Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Thousands of people have driven over this mountain pass without ever knowing about its dark and tragic history. As mountains go, this one does not seem so high at only 7,085 ft (2,160 m) but for the Donnor Party of 9 covered wagons caught in an 1846 blizzard, it was more than high enough.Donnor Pass is located east of Sacramento, California near the Nevada Border. The Pioneers faced a narrow, steep path from the east and a gradual downgrade to the west. Most followed the Truckee River to Donnar Lake and then took a lower path through the mountains.
But in 1846, snow made the path impassable and forced 81 pioneers to spend the winter there. Only 45 survived to complete the journey at the end of the Oregon Trail. But did they have to turn to cannibalism to do it? The reports were conflicting and it would be years before anyone knew for sure.
That was not the end of the mountains tragedies. A train tunnel was completed through the mountain in 1868 and cost still more lives in the construction of it. Then a Southern Pacific passenger train got stranded there in 1952 and spent six days in the freezing cold waiting for help. As transportation methods improved, so did the road over the pass but snow danger remained the same.
Today, precipitation averages 54 inches (140 cm), mostly snow. It is one of the snowiest places in the US — but if you like to ski …
There are the usual resorts, shops and lodges to choose from plus Donnor Pass is just a hop, skip and a jump from Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada.
And still the mountain claims lives with the unusual number of avalanche fatalities including snowboarder Jamil Khan.
Summer offers swimming, sailing, water skiing, diving, fishing, hiking in Lakeview Canyon, rock climbing, horseback riding, and an occasional steamboat Race. Winter brings skiing and snowboarding,
However, if you want to live there, best line your pockets with gold. Cabins on the lake often go for $1,000,000. Usual permanent population is around 6000.
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By Marti Talbott
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Desperate Passage: The Donner Party’s Perilous Journey West
History of the Donner Party: A Tragedy of the Sierra (Dodo Press)
The Archaeology Of The Donner Party (Wilbur S. Shepperson Series in History and Humanities)
