Trek 2024

Spiritual Preparation

The pioneers that crossed the plains pushing handcarts, in wagons or on foot were driven by their testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They had a faith that they were willing to give everything for, and many of them did.

As you prepare yourself, the best thing you can do to get the most out of this incredible experience is to spend time growing your own testimony and relationship with Christ and your Father in Heaven. Take the time to study the scriptures, learn about early pioneers and their experiences, attend the temple where possible and spend time on your knees in prayer to connect with your Heavenly Father. As you do this, your experience will have so much more meaning and you’ll feel connected to those who went before you. Your testimony will grow and your faith increase in ways that you’ll carry throughout your life.

Physical Preparation

Get yourself physically ready for trek using the following suggested items:

• Take frequent walks for various distances. Remember the pioneer children that walked and walked and walked and walked. There’s a lot of walking at Trek so it’s a good activity to get into shape.
• Don’t buy new shoes for trek. They’ll give you huge blisters and you’ll be miserable. Most people wear typical athletic shoes for trek. If you need new shoes then buy them early and wear them in long before you show up to trek.
• Click here for a downloadable packing list. This will help you to not forget something or worse, over pack.
• Register for Trek as soon as possible so the Trek Committees can plan for you. Click here to register and e-sign your church Permission and Medical Release form. 

Pioneer Clothing

Shoes are very important. Take a good pair of closed toe, athletic shoes or hiking boots. Make sure they are broken in. A brand new shoe on the first day of Trek will almost guarantee blisters. Tie a second pair of old water/mud shoes to your bucket. (See packing list.) 

Where possible, leaders and youth are encouraged to wear pioneer-style clothing. Doing so helps participants immerse themselves in the trek experience. It can also foster a sense of unity among the youth and help remove social barriers that may exist.

In obtaining or making pioneer clothing, leaders and youth should not spend excessive time or money. Many items can be found in existing wardrobes or at secondhand stores. For simple clothing patterns, click here.

Clothing styles and fabrics need to be appropriate for the anticipated climate and weather conditions to help avoid overheating—or to stay warm. Ideally, young women’s blouses should be lightweight and long-sleeved, and their skirts should reach the midcalf, with bloomers or shorts underneath to prevent chafing. Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and comfortable, loose-fitting pants are recommended for the young men. Cotton fabrics are generally recommended.

Pre-Trek Homework Assignment

Learn about your own pioneer heritage. Study and learn as much as possible about a pioneer in your family. Preferably, this would be an ancestor that came across the plains. If you can’t find one of those in your family tree, please find someone in your ancestry that pioneered something. At some point along the trail, you will be asked to talk about this pioneer ancestor and share their story. This will be an awesome way to honor them. 

Invite ALL your stake friends

Trek is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience for members of our stake. It’s a chance to put yourself in the shoes of people who accomplished an amazing feat, driven by a newfound faith and trust in their Heavenly Father.

We encourage you to invite your stake friends to join you on your trek experience. They’ll leave with a greater appreciation for the legacy of faith that we all share as well as an incredibly fun, bonding experience!