The Undaunted

So, I just finished reading this book by Gerald Lund, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It takes place back in the 1860 during the San Juan Mission. The pioneers were asked to find a way over to Southeastern Utah to settle a new community and to help make and keep peace with the Indians. When I was looking for a new read, I came across this one and was interested to know how and understand why eastern Utah was settled. This book was amazing. It made me understand and realize how truly lucky we are. What these people had to endure was incredible.

The San Juan mission began in October 1869. 250 men, women and children, 80 wagons and over 1000 head of cattle were asked to find a shorter route. These pioneers braved snow, heat, no water, massive canyons, sand, and massive solid rock formations, in order to fulfill their calling.

As I read this book, the details and the little history injected into the fiction characters painted a clear picture of what exactly they had to endure. The expedition was only to last a few weeks but in all ended lasting over 6 months, due to harsh conditions. They dynamited, hammered and pick axed their way through the rocks. There was a point in the story, when the explores were to the point of turning back due to no way down to the canyon floor. A man had just spent the morning walking up and down the rim looking for a way down, to only have his prayers answered by a mountain sheep. This mountain sheep came out of now where, and played a game with this man while he tried to lasso him. But every time he got close the sheep would move, and eventually he found himself at the bottom.

This books tells amazing stories like this one, where there was proof that they were doing what they were supposed too and that their Heavenly Father was looking after these families. During this expedition, no one died, and 2 babies were born.

Hole in the Rock

One of the trails the wagons had to go down, there is a story that the first wagon to make this descent was lead by a blind team of horses. They tried to get other down, but the animals were too scared. They spent 6 weeks here, while the blasted and carved out a make shift road for the wagons.

Mission route

This is a picture of the San Juan Hill.

You can still see the incline these wagons had to go up. This hill in particular, each wagon had 6 to 7 teams hitched to a single wagon. The incline was so great, that many of the animals were spasming and panting and their owners were forced to crack the whip or they would lose the battle and be dragged to death. They say that at one point, the trail was stained by blood and matted fur from the animals legs after they would fall from exhaustion. They even said, that one oxen died here after he gave his life to pull his families wagon up this mighty hill.

Anyways, I loved this book and they story of these great pioneers. And I hope someday I will be able to see this area for myself, and really get a greater appreciation for our Mormon pioneers and their histories. While enjoying the thought that my family is from this area.