From Nebraska to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah is more than a thousand miles. It must have felt much longer, however, for those rugged pioneers who walked, hurrying as quickly as possible before supplies ran out and the big snowstorms come. Several trials were faced, many tears were shed, and fears were realized as people perished. Starvation, pneumonia, cholera and Indian attacks were commonplace. A unique feature of the Mormon migration was their use of handcarts. The two-wheeled carts were pushed and pulled by hand, and were seen as a faster, easier and cheaper way to travel. They were made of wood, 6-7 feet long. The small boxes affixed to the carts were 3-5 feet long, but only 8-12 inches high. Some carts were covered with a bow-frame and canvas.
Fully loaded, a handcart could hold around 500 pounds of provisions and possessions, including an axle grease bucket. Adults were only allowed 17 pounds of clothing and belongings for the journey, and children 10 pounds. Frequently, even this amount became oppressive and belongings were abandoned along the trail.
The handcart era lasted only five years (1856-1861), bringing about three thousand pioneers to their Promised Valley. I often wonder if I would have had the faith and stamina to make that journey. | 
