Greetings from California
In 1844 a group of pioneers left the usual route west to follow the Truckee River into the mountains. The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party became the first overland settlers to use what later became known as the Donner Pass. It took them roughly four months to cross the Sierra Nevada by this route.
The pass was subsequently named after a later group of settlers. In early November 1846 the Donner Party found the route blocked by snow and was forced to spend the winter on the east side of the mountains. Of the 81 settlers, only 45 lived to reach California. It is commonly believed that some of them resorted to cannibalism to survive, eating those of their companions who had perished and possibly also killing their native guides for food.
In October 2024 we crossed the same pass (in the opposite direction) in less than half an hour!
39 Comments
rkrontheroad
The Donner party story is well known here in Colorado. Nice to see what the pass actually looks like!
Sarah Wilkie
I imagine it looks very different in the winter! See Terri’s comment below 🙂
wetanddustyroads
Oh my, what a gruesome story … I’m glad you guys were able to travel over this beautiful pass in just half an hour.
Sarah Wilkie
It is, isn’t it? It just shows how badly those pioneers wanted to reach their ‘promised land’!
leightontravels
How fascinating Sarah, I once (many moons ago) read a book about the Donner party. What an exceptionally beautiful area, I could think of worse ways of spending half an hour. I was going to make a silly comment about not going hungry but I see Phil kinda beat me to it.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you found this interesting Leighton 🙂 I’m more than happy to get multiple silly comments!
grandmisadventures
Growing up we all knew the story of the Donner Party and the debates on the question of how they survived would get very heated. Such a beautiful place with such a sad history
Sarah Wilkie
I have vague memories of hearing it too, even in England.
Jane Lurie
Hi Sarah, You’re really having a great trip! This is a shocking tale in a most spectacular spot. Safe travels!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jane, we’re having a wonderful time!
Easymalc
Thanks for the postcard – and the story behind it.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you liked the card Malcolm 😀
thehungrytravellers.blog
……and without eating your colleagues too 😂
Toonsarah
Indeed!
earlgreykick
I passed by this place in train (California Zephyr) and the conductor told us the story. Extremely gruesome, but also they were under dire circumstances. Apparently, after all food was over, they even had to eat leather from leather-made supplies, before finally turning to cannibalism.
Sarah Wilkie
I hadn’t read about them eating leather, that’s interesting, thank you. I’d love to do that train trip!
Suzanne
I am sure the pioneers weren’t fully aware of what was ahead on their journey. Similar to the English emigrants who ventured to NZ. Especially the women. I wonder why many places such as this are only planted in pines and not a variety of trees? Lovely vista of the lake.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Suzanne. It think this spot is too high for deciduous trees, but we’ve seen plenty of beautiful aspens in particular at lower heights.
the eternal traveller
A gorgeous view with a gruesome story to go with it.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, quite a contrast between view and that slice of history!
EgÃdio
Wow! What gorgeous view!
Sarah Wilkie
Stunning, isn’t it?!
Marie
Oh dear – I doubt those original settlers appreciated the beauty around them! Have a lovely trip……
Sarah Wilkie
Indeed, I’m sure it was lost on them at times like that in particular. We’re having a great time thanks 😊
bluebrightly
It’s such a grisly story, isn’t it? But when you see how rugged the terrain is you can imagine the desperation. I’m glad your trip is going better than the Donner party’s went! I really like the way the round rocks lead to scattered trees and then to the lake in the second photo – it’s beautiful.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much, I’m really happy you like that shot 😊 Yes, a grisly story, but it brings home the huge challenges those early pioneers faced, when so many other accounts seem to romanticise the journey.
Alison
People were so brave back then. Glad you made the crossing without having to snack on your other half. I’ve read a few books about the pioneers moving through the States. Very interesting
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, the journeys they attempted must have been daunting even in better weather conditions. It’s a very interesting period of history, I agree.
Annie Berger
Picking up on your point, Sarah, I imagine it was easier for the pioneers to romanticize a trip without having had all the information they needed to make such a perilous journey in early winter.
Sarah Wilkie
I think that’s probably true. They underestimated the challenges and overestimated the potential wins.
Monkey's Tale
They were hardy people back then. Not only did they find their way over the pass, they found a pretty spot too 😊
Sarah Wilkie
I guess, although snowed in for months by blizzards and with only rough cabins as accommodation, I suspect they didn’t spend much time admiring the views, as we did!!
Monkey's Tale
🤣
Anne Sandler
Welcome to California Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 😃 We’re having a wonderful visit!
kzmcb
Good link
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
Terri Webster Schrandt
You picked the perfect time of year to visit northern California, Sarah. Beautiful shot of the lake. Donner is German for thunder. My daughter’s BF owns a cabin at Donner Lake. 2 yrs ago the cabin was buried in 12 feet of snow.
Sarah Wilkie
Wow – a beautiful spot to have a cabin but not in weather like that!