trail.
Drones are not permitted on the historic sites, including the campgrounds and trails.
No bicycles, firearms, pets, horses, boom boxes, CD players, cell phones, iPods, or iPads.
Supervision on the Trek
Ma’s and Pa’s will accompany the youth for the entire Trek which includes walking approximately 6 miles the first day, 10 miles the second day and 6 miles the third day. Each family will pull a handcart the entire way. Ma’s and Pa’s need to help keep everyone moving and keep stops to a minimum. We will be held to a very tight schedule
Lead Cart Rotation
We will rotate the lead cart each morning and after lunch each day. We want to keep moving, the stops will be held to a minimum number, and to a minimum amount of time. We will be on a tight time schedule, so please try to keep moving.
Importance of Drinking Water
Please remind your kids to drink, and don’t forget to drink yourself as well! There will be no additional water provided along the trail. Additional water will only be available at the Handcart Visitors Center, and Handcart Parking, just prior to going into Martin’s Cove. At the Willie site we will be refilling our water jugs and bottles using water buffalos (portable water tanks). Please be sure your 5 gallon jugs are filled at each of these locations. Ma’s and Pa’s, it will be your responsibility to make sure that your kids are drinking water every 30 minutes. Dehydration is very serious but is easily avoidable. If we can keep them drinking and cooled down they will have a much better experience. One thing that helps is to have the girls soak their bonnets and the boys soak their shirts and hats.
Sanitation Along The Trail
There are restrooms approximately every 4 miles along the trail. We have been asked not to wander out in the bushes to go to the restroom. Please encourage your youth to use the restroom whenever they are near one, even if they don’t feel like they need to. Assume that the next restroom stop is 2-3 hours away! There will always be a line. Don’t wait until the last minute! We are responsible for keeping the restrooms clean at all times. There should be cleaning supplies in them. If not, please notify a Trek Committee Member and we will get them for you. If a restroom is a mess, please help by cleaning up the mess and encourage your youth to do the same.
The toilets have very strict restrictions! Please take the time to teach your youth the following:
“If you didn’t eat it and it’s not toilet paper – DO NOT put it down the hole!”
There will be a separate place outside for everyone to wash their hands, and a garbage bag to throw away any bathroom items. Please encourage them to keep this area clean.
WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USING THE RESTROOM!
Sixth Crossing (See Map pg. 34)
This will be our first opportunity to walk along the same path the pioneers took. While we will be walking on a hot summer day pause to reflect what it may have been like for those in the Martin and Willie companies as they walked the same path in sub-zero temperatures and blowing snow. As you cross the Eminence, ponder how the members of the Willie company may have felt to see the rescue wagons come over that same rise.
Stay on the trail
Only use the restrooms provided
Rocky Ridge (See Map pg. 35)
We have the privilege to trek the National Historic Trail over Rocky Ridge. This is a special honor afforded to only a few. The trail is monitored closely by the BLM and there are specific and very strict rules that must be followed on the trail. Violation of these rules can invoke severe penalties and could even affect other church members' ability to use the trail in the future.
Stay on the existing trail, even when it is wet and muddy. Do not walk in the sagebrush. If youth need to sit down and rest, please sit down directly on the trail. Be courteous. Handcarts must always stay on the trail! No backtracking. No littering (pack-it-in pack-it- out). Use the porta-potties and not the bushes! Leave objects as you find them. If handcarts break, we must patch them the best we can (duct tape & bailing wire) and bring them in.
Trail To and From and In Martin’s Cove Area (See Map pg. 36)
This is a very sacred area, treat it with respect.
Stay on the Trail – Walk in groups of approximately 20 people
No picnicking or meetings in Martin’s Cove or on the trail above Handcart Parking.
Absolutely no climbing on the SAND HILL at Martin’s Cove
Take your time, walk quietly, use common sense, feel the spirit
Camping and Camp Rules
Below are rules that you and your group should be familiar with and adhere to during your stay.
Be considerate of other people in the campgrounds.
Pack out your trash. There is no local trash pickup, and so the sites are unable to dispose of your group’s trash. You will need to take your trash home with you or to a local landfill.
Please remember to pick up your trash and keep the campsite clean. Wyoming winds can carry trash a long way and quickly create a problem.
Fires are permitted only in existing fire rings, and fire rings should not be moved. Do not put trash in the fire rings. Note that firewood is not provided. The state of Wyoming requires that visitors buy local firewood to avoid importation of insects. When you leave, please take all unused firewood with you. Sometimes fires are banned because of high fire risk.
Use only water to put out fires—not dirt or sand. Fireworks of any kind are prohibited.
Semi-trucks and ATVS are not permitted at any of the campgrounds.
Drones are not permitted anywhere on the historic sites, including campgrounds and trails.
Pets and comfort animals are not permitted at the sites.
Do not feed, capture, or chase wildlife. There are venomous snakes in the area. If a snake is spotted, please leave the snake alone and notify the campground hosts.
Weapons and firearms of any kind are prohibited. Including guns, hatchets, slingshots, etc.
Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. All generators and refrigeration units must be turned off during this time. Be considerate of other groups. Early morning wake-up calls and lights-out signals using sound systems, bugles, sirens, or air horns are not permitted.
DO NOT wash within 50 feet of water wells and water pumps. Any kind of washing-including washing dishes, clothes, teeth, hair, hands,, or feet—must be done far away from water wells to avoid polluting sources of drinking water.
Do not take benches from other areas. Please leave objects as you find them.
Leave gates as you find them. If you need to open a gate, be sure to close it behind you.
Do not climb on fences.
Sleeping Arrangements
Wards must provide tents for all the youth and adults attending. Each tent should hold four or more youth. Youth cannot sleep by themselves or in pairs. Assignments should be made for sleeping arrangements by wards. If needed, combine youth from different families and/or wards to ensure that there are at least four youth per tent (any exceptions should be cleared with a Stake leader). Ma’s and Pa’s are to bring their own tent and sleep in between their “son’s” and “daughter’s” tents.
Jamerman Campground (See Map pg 37)
We will be camping at Jamerman Campground and arriving there early in the afternoon of Wednesday, July 26, 2023. We will all be in tents. We will be required to camp in an area that has been assigned to us, and this area is for tent camping only— NO camp trailers, RV’s, etc.
Rock Creek Hollow Historic Graves
We will be camping at Rock Creek Hollow Friday night. There is a small cemetery honoring the pioneers who lost their lives over Rocky Ridge. This is hallowed ground and our visit should be very reverent and respectful.
Cleaning of Assigned Restroom and Campsite Facilities
We will be assigned certain restrooms that we will need to keep clean during this event and before we leave the camping area.
Sweep the floor with the broom; for best ventilation keep the door closed until you are ready to sweep the dirt out.
Spray and wipe the toilet seats with the disinfectant solution—your Campground Host can provide you with paper towels for this task.
Remove the trash can plastic liner and replace them with fresh bags. Place the bags you removed with your camp trash.
Put out all fires and clean debris from the fire rings when you leave the campsite.
Pick up all of the trash from your campsite and bag it; do not burn garbage in the fire rings; trash bags may be taken to the large dumpster behind the barn in the parking lot of the Martin’s Cove Visitors Center as needed.