Reviews for Handcarts to Zion: The Story of a Unique Western Migration, 1856-1860

The average rating for Handcarts to Zion: The Story of a Unique Western Migration, 1856-1860 based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-07-14 00:00:00 Thomas Beyer I was preparing for a Trek with LDS youth and borrowed this book from my mom. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all TEN handcart companies and not just the two most talked about companies. I have been LDS my entire life and had no idea that there were ten companies until I read this book. I learned that one of my ancestors was actually in the tenth company soon after reading the book and have a better appreciation for all that they went through to continue with the handcarts after such devastating results with Martin and Willie handcart companies. (Several other ancestors came via other handcart companies as well.) The challenges they faced were unparalleled and amazing. Great book to read to get a real taste of what life was like for handcart pioneers.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-01-27 00:00:00 Jonathan Wilson LeRoy W. Hafen, the author of this book, called handcart migration "the most remarkable travel experiment in the history of western America. On the whole it was successful; nearly 3,000 destitute Latter-day Saints, with no money for wagons or oxen, traveled to Utah on foot, pushing and pulling "handcarts" that held their possessions. 250 of them died en route, however, trapped by the early snowstorms of 1856. Naturally most of the historical accounts focus on the tragedies. But it wasn't easy, even for those who made it. They were usually hungry, cold, wet (from crossing rivers and streams) and exhausted. But it worked for them. Not all the pioneers took advantage of this travel method, however, choosing instead to wait until they could afford to go by wagon. One of my great-great grandmothers was in this latter group, supposedly saying, "I don't want my bones bleaching in the desert!"