The Pioneer Trek is over and that is sad because it was one of the most awesome experiences we will ever have. Our trek family was the best there was!
Our first day began at Martin's Cove. This is Joe in a crowd of pioneers. We were just getting ready to hike Martin's Cove.
Joe doing his very first handcart pull with his new trek family.
The first photo I took of our new trek daughters. Aren't they sweet?
The river crossing! Refreshing!
Our first campfire with our new family. Very cool.
Our first morning...ready to face our first 15 miles. This is our family. 5 girls and 3 boys.
Breakfast before we left was 4 ounces of flour (a simulation of what each pioneer family had for the whole day). This is Katie feeling sad and Audrey adding some sage to give it some flavor. We actually had hot chocolate, muffins and breakfast bars. We ate really well on the trek.
Cousins! Taylor and Joe walking with their tin cans to get some hot chocolate!
Off we go and the first obstacle we face is a water/mud bog! It was black and stinky. Our family cruised through it!
I can't begin to express my gratitidue for Pa Acker. I was so glad that we were on this adventure together! 
This was a common sight...A very long, long road ahead of us!!
And then there were the hills that we had to get up!! Look at our whole family go-We were a team!!
We could always count on Pa and our boys to take over after a gruelling hill like that one! Garrett, Brandon, Pa and Jason.
Lunch time on the trail was always welcome. Here we are with our yummy carrots. The carrots we had that day were the best carrots we have ever tasted!! 
Nightime at last...Valerie, Katie, Audrey and Ma
We saw Joe everyday for a few minutes. We were lucky enough to get this photo of the 3 of us. Thanks for thinking of us, Katie Puc'!
OUR TREK KIDS:
Garrett Solomon
Jason Kearns
Valerie Evenson and Brandon Kile
Katie Puc', Audrey Kohlts and Emma Lattin
Madeleine Gardner
Ma and Katie
The medical staff would fashion up flip-flops for those with blisters. They were made with duct tape and cardboard.
This is one of my favorite photos. Pa with Audrey chillin' in the tall grass. 
Chipper crashed on the way home. We were all wiped out!
There are a ton of pictures from the trek and if I had the time I would put them all on my blog...Sadly, I don't. Hope this gives you a glimpse of the fun we had.
The first photo I took of our new trek daughters. Aren't they sweet?The river crossing! Refreshing!Our first campfire with our new family. Very cool.Our first morning...ready to face our first 15 miles. This is our family. 5 girls and 3 boys.Breakfast before we left was 4 ounces of flour (a simulation of what each pioneer family had for the whole day). This is Katie feeling sad and Audrey adding some sage to give it some flavor. We actually had hot chocolate, muffins and breakfast bars. We ate really well on the trek. Cousins! Taylor and Joe walking with their tin cans to get some hot chocolate!Off we go and the first obstacle we face is a water/mud bog! It was black and stinky. Our family cruised through it!I can't begin to express my gratitidue for Pa Acker. I was so glad that we were on this adventure together! 
This was a common sight...A very long, long road ahead of us!!
And then there were the hills that we had to get up!! Look at our whole family go-We were a team!!
We could always count on Pa and our boys to take over after a gruelling hill like that one! Garrett, Brandon, Pa and Jason. Lunch time on the trail was always welcome. Here we are with our yummy carrots. The carrots we had that day were the best carrots we have ever tasted!! Nightime at last...Valerie, Katie, Audrey and Ma
We saw Joe everyday for a few minutes. We were lucky enough to get this photo of the 3 of us. Thanks for thinking of us, Katie Puc'!
OUR TREK KIDS: Garrett Solomon
Jason KearnsValerie Evenson and Brandon Kile
Katie Puc', Audrey Kohlts and Emma Lattin
Madeleine Gardner
Ma and KatieThe medical staff would fashion up flip-flops for those with blisters. They were made with duct tape and cardboard.This is one of my favorite photos. Pa with Audrey chillin' in the tall grass. Chipper crashed on the way home. We were all wiped out! There are a ton of pictures from the trek and if I had the time I would put them all on my blog...Sadly, I don't. Hope this gives you a glimpse of the fun we had.
Then it was time for Joe to eat dinner and he couldn't do it while the crawdads were in the kitchen. (those of you who know Joe remember that he grosses out at things like this easily) So, I moved the crawdads to the front porch while he ate.
