Exploring the Frontier: An Adventure Filmed by HBO Cameras

A new show just premiered on HBO Max called “Back to the Frontier,” where three American families try to survive as 1880s homesteaders without modern conveniences like technology, running water, or electricity. It reminded me of my own pioneer trek experience as a teenager in Provo, Utah back in 2003.

If only there were cameras there to capture our struggles! For those unfamiliar with trek, it’s a tradition where church youth are organized into families and reenact the hardships of the pioneers crossing the plains. I participated in trek as a teenager and it was definitely one of the toughest and most bizarre experiences of my life.

The families on “Back to the Frontier” will be giving up their devices, makeup, and living in log cabins for an unspecified amount of time. But they’re missing out on the 90-hour bus ride from Provo to Nowhere, Wyoming, that my friends and I endured. The bus ride featured everything from Lunchable meat slices sliding down the windows to waking up with a mouth full of M&M’s.

While the families on the show will face challenges like sharing a bed and harvesting crops, they won’t experience the true chaos of trekking with a group of teens who have to pull handcarts through dusty winds. I personally remember a fistfight, tears, and even a forest fire near-miss on my trek experience.

So, I wish the “Back to the Frontier” families luck as they go through their own pioneer adventure. Life without technology or flushing toilets is tough, and they deserve recognition for their efforts. As for me, I walked away with mosquito bites, a sandwich, an appreciation for the pioneers, and the relief of knowing I’ll never have to ride a bus to Wyoming again. Unless, of course, HBO Max calls with an offer of fame and fortune. But this time, I’ll only do it if the bus is carpeted.