Martin's Cove

The last stop on our vacation this summer was Martin's Cove (I tried to find a link with better information, but they don't seem to exist!)

The Martin's Cove area is an important pioneer site. It was part of a combined route for the Mormon, Oregon, and California Trails as well as the Pony Express. More than 500,000 pioneers traveled through this trail. In 1856, the Martin Handcart Company passed through. There is so, so much to the story. But, to be brief, the company left late and started with the bare minimum. They were a poor group of pioneers, which is why they came with handcarts instead of wagons. An early winter storm left the 500ish pioneers stranded inside Martin's Cove. Almost a quarter of the company died and nearly everyone who survived were starving by the time they were rescued. It's pretty much a miracle that any lived!!

Martin's Cove is a incredible place. Dave's been there twice and I've been once. The feeling of reverence that you get while there is really indescribable. We both wanted to stop and show our kids. We were only there for a very short time. We didn't trek or hike any of it. The missionaries were very nice and took us up to the Cove on a Range Rover. It's almost 3 miles to hike it. When our kids are older I hope we can take them back and trek in true pioneer fashion. Seeing a small glimpse of what the pioneers went through gives me such an incredible appreciation for the blessings we have today.

Although a lot of trekkers go through Martin's Cove, it is very accommodating for families. We were there for a few hours, but we could have easily spent longer. There is a little loop trail that you can pull a handcart around. If you're feeling really ambitious, they let you take the handcart out on the real trail. It's quite long, though. Maybe when the kids are a little older.

In true modern pioneer fashion, Logan rode in the back.

There is so much wildlife in this part of Wyoming. It is literally out in the middle of nowhere. You can drive for hours and see no cities, or even houses. It is exactly like it was when the pioneers went through.

Apart from the wildlife, there is also a lot of sage brush and even more sand. It's really hard to pull handcarts through the sand. This area was so difficult for the pioneers to get through.

This is actually in Martin's Cove. The hill behind Logan was a small protector from the wind and snow for the Martin Company. It's what makes the cove.

It is very difficult to describe the feeling of actually being inside the Cove. Even with our kids running around and talking loudly, it really feels like being in the Temple. It is very sacred ground.

We didn't hike the trails, but we thought it would be good for our kids to walk a little ways at least.

This wagon is outside Fort Sumner. The fort is tiny. It's so hard to believe that so many people were freezing and dying when there was a warm cabin nearby. But, there was really no room to house that many inside.

This is Devil's Gate. Dave and I hiked in last time we were here, but with all of the kids we just saw it from a distance this time.

We also went to see Independence Rock. It's almost right across the street from Martin's Cove. Independence Rock was an important landmark for pioneers traveling through here.  It marked almost half way along the trail. Many stopped and carved their names in the rock.

Between Bria and Max is an inscription. There are hundreds all over the rock.

This was the perfect way to end our vacation!