Dio Dos (Day Two)
Kevin here –Sunday, Pueblo Colorado. Thinking about how to approach a fireside presentation for this evening has occupied a lot of thinking time this past
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2025 Blog
Read all about our trek along the Mormon Battalion Trail!
Day One - Stepping Off
Denny - 9:56 pm Pueblo. Kevin is busy finalizing his presentation for tomorrow night at the Pueblo Stake so I'll share our first day – frome
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Settling In
Denny 5pm, Pueblo. It's been a hectic few days trying to get ourselves out of town, on the road, and to Pueblo. Now we're here, the focus will be
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On The Road Again
Kevin - Friday morning, 6 AM. We are in Pueblo Colorado, just about ready to start hiking tomorrow. Tuesday was spent with last minute auto repairs, cold food packing,
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Those Women I Want to Honor
I’ve wanted to learn more about the women who spent time in Pueblo. Who would I turn to but Mary Ann Kirk, who has spent so much time researching
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What Would We Do Without Friends?
One of my DUP Friends, Jenny Purinton, gave me this beautiful pot holder. We’ve only known each other a short
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Easter - Why The Battalion Served
Of course I've had the Battalion and pioneers on my mind a lot lately as we prepare for our departure. The OCTA Convention
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The Shot Heard Round the World
We had the privilege of participating in Utah’s Patriot’s Day Celebration Saturday – for the 250th Anniversary of “The Shot Heard Round the World”.
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When It's Springtime in the Rockies
My Grandma Cox loved the song "When It’s Springtime in the Rockies". I was thinking about her today as we were out enjoying the gorgeous spring display Mother Nature is putting on here in Utah.
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Two Important Trail Bills Proposed
If you listened to Kevin's podcasts about Trek 2025, you'll remember one of the reasons we are doing this trek is to help increase awareness of two new historic trail bills that
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The Tiltin' Hiltin - aka Our Wagon
We decided to try out our “gear and wagon” this week so there wouldn’t be any surprises once we get to Pueblo. We’d put the trailer in the
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Two Public Events Scheduled for Pueblo
We invite you join us as we remember the Battalion Detachments before we step off for the Trek. Kevin will talk about the history of the Battalion
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Why Are We Starting in Pueblo, Colorado?
Well, one third of the Mormon Battalion volunteers, the men themselves were detached and sent to Pueblo for the winter of 1846-1847. They went
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Packing the Wagon
Kevin is being reminded of the joys of RV ownership. As you'll hear on our podcast there has been alot to do to get it
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Come See Us at Ft Lupton!
We've been invited to participate in the South Platte Valley Historical Society's Heritage Fair Saturday May 3 10-4pm. Kevin's excited
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Mady Gets Our Wagon Ready
We have our grandaughter, Mady to thank for getting our wagon all spic and span ready for our trip. She has a gift for organization
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Do You Have a Battalion Ancestor?
For April Fools Day You may be surprised to find you have an ancestor on the Mormon Battalion Trail - if you start looking. Kevin got a surprise himself today as he found
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Missing My Dad Today!
As we prepare for this 2025 Trek - I'm missing my Dad, Jerry Watts who was so integral for our 2008-9 Trek. It's his
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The Mileage Breakdown for Trek 2025
I would think Kevin would be cross-eyed and crazy from all the calculations and routes he's examined the past few months but…. today he gave me the breakdown of what he thinks we'll be doing this time around.
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Hosts Who Help!
Who comes to your house and says, we have to leave in a few hours but have to walk three miles before we go? Who says, “Great, let's go!?” Mark and Becky. So, at 7 am we roll out of the house and walk through St. George
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Sharing Mormon Battalion Music with the DUP
What a great audience attended Kevin's lecture at the St. George DUP meeting today. They got into the spirit of things participating in the sing-a-long portion and Becky Woodbury's piano playing brought it all together.
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Little Troopers Join Our Training Hike
These folks made training fun Friday night as we arrived in St George and apologetically said we needed to get in our miles.
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A New Bill for The Mormon Trails!
The future of The Mormon Battalion Trail and its possibility of obtaining historic trail status rests in the hands of the National Mormon Trails Association being able to push a new bill through congress.
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RootsTech 2025 - Battalion Booth
People are proud of their Battalion Ancestors. We enjoyed meeting many of you today at the Battalion Booth at RootsTech.
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We Have a New Website!
I tried to build one myself but…then God sent Heather Nuffer to my aid! We needed something simple but she jumped right in and voila!
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In the Reading Room at Natl Archives
Here we are in the room where they bring you the documents you request. Everyone has their own space and their own documents. See the cart full of boxes behind Craig in the back corner? You are not allowed to bring in any ink pens, notebooks, or loose papers unless they have been stamped by the archivists. I could look at Laura’s documents but only touch the ones I had checked out.
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Holding History in Our Hands
Kevin’s search through the archives was a challenge but it was fun to see the types of things he did find. The amazing documents you see (and handle) there gives you a real respect for the past. The paper – often brittle and worn, the handwriting mostly beautiful but sometimes illegible. The elegantly designed printing on the old government forms. I was thinking about the hours and hours and hours people spent copying, calculating by hand, and meticulously recording details that we were now looking at! I bet they never imagined in a million years that some in 2025 would be scrutinizing what they wrote.
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Hiking the Hill for Trails
Lobbying for the Mormon Trails extension of "Period of Significance." Laura and Kevin met with congressmen and senators while we were in DC.
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Touching the Past!
We're at the National Archives this week and I got goosebumps when Laura Anderson held up this old bundle of documents and said they were records about the Detachments at Pueblo!
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We Have a Wagon!
Today we were fortunate to find a travel trailer that will serve as “home” for our trek. Nothing fancy, but perfect for two people who will be tired each night and don’t feel like pitching a tent. 😉
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Planning is Under Way!
Kevin & Denny Henson are deep into planning another trail research hike—this one from Pueblo, Colorado to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. This hike will commemorate the 1847 Mormon Battalion detachments and Mississippi Saints journey from their temporary wintering settlement to join Brigham Young’s pioneer company on the Mormon Trail.
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2008-2009 Blog
Read the 2008-2009 Blog