Donner Party Endures
Why the world remains fascinated with the topic 175 years later Worldwide pandemic, Ukraine, landmark Supreme Court rulings. Yet, as I write this, #CashAppFriday is the number one trending topic…
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January 14, 2022
How Did We Get Here?
Life would be simple if we knew precisely how it would all play out. Yes, and boring. Thankfully, our journey roaming around the 3rd rock from the sun never happens…
January 13, 2022
Mutiny and Morality
After establishing a forward base camp at Mule Springs, about 50 miles west from the cabins at the Lake and 50 miles east of Johnson Ranch, the 1st Relief decided…
January 11, 2022
Foreshadowing Fate
The initial days of the 1st Relief journey after leaving Johnson Ranch on February 4th, 1847, were foreshadowing what lay ahead: hypothermia, near drowning, exhaustion, mutiny and despair. They encountered a…
January 4, 2022
First Relief Musters
On Monday, February 1, 1847 seven riders from Sutter's Fort camped a few miles below Johnson Ranch. They were to join others the next day to form the initial rescue…
January 3, 2022
How We Got Here – Donner Story
Our friend and colleague, award-winning journalist, Donner author and historian, Frank Mullen is a master at telling the Donner Party story in it's entirety in less than 45 minutes. He…
December 31, 2021
Whether Weather Was The Reason Why
Reflect upon the series of incidents that amalgamated into a disaster to create the Donner Party saga. A late start, divided leadership, Hastings Cutoff, Reed's banishment, George Donner's injury, Stanton's untimely…
December 30, 2021
Donner Relief Expedition – Introduction
As winter's bluster continues across the Sierra with record snowfall, it seems apropos it occurs on the dawn of the 175th anniversary of the Donner Party rescues. It's as if…
December 29, 2021
Day 5: Relief and Reunion
Day 5: RELIEF AND REUNION We traveled 26 miles in one day, it took Forlorn Hope 8 days to reach the same place. The final week or so of the Forlorn…
December 23, 2020
Forlorn Hope Expedition, climbing, 12-18-20, photo by Keith Sutter.
Day 4: Peaks and Valleys
Day 1 was “Hope”, Day 2 “Forlorn”, Day 3 “Despair” and Day 4... Day 4: PEAKS AND VALLEYS We traveled 21 miles in one day, it took Forlorn Hope 7 days…
December 20, 2020