Battalion Trek - Adventures and Aha Moments Hiking the Mormon Battalion Trail

Close your eyes as we and our trek friends attempt to help you imagine what it was like hiking through river bottom sand, a cactus forest, a hill of giant granite boulders and ending up in a flash-flood carved canyon. This is the second episode as we are walking listeners through the 3-day stretch between Plaster City, CA and Box Canyon in the sequence we hiked it.  You’ll hear from multiple...

From Yuma, Arizona to Carizzo Creek, California - the Battalion had to survive 90 miles of the most desolate desert imaginable.  Even with cached water, military escorts, and food in their packs our intrepid hikers, Kevin, Peter, and Terry share the challenges they faced during this stretch. The Battalion didn't know what lay ahead of them when they left what is now modern day Plaster City, C...

Do you ever wonder what it is like to hike at night along the trail? Peter and Kevin were joined by Kevin’s former missionary companion Mark Woodbury to participate in the never to be forgotten El Centro Night Hike. Watching the happy reunion of these missionary companions – made me think of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah from the Book of Mormon. There was rejoicing (in this case after 34 years) to s...

Trace Skeen shares his experience hiking the trail near Yuma, AZ and how he came to write a musical production to share the Battalion Story. He talks about some of his favorite songs.  We have included the overture and a recording of Trace singing a few songs from the rehearsal CD which we share with his permission. For more information on the script or music for “Battalion: The Musical” plea...

Two days after Christmas, Paul & Dixie Lyman joined the Wilson crowd to hike to Oatman Mesa near Gila Bend, Arizona. Paul was on Battalion Trek's Board of Directors.  We were lucky to catch up him and Dixie while they were serving a mission in Germany.  Having spent years researching the Willie Handcart Company’s path from Liverpool England to Salt Lake City, they had a unique perspe...

One of the highlights of the trek was the four days the Dow and Lynne Wilson family joined us near Maricopa, Arizona. Having opted to participate as “Cooke’s Cadre --- they hiked with all the period accoutrements, slept in 1846 tents, and cooked their own meals over the fire with replica army issue camp kettles. Bright and early Christmas morning,  (just after we finished talking with our son...

Part 2 of Margaret’s story will explore the Battalion’s commitment to honor their word to her relatives by trading buttons for food.  It’s an incredible story and as she says, "It took BOTH sides to make it work."  She also shares her memories of the three days she spent with us in Tucson. Photo:  Ebenezer Brown & Phoebe Draper Palmer Brown

Prepare to be amazed as you hear Margaret Jorgenson tell how she had ancestors both in Presidio Tucson, AND in the Mormon Battalion. In Part 1, you’ll hear how her “cousins” felt when they heard about the “rag tag” army that was headed their way. Atanacia and Petra were alive when the Battalion went thru Tucson. Atanacia Santa Cruz Hughes ( my 2nd Great Grandmother born 14 August 1850 about 3 1/2...

Val John Halford re-joined us to hike the San Pedro River Valley - most well known in the Battalion Story for the Battle of the Bulls.  He'll share his impressions of the area, how being on site enabled him to see just how easy it would have been for the bulls to surprise the line of Battalion volunteers, and what challenges he had hiking through the veggetation and terrain that day. Val join...

As a BLM employee, Mike decides he should "monitor" the Trek and joins us near Soccoro.  He talks about 1846 shoes (Brogans), Rations, wonders if the Battalion met Kit Carson, and shares some tips about hiking the trail and acquiring period clothes.     News Article about Mike's 2021 Bataan Death March participation:  https://www.alamogordonews.com/picture-gallery/news/loc...

With 30 years as a infantryman, a passion for reenacting military marches, and experience managing public lands, Mike Bilbo brings a truly unique perspective to The Battalion Trek reenactment. His help obtaining permits to allow us to cross public lands was invaluable.  He was able to hike with us twice in New Mexico and what a treat it was to have him along. News Article about Mike's 2021 Ba...

Our introduction to Ron Kirkpatrick couldn’t have come at a better time. He relates his experiences hiking the week Kevin was laid up with foot surgery, the people he met on the trail, what things intrigued the Battalion members as they passed through this area in 1846, and  how the Battalion did their duty to God and Country.  Ron has supported Kevin in his research of the trail and sha...

Peter Guilbert joins us again to remember the time we spent in Santa Fe, at Rancho de los Golondrinas Harvest Festival Event, walking into Old Town Plaza, visiting the Palace of the Governors, a fireside event, and walking to Albuquerque.  He, Kevin, and Mark Cummings braved the truly "miserable" day of hiking out of Aqua Frieta with cold rain.  Just before the fireside we had a hailstor...

Brent continues about Life in “Mormon Town”, recognizes more tender mercies, helps us contemplate the sacrifices of the early saints.  We giggle about romance in 1846, and he spotlights some “firsts” that took place in Pueblo. The photo for this episode is provided in Brent's resouces and is titled:  Pueblo Pioneers – William Johnson, Iva Melton, Laura Bell Note: Regarding the discussion...

What do southern belles and wealthy plantation owners have to do with the Mormon Battalion Story?  Brent Holladay, descendent of one of the "Mississippi Saints", shares the fascinating story of how this well outfitted group come to be invited to winter over in Pueblo Colorado creating a major miracle for themselves and the Mormon Battalion.   The photo for this episode is Brent's direct...

Jeff helps us remember the “Grand Lady of the Santa Fe Trail, Faye Gaines, who passed away this month at age 94. We reminisce about her contribution to history, our time together and what an honor it was to know her.  You can hear her talk about her passion for history from the recording we made September 28, 2008 in her home. We also discuss the Battalion detachments sent to Pueblo, Colorado...

“Everyone should, and I think they do for the most part, enjoy and relish histories. It’s fun sharing your stories” Jeff Trotman. Santa Fe Trail enthusiast, Jeff Trotman acts as our ambassador through southwest Kansas.  In Part 1 he shares some tidbits about Jedediah Smith you may not know, tells what happened to the Sibley survey report for the Santa Fe Trail, and answers questions about the...

What do these Living History Missionaries DO? What are the variety of ways people can participate? What is their biggest challenge and greatest takeaways?  They give ideas for sharing the Battalion Story wherever you happen to live along the trail Listen to this episode and I bet you'll learn some tidbit of California history that you didn't know before! If you would like to be a living histo...

In this episode, we’ll discover how living history missionaries are sharing Battalion & pioneer stories throughout California schools and at historic venues and events. How this Living History Mission started and how is it impacting participants and visitors are topics we discuss. If you would like to be a living history missionary, please contact President Dennis Amaral at dennisbearhawk@gmai...

Part 2: The evening of September 12, 2008 Ken Weidner and mother nature joined forces to create an experience that transported us back to 1846 in a way none of us there that evening will ever forget. We have so much fun reminiscing with Ken, Marilyn Yost, Jim Groth,  and Howard and Londa  KANE about the hospitality we enjoyed in their homes, and especially the magical evening we spent in...

On the evening of September 12, 2008 Ken Weidner and mother nature joined forces to create an experience that transported us back to 1846 in a way none of us there that evening will ever forget. We have so much fun reminiscing with Ken, Marilyn Yost, Jim Groth,  and Howard and Londa Koehn about the hospitality we enjoyed in their homes, and especially the magical evening we spent in Ken’s tip...

One of the major purposes for the Trek was to research and better understand the Mormon Battalion’s route. One of the stories everyone likes to share is when the Battalion were so desperate for water, they drank from a “buffalo wallow” straining the bugs through their teeth. But… just where was this buffalo wallow? Puzzling about the location, Kevin shared some descriptions of what he was looking...

Leaving Ft. Leavenworth was a bigger leap of faith than leaving home to begin the trek.  That first month had given us a taste of what was involved in getting ourselves down the trail.  Allyson's time with us ended, and when we put my Dad on a plane back to Salt Lake, it seemed as if our little world of "Trekking" was about to topple over.  We called our good friend Paul Sandor and...

An experienced reenactor and descendant, Val John Halford wanted to hike with us out of Fort Leavenworth. After years of research and portraying the Battalion. He says theirs is "a Real Survival Story". Val saved the day for Denny when he helped dress the scouts and march them from the parade grounds to an anxious crowd  at The Frontier Army Museum waiting for "The Battalion" to arrive. &nbsp...

Jeff Wingo talks about other historic sites on post tied to Battalion History, its military leadership, and gives some encouragement to those who want to be prepared to help celebrate the 200th anniversary.  12-10-2021  AN UPDATE TO OUR FT LEAVENWORTH PODCAST! The Fort Leavenworth Historian, Dr. Joe Bailey, came over to Jeff Wingo's office with an answer to Kevin's question about Army ac...