First Encampment Hike

To celebrate Jan's pioneer heritage he wanted to go on a special hike called the "First Encampment Hike." The description is as follows:

During this family-oriented event, you can walk in the footsteps of the 1847 pioneers in a festive and commemorative hike that follows Emigration Creek through beautiful Salt Lake City neighborhoods. Points of interest will be pointed out along the way and protective weaponry used and foods prepared during the era will be demonstrated.

The beginning of our hike from Donner Park.

The hike began about 7am starting at Donner Park (2770 East 990 South) and ended at the First Encampment Park (1700 South 500 East), near the site where the pioneers camped in the Salt Lake Valley on July 22, 1847. 

To add to the festivities, Jan and I each wore the name of one of his pioneer ancestors. Jan was Christian Hans Monson and I was Eliza Ann Haven Westover.


Christian Hans Monson was born in Norway. He was a cabinet maker by trade but worked in the evenings as a guard in the jail. In Norway, proselyting was illegal back in those days unless you were preaching the state religion. Two Mormon missionaries had been arrested for preaching. While in jail they taught Christian the gospel at night. One night he let them out of the jail so they could baptize him, then back to the jail cell they went.

The license plate frame around the name
says "I'd rather be pulling a handcart."

Christian was disowned by his family for joining the church and came to America to join the saints. He was one of the pioneers who crossed the plains with a handcart, one which he built himself. After arriving, because of his wood working skills he was asked to help with the wood work in four temples, Salt Lake, Manti, Logan and St. George.


Eliza Ann Haven was a young girl of 15 who lived with her family in Nauvoo when the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred. She was in attendance at the meeting where the mantel of the deceased Prophet Joseph Smith came over Brigham Young where he looked and sounded like Joseph. She later recorded this experience in a letter which the family donated to the church archives to preserve.

Posing by the exit of a bridge we came
across on the Westminster College Campus.

While crossing the plains in a handcart company Eliza met Charles Westover and fell in love. They were the first couple married after they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

Demonstrating the rifle, now we know where the sayings
 "lock, stock and barrel", "ramrodding" a project
 and going off "half-cocked" come from.

Just like the pioneers must have done, we took 2 restroom breaks and ate Popsicles. Well, Jan and I on our new eating lifestyle ate some running energy products I'd brought and had some water. We saw a demonstration of a Mormon Battalion rifle while we rested at our first stop.

Marsha at First Encampment Park

Back on the nice shady roads as we headed down the hill toward the First Encampment Park. It was a fun time walking with Jan and hearing him tell pioneer stories as people walking asked him about the picture on his back. I am so proud of him, it was his idea to go on this pioneer hike, just 4 days since 2 stints were put in the one artery to the heart. We are truly blessed.

Don't worry, Jan is faking pulling this handcart.
He still has a few more days of surgery restrictions.

At the end of the nice "meandering" hike was my van, ready for us to drive back to the start to get Jan's car. Except one minor detail, the key to the van was in the car. Geez. Was I thinking or what! I hitched a ride with a family going back for their other car. The perfect plan was rescued.

One of the engravings on a rock in the
First Encampment Park.

Stats: 4.6 miles, 1:38:51; Elevation loss 740 ft.