A Ford van is about the same length as a covered wagon and about a foot wider. On a journey taken by Judy Busk and her husband, Neal, to retrace the Oregon and Mormon trails, horsepower comes in the form of a combustion engine, a plastic cooler takes the place of wooden trunks, and the bedding consists of futons rather than feather ticks. With these conveniences in place, they seek a connection to the past in museums, archives, and at historical sites....

As part of the Willie Handcart Company, Levi Savage (Jasen Wade) feared that leaving late in the season would lead to despair and death. What he came to find out is that for every tragedy, there is a multitude of miracles. Based on actual events.