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| Devil's Gate |
We continued to follow the Mormon Pioneer Trail west along the routes taken by the Willie and Martin handcart companies out of which about 213 people died in severe winter storms. At Martin’s Cove, we took a four-wheel drive vehicle several miles into the mountains and stood in the place where the Martin Company tried to shelter from the cold, but lost nearly 20 percent of its people.
Dad says:
Traveling across the vast empty spaces of Nebraska and Wyoming at 70 mph made me appreciate anew the fortitude and faith of the pioneers. How did they do it? We saw several of the landmarks which helped them along the way, but we would see these landmarks from 30 - 50 miles away which meant a few minutes travel for us, but several days for them.
Our last stop was Martin's Cove in Wyoming where the freezing and dying pioneers stayed and died daily until rescued. The details of this horror are depicted thoroughly in displays, statues, and film in and near the Visitor's Center there, but to actually stand at the site itself and ponder the story was as moving to me as anything we've done so far, and a fitting climax to our trip -- other than finally seeing and holding dear Kare. President Hinckley called this a sacred spot -- even "a temple." I would agree.
Our last stop was Martin's Cove in Wyoming where the freezing and dying pioneers stayed and died daily until rescued. The details of this horror are depicted thoroughly in displays, statues, and film in and near the Visitor's Center there, but to actually stand at the site itself and ponder the story was as moving to me as anything we've done so far, and a fitting climax to our trip -- other than finally seeing and holding dear Kare. President Hinckley called this a sacred spot -- even "a temple." I would agree.
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| Martin's Cove |
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| Statue at Martin's Cove |
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| Statue at Martin's Cove |
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