In May 1846, the Donner and Reed families left Missouri for California, part of a great migration west. Their leader, James Reed, was a businessman traveling in a custom-built wagon so large and luxurious it was called the 'Pioneer Palace Car.' But they had a problem they didn't yet understand: they were starting late. Experienced guides warned that wagons had to leave by mid-April to cross the high Sierra Nevada mountains before the first snows, which usually fell in October. Their journey was 2,500 miles, and their late departure left them no room for error or delay. The families, full of hope for a new life, pushed their wagons onward, unaware of the narrow window they had to beat the winter.
The Donner Party
The harrowing story of American pioneers trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada after taking a supposed shortcut to California.
Chapter 1
A Late Start
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Donner Party take the shortcut?
They were convinced by a guidebook from a promoter named Lansford Hastings, who claimed his 'cutoff' would save them over 300 miles. The promise of a faster journey was appealing, especially given their late start, and they chose to ignore warnings from more experienced frontiersmen.
How bad did the winter get in the Sierra Nevada?
The winter of 1846-1847 was exceptionally harsh. The first storm trapped the party in late October, much earlier than usual. Snow eventually accumulated to depths of 22 feet, completely burying their makeshift cabins and forcing them to dig tunnels to move around.
Did all the survivors resort to cannibalism?
No. Cannibalism occurred among the 'Forlorn Hope' group that hiked out for help and later at the main camps out of desperation. However, not every survivor partook, and many were rescued before facing that ultimate choice. The Reed family, for instance, was rescued and all survived without resorting to it.
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