Young Canadians tackle handcart trek

Seven Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, youth were among 54 young Mormon men and women from across Vancouver Island who tackled adversity, trials, struggles and physical challenges in a four-day hand cart trek last week around the Alberni Valley.

The trek, organized by the Nanaimo Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, covered 42 kilometers of varied terrain and was aimed at reminding the youth of the hardships their pioneer ancestors suffered in their struggle for religious freedom in North America.

Wearing pioneer era clothing, including dresses, bonnets, aprons and bloomers for the girls and long pants, long-sleeved shirts, suspenders and hats for the boys, the youth from various congregations from Duncan to Port McNeill and including Powell River got a taste of the struggles pioneers encountered as they walked across the plains.

No modern gadgets such as cell phones, I-pods or Blackberries were allowed on the trek.

Read the full story via MormonTimes.com.