The women of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake pull their handcarts without the help of the men as they complete the Women's Pull on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the Mosida Handcart Trek Site near Elberta. The site brings youth, typically ages 14-18, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints closer to their families, faith and also themselves through reenacting handcart experiences, like the first Mormon handcart pioneers that came to Salt Lake City from Iowa City beginning in 1856.
June was an odd mix of personal and professional experiences.
Professionally, I got to work on a photo essay on something that really interested me and also got to know the ebb and flows at a newspaper during summer months.
For my Monday Close-Up this month I followed along with LDS youth reenacting what it was like to be the Mormon handcart pioneers of the 1850's crossing the United States west to Salt Lake City. This took place at the Mosida Handcart Trek Site, which is about a 50-minute drive into an exceptionally rural part of Utah County (a few miles north of Elberta). The site aims to build communal and spiritual bonds in the youth through the reenactments of what those pioneers of the past might have endured. The story is made up of the picture above and the 12 following below. Should you be interested in more of the story, the captions of the photos will elaborate more, and the full story and photo gallery can be seen here: http://provodh.com/yskqf.
It seems during the summer months at a newspaper that it can be feast or famine in terms of workload. Some days are calm, cool and collected, whereas as others keep one on their feet. Mainly, things are quite calm. A slower pace has allowed me to digest shoots a bit more, but has also forced me to search around a bit for features when it comes to a slow news day. Despite a bit of unpredictability, this past month has been refreshing in terms of my photographing at work.
Personally, I was also gone half the month. I had very good reason to be elsewhere: my sister was graduating from UCLA with a PhD. in Anthropology, and my extended family gathered together to hold a funeral for my grandmother who had passed away. The graduation obviously took me to Los Angeles, which is incidentally one of my favorite cities. It was wonderful to get to hangout with my sister (the graduate being one of my four sisters) and parents, though metro L.A. isn't exactly a place to get comfortable. As for my grandmother's funeral, that took me to Arthur, Nebraska - where she grew up. She lived a hell of a life (ask me about her sometime - she had many stories to tell and a sense of adventure unlike anyone I know). She saw more years than most (94), and her passing wasn't totally out of the blue. I'm still decompressing from it all (I don't feel as if I've been able to synthesize my thoughts on all of that lately), but that's a story for another time.
Despite a whole lot of moving around, I feel happy with how June came together (both for myself personally and at work). I'm excited to move another month into life in Utah, and see what July has to hold.
Hannah Gillespie, left, 18, helps apply sun screen to Adelaide Nielson, 18, as members of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake rest during their last day of trekking Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the Mosida Handcart Trek Site near Elberta. The site aims for authenticity, but trekkers aren't without some comforts such as sun screen, toilets, modern tents, a portable water supply, as well as medical and food staffs.
Kelli Banks is carried by her husband, Derek Banks, and Justin Mott as members of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake complete the River Crossing during their last day of trekking. The original handcart pioneers had to cross rivers several times to shorten their journey, but the rivers were often frozen and added more toil to the trail.
Members of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake make their way along the trail. Trekkers embark on a three-day, two-night journey through 23 miles of trails on 25,000-acres of land owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The women of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake pull their handcarts without the help of the men as they complete the Women's Pull during their last day of trekking. “We’ll say ‘your ancestors did this, you may not go starving or anything, but you’re going to have situations where you’re going to need to stand strong and be strong to survive,’" explained Barbara Tarwater, director of the site.
Kyle Hafen, 13, looks at fellow trekkers drink water as Hafen stands with no water bottle of his own as members of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake rest during their last day of trekking.
The women of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake pull their handcarts without the help of the men as they complete the Women's Pull during their last day of trekking.The Women's Pull is a section of the trail in which the women of each family must pull their handcarts uphill through a half mile of ankle-deep sand and dust. This honors the women who pulled their own handcarts because they were single or their husband died along the trail.
Cohen Cecil, 13, holds his hat over his heart as he watches the women of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake pull their handcarts without the help of the men as they complete the Women's Pull. During the women's pull, the men and boys stand to the side of the trails and hold their hats over their hearts to honor the women's struggle.
The women of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake walk together as they complete the Women's Pull during their last day of trekking.
Ryan Craig, 17, center, reads a letter from his parents about life and faith while he and other members of the Santaquin Utah Stake read letters from loved ones as they rest for the day at their campsite.
Preston Taito, 14, holds his "trek baby" as he and other members of the Henderson Nevada Lake Mead Stake rest during their last day of trekking. Some trekkers were given dolls to help simulate how it would be to endure the journey to Salt Lake City while also caring for babies.
Savannah Johnson, 16, shares her religious testimony inspired by experiences along the trail with other members of the Santaquin Utah Stake in a circle as they rest for the day at their campsite. “A lot of them are of the LDS faith, and they’re learning about their heritage,” said Angela Olson, one of the Senior Missionaries who helps trekkers along their journey.
Tylee Leiter,
18, reads a letter from her parents about life and faith while she also takes
notes on their thoughts as she and other trekkers from the Santaquin Utah
Stake rest for the day at their campsite. She explained that she was taking
notes about, "the good times, the hard times and the
mosquitoes."
Dallin Stevens, of Logan, covers his face from the sun as he takes a nap while floating down the lazy river during a private event Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at Seven Peaks Resort in Provo. With temperatures consistently staying in the high 80s and into the mid-90s throughout the week, residents in Utah County are looking for ways to beat the heat.
Taylor Burke, 8, kicks a soccer ball through a ring held by volunteer Savannah Nichols, 13, during Moving Mountains Soccer Camp on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the playing fields near Utah Valley University in Orem.
Janelle Purdy, 9, looks intently at her computer as Afton Jones, 7, plays with a fidget spinner as they work on a project during the Inside Sales Girls Code Camp on Friday, June 23, 2017 at the InsideSales.com World Headquarters in Provo. The coding camp aims to inspire and empower girls to pursue careers in coding and technology.
Steve Nelson, director and "mayor" of the village, poses for a portrait Saturday, June 2, 2017 at the Provo Pioneer Village.
Keith Evans pilots his balloon, Smiley's Dream, as other hot air balloons float above the area surrounding Provo High School during the preliminary Freedom Festival balloon rides Friday, June 30, 2017 in Provo.
Corey Fox, owner of Velour, right, and Brandon Robbins, of The Moth and the Flame, show off their surgery scars during a celebration for the successful kidney transplant from Robbins to Fox on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo.
Wildfires burn on West Mountain as teenagers participating in the Mosida
Handcart Trek Site run around near Utah Lake on Friday, June 23, 2017 as seen
from near Elberta.