FAQs

When will trek be held?

Trek will be held Wednesday June 11th through Saturday June 14th, 2025. We will leave early on Wednesday morning at around 8:00 AM and return in the late evening on Saturday. Transportation will be provided to and from Deseret Land & Livestock by each ward. We are in need of volunteers to help transport people to and from the Stake Center parking lot. If you can help please let us know.

Where is the trek being held?

Deseret Land and Livestock – For more information on the site specifically you can visit the website maintained by the church: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/locations/treks/deseret-land?lang=eng.

The property is roughly 30,000 acres with 6 Trek routes. There are generally 5 other stakes on the property simultaneously. Each stake can have two to four hundred participants. While it is highly unlikely to encounter another stake while Trekking, you may notice some rules that are specifically set due to the volume of individuals they are hosting at any given time.

Who can participate in trek?

The Evanston Wyoming Pioneer Trek of 2025 is for all youth living in stake boundaries who are ages 12 to 19. Those youth turning 12 in 2025 are welcome to come. Graduating Seniors are also invited! The stake will make callings to provide all the adult leadership necessary to care for the needs of each of the youth. Friends of our youth are also welcome to register. Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not a requirement.

Can I attend only part of Trek, or leave and come back, if necessary?

No. The remote location, full agenda, and close “family” relationships of Trek make it extremely difficult to accommodate for individuals to leave or return once Trek has begun. We will be about an hour away from the entry gate and the Missionaries must always accompany all individuals on the property. They cannot be in 2 places at once and thus if you cannot enter with everyone else at the beginning you will not be allowed to attend any part of the event. However, with this being said, please register anyhow and make notes as to your situation so we can understand what accommodations may be able to be made if at all possible.

How much does Trek cost?

The Stake is paying on behalf of each attending youth. The youth does not need to pay to participate. The base fee to participate on the Deseret Land & Livestock church property is $30.00 for each person and will be allocated to the appropriate ward budgets. Food and other goods provided will also be deducted, however those costs will be assessed after the event, as they are not known until many details are finalized. The stake estimates a ward may expect upwards of $75 to $100 per youth for everything. Contact the ward or stake TREK directors for detailed information if you would like an accounting of the costs associated.

What do I need to bring to the Trek bag check-in?

A garbage bag that contains your sleeping bag/sleeping pad/pillow. (these bags will be labeled by the color that corresponds to the "family" group you have been assigned) Your ward TREK directors will let you know if there are any additional items you need to bring. Check the packing list tab for a complete list of items to pack.

What do I need to bring on Wednesday June 11th when we leave?

On Wednesday morning you should bring everything on the packing list including clothes, sleeping gear, personal items, a water bottle, and all other items on the packing list. A lunch will be provided. You can bring snacks as long as they are not individually wrapped, water bottle flavoring, and a day pack/small backpack. The day pack should include anything you might need while trekking including Chapstick, sunblock, rain poncho, gloves, sunglasses and water bottle. Journals and a pen will be provided. Please also bring your bucket with your personal belongings. For a complete list of things needed see the link: Packing List.

How will we get to and from the trek location?

Ward and Stakes will provide parents and adult leaders to transport the trekkers to and from our starting destination. Each ward will meet at their ward buildings and coordinate rides from there. If you are able to help transport kids and volunteers, please let us know.

How far will we be walking each day?

Trek participants will be trekking and pulling a handcart for a total of 31.4 miles. Evening and morning activities will vary but you can expect walking a total of upwards of 45 miles in the 4 days of Trek. See the itinerary for specific details, but the first and third day we will be walking the longest distances. The 2nd and fourth day will be the shorter days. We should be returning to the Stake Center just after noon on Saturday.

What will be in the handcarts?

Buckets for each youth, water bottles, 2 - 5 gallon water jugs, and cooler with lunch for each Trek family. Buckets will be in the Handcarts but bedding will not be. The youth will not have access to the the bedding during the day. They will be able to access it at night.

Are there any River Crossings? If so, can I just go barefoot?

No, there will be no river crossings on the Deseret Land & Livestock Property. Youth are not allowed to walk barefoot. A set of "evening shoes" are nice to have, flip-flops are not allowed even when we arrive in camp. While there are no river crossings, we may encounter snow or other wetland or marsh-like areas. As always, make sure you dry off your feet completely before putting socks back on. Also, tie your shoes tightly to prevent your shoes to shift and chafe your feet. This will prevent the formation of blisters.

What medical provisions are going to be provided?

There will be a proficient medical team on trek who is dedicated to medical surveillance and treatment. Each ward will be assigned a medical person that will TREK with them. There will be a stake medical tent or vehicle set up in camp. Anyone taking prescription medication needs to turn in that medication to their ward medical specialist for distribution. Please talk to your ward medical specialist about any concerns. Extra medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antacids, etc. will be available from the medical specialists.

Why do we need to fill out and turn in a Registration and Medical Release Form?

We need to know who is going for accountability purposes, transportation, equipment and food preparation. Medical and appropriate personnel need to be aware of specific medical needs in order to be prepared. Medical provisions are limited by the location (camping) and logistics of the trek.

What will we eat?

We eat well on Trek. Meals full of carbohydrates and are specially prepared to allow for the high physical demands of walking with a handcart. Trek participants will be provided with snacks and three meals each day. Daily menus will be made by the stake trek food committee to provide for appropriate protein and carbohydrates. Youth are encouraged to bring their own hard candy to suck on while walking. Try not to bring individually wrapped candies such as Jolly Ranchers or Starbursts as the trash has a way of being left on the ground. We are going to be hiking and camping in remote areas that necessitate No-Trace left behind style camping. All trash we bring in must be hiked out.

If a trekker has significant food allergies or other dietary conditions, it is the responsibility of the family to work with the stake TREK food committee to find alternate foods if needed. Please see the Contact Info page for who to contact.

What about bathroom facilities?

Portable bathrooms, sometimes lovingly referred to as "Honey Buckets" or "Porta Johns" will be available at select locations along the trail such as at the lunch site and a few others. They are also available at the camp sites in the evening and morning hours. It is uncomfortable for many individuals to relieve themselves in the outdoors. We will provide as many opportunities as possible.

However, if someone is drinking as much as they should, there may be a few other necessary stops along the way. Ma's and Pa's can help mitigate any possible embarrassments the youth may feel. We specifically encourage Ma's to drink a lot so they can set the example. We encourage individuals to find a secluded area off the trail. For the young women, they should bring a few of their peers to stand in a semi-circle facing away while creating a wall with their skirts for privacy. Please bring a paper bag with the necessary toiletries or feminine hygiene products so that you can bring all the trash back with you to dispose of. If it didn't come out of you, it comes back with you.

What are the sleeping accommodations?

Each TREK "family" will set up a tent-like structure with their tarp and handcarts for sleeping. The girls will sleep separated from the boys.

Ma's Pa's and leaders will be sleeping in-between the girls and boys to keep them separate at nights. If there is a special accommodation you think we should be aware of please don't hesitate to speak to your Bishop or a member of the TREK committee about it.

We will be camping in different locations all 3 nights.

Will there be plenty of water?

Each handcart will have two 5 gallon water coolers to provide for each trek family. It is well water, so it’s suggested that the youth bring ample flavored water packets. We will stop for a mandatory 10 minutes to hydrate every 30-45 minutes along the trail. Take advantage to fill your water bottle and hydrate.

There is not water for washing hair or bathing.

Is dehydration a concern?

Yes it is. Numerous breaks will be taken while trekking to drink water. Each trekker needs to bring their own individual water bottle and there will be stops to refill your water bottle.

Drink at least 8 to 10 ounces of water at every break. You will feel stronger and much better.

Preparing before TREK is important with water consumption. Start hydrating early and cut back on sodas and juices.

Why are make-up and perfume not allowed?

Pioneers did not use make-up. Just kidding. You will look radiant from the rigorous activities. Plus, you are going to want to be involved with all the fun activities planned and make-up can take away from that time and will distract from the trek and trek activities. Perfume, makeup and perfumed lotions may attract mosquito and other insects, and attract some animals. While personal care will be a priority to stay safe and healthy, we ask for your help in maintaining an atmosphere as wonderfully rugged as possible. - This being said, we are hopeful you will bring small biodegradable or natural deodorants to keep the trail fun for everyone to be on.

Why are electronic devices not allowed?

This is a tremendous opportunity to get out of the world and worldly influences and allows for better opportunities to feel the spirit in our lives. We invite all youth to make the sacrifice of going without their phone and all electronic devices for a few days. It won't hurt, we promise!

It also allows for better interaction with family members and other trek participants.

What will we be doing other than trekking?

Pioneer Story Telling

Individual Ward or "Family" activities

Morning/Evening Group Devotionals

Family Activities and Devotionals

Firesides

Testimony Meeting

Pioneer Dancing

Pioneer Games/Activities

If you have any other questions that have not been answered here please feel free to get in touch with a member of the TREK committee.