For the Reporter

Kent and Covington area youth and adult leaders are about to embark on a pioneer trek to reenact the Mormon pioneers’ journey more than 150 years ago.

The teenagers, approximately 160 strong and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, take on the journey July 15-18.

Rather than cross the plains of the Midwest, they will put their shoulders to the wheel in Bing Canyon, south of Kennewick, near the Washington-Oregon border.

The church’s Kent Stake organizes the journey every four years, along with pioneer treks reenacted by LDS youth throughout the world.

The youth will pull handcarts with gear like those used by the pioneers in 1847. The handcarts are approximately 8-by-10 feet in size, with two large wagon wheels and a bar for pulling and pushing the cart along.

They will wear pioneer attire similar to that worn in the 1800s, cook their meals on the trail and sleep under the stars.

The trek will take place on a barren desert trail approximately 18 miles in length. Throughout the trek, the youth will learn pioneer stories and encounter some of the ordeals of early pioneer life. The trek will be strenuous and hard, which is part of the appeal.

Preparation has been ongoing for several months as the youth learned pioneer era dances, were assigned a pioneer personality to research, and been encouraged to learn about their own family history.

Youth who attended trek four years ago shared their experiences with the group now preparing to leave.

Blake Johnson, a 2011 graduate of Kentlake High School, spoke to the youth about how his experience at trek helped him prepare for the rigors of college and serving two years as a missionary for the church in Milwaukee, Wis.

Katie Manning, a 2015 Kentlake graduate, told the youth that the trek was difficult, but the experiences made the effort rewarding and memorable.

Wesley King, a junior at Kentlake, is leaving football camp early to attend the trek.