PIONEER DAY!

"...they sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked AND walked..."

It is traditional to hike on Pioneer Day. So Colin, Amy and Brian headed out our front door after dinner and hiked up the mountain across the street from our house, past the "Y" and on up for miles and miles until it was dark. They then found a nice spot and set up camp. They came down early the next morning (so Colin could go on.. yep, another hike. This time with friends.

Pioneer Day Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in Utah.  It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-daySaints settled after being forced from Nauvoo Illinois.  Parades, Rodeos, fireworks, and other festivities help commemorate the event. 

The first celebration of Pioneer Day in 1857 (pictured above) was interrupted with news of the approach of Johnson's Army, heralding the beginning of the Utah War.  During the following occupation of the Utah Territory by federal troops, Pioneer Day was not celebrated. Once President Abraham Lincoln initiated a hands-off policy on Utah in 1862 during the America Civil War, Pioneer Day was once again observed.