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Mile 460.  Tortoise drove in a caravan high up Kolob Terrace Road from the Cedar Canyon side, helping to shuttle participants in the La Verkin Stake pioneer handcart trek to the starting point.  His walk today was to be an extra person to push a little harder on the handcarts when climbing hills such as the one at the beginning, shown above.  Lou continued for about 2 1/2 miles, then when he reached the downhill section, he said goodbye to the handcart parties and returned to his car.  It's a great way to help all of us, particularly our youth, appreciate our history and heritage!

For more pictures, a map, further details, and today's walking thought by James E. Faust, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

First step is to lower the handcarts off the trailer that brought them here.
They came last night.  Our Encampment friend, Jeramy Garfield, camped
alone here last night to watch out for them until we arrived today.

Participants dressed in pioneer clothing arrive to get started

Food central.  Somebody placed a really big order at Costco,.  The first meal
was issued to each handcart "family" to load into their handcarts, along with
cooking gear and five gallon buckets with participant's belongings.

What fully loaded handcarts look like

Sandwiches, chips, carrot sticks, and cookies was the lunch menu
while loading the handcarts.  Leave it to Eldon Pierce to provide
a REALLY large knife to cut tomato slices with.  Mary did it,
no problem!

And it begins!

The road was graded and pretty dry for about 2 miles.
Then the mud and rain began!  No problem.

The rope is part of how the handcart is braked as you go down steep hills.

Beginning the way back, passing more handcarts along the way.  :-)

And back to the starting point near this road junction, with signs saying
16 miles to Kolob Reservoir, etc.

Turn around ... there's the car

One more walk  in the books for the smiling Tortoise.
Let's head down the mountain towards home!

Lou completed today's 5.33 mile walk in 2:07:45 hours, with the clock running on the rest breaks.  Tortoise rating was 3.5, based on 228 feet climbed in the 2.67 mile uphill portion (average elevation 9279). Calories burned were 862.  

Here is a map of today's route:

And here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

460.88 miles walked, which is 46.00% of Lou's 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 449.31 year-to-date miles.   

140:55:58 hours walked, which is 45.03% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

23,174 total feet climbed, compared with 20,943 feet on this day in 2014.  

69,121 calories burned

44.41% of the year has passed

Lou has walked 27 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11. Overall he has walked on 130 of the 139 non-Sundays in 2015, a 93.53% consistency rating.  This compares with 128 days walked after 139 non-Sundays in 2014 (a 92.09% consistency rating).

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells Tortoise that he is on track. Yes, this is more numbers than you are likely interested in, all Tortoise can say is he's really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because he doesn't do them every, every day.  (If you doubt this, compare Tortoise's 2013 walking record with 2014 ... for him, it is what it takes to be consistent. And Tortoise feels much more vibrant when he is consistent.  He hopes you find what works for you)

And now for today's walking thought, initially presented in April 2007:

"If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being."

"This shocking violence caused great anguish among the Amish but no anger.  There was hurt but no hate.  Their forgiveness was immediate.  ... A remarkable peace settled on the Amish as their faith sustained them during this crisis. ... It was an amazing outpouring of their complete faith in the Lord's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount:  'Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.'"

"Some hold grudges for a lifetime, unaware that courageously forgiving those who have wronged us is wholesome and therapeutic."

To watch, listen to, or read this message in full, please visit https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-healing-power-of-forgiveness?lang=eng #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling!