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…
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January 13, 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
Darn You Daniel James Brown
Darn you, Daniel James Brown! How do you get hooked into a story like the Forlorn Hope such that someday you want to try it yourself? Well, I’m blaming it…
December 15, 2020
An Open Letter to the Forlorn Hope Expedition
[Editor's note: Bill Holmes is a member of the OCTA and Wheatland Historical Society and is very knowledgeable of Camp Far West and Johnson's Ranch, where the Forlorn Hope survivors…
December 13, 2020
Preparing for a Winter Expedition
When I was invited on this expedition in early November, I happened to be in SoCal working remotely. I was near a decent trail system in the Anaheim Hills, so…
December 8, 2020
Sarah Graves
Sarah Graves was born in Dearborn County, IN on January 25th, 1825, the Daughter of Franklin Ward Graves and Elizabeth Cooper. Sarah originally did not plan to accompany her parents on their emigration to…
December 6, 2020