Still, no formal organization to the pioneer party moving west this April 9th in 1847. Small groups came from different directions, often leapfrogging others enroute to a staging area on the Platte River.

While the largest group waited this day for Brigham Young's return from Winter Quarters, the men 'danced to wile away the time.' Finally, at three in the afternoon, they hitched up their teams and headed out over very broken country.

In a swampy area, several wagons bogged down requiring double hitching of oxen and about 30-men pulling on ropes to tow them through. After a challenging day, they camped in open prairie, still just 14 miles west of Winter Quarters.