Searching the Donner Party's final campsites 

Have always found it kinda funny that there is a "Donner Camp Picnic Area".....

Donner is one of my favorite places on the planet. My stepdad was the SP supervising ranger there for 12 years and I visited often. He and my mom lived in one of the staff houses right there in the park. There were times in the winter where the snow was so deep, we couldn't see out the windows. Such a beautiful, tragic and interesting place. My kids learned to swim in Donner lake. Lots of memories there.

These people were of a tough stock. People do not know how good we got it now because of these pioneers an adventures

I read in two journals by 1849'ers that when they arrived at donners pass on their way to the gold fields that the bones of some of the dead were still on the ground. Some had pieces of clothing still attached to their bones. According to one journal the remains were left there as a warning to others not to dilly dally around but to get over the pass lest the same fate happen to others.

I attended cold weather training in that area in March of 1983. There was seven feet of snow and ice on the ground, but we were prepared for the conditions. I cannot imagine what those poor folks experienced.

Truthfully. ALL of your videos are terrific; however, this one is perhaps one of your best yet! Thank you for your compassionate and historically honest telling of a tragedy that no one can imagine living through. You breath life into your "history lessons".

I visited Tahoe all the time, and grew up with the stories of the Donner Party all my life. As a kid, we took a sort-of class fieldtrip (my Dad was a chaperone) and we took a trip down to the park where the Donner Party had camped. The guide we had was so compassionate to the story that it stuck with me to this very day! He described the harsh winter and snowfall, making it seem as if we were there! (It was actually getting close to summer vacation), that the dragonflies and flowing creek seemed so far away! The horror stories seem to blend together as we go from one section to another, that while I can no longer remember the names of the people, I still recall the events to a T. One, was during a time of storm, when the Donner Party had camped in a field. There was this giant tree, burned and split down the middle, and our guide told us of a man who set himself and his wagon there, only for them to wake up and find the wagon and the man gone! He'd been struck by lightning that night and deemed another casualty. Along with losing family to disease, lack of food and water, the Donner Party had stopped to rest around another part of the park to wait for the snow to stop falling, only to be stuck in a whiteout! Another story was of a group who camped in what sounded like a cave, searching for help. A man's wife had given him one of the last hunk of bear meat, and he snarfed it down himself because the others of the camp would've proabably killed him and stolen everything he had! It was crazy to think that those people you've been traveleing with for years, would suddenly turn on you for a scrap of food! It got worse when the guide told us of a dying man who died in the arms of his daughter. His last words were, 'when I die, use my body to feed yourself.' It struck me really hard because my own dad was there, too. I couldn't imagine what that woman went through when they were starving and her own father was trying to keep his child alive even in death. There was also the story of rescuers finding survivng children, barely skin and bones themselves, becoming horrified when they found them cooking a piece of human liver! Cannibalism to me, is a taboo, and a sure-fire way of becoming a Wendigo, however, I have read and seen too many stories to not understand why people cannibalize. Some tribes see it as taboo, while others believe it is a ritualistic honor of some sort. Scientifically, human flesh will literally make someone sick eaten raw, though it does have nutrition to an extent. Even as a meat eater, I will NEVER wish to comsume my fellow being, and I pray to God, I'll never find myself in the awful situation of having no other choice!

Thank you always enjoy your Blog. I live in the UK but have much love for American History. All the best

I Lived in Truckee for many years. As you walked around on the paths I could smell the sap from the pine trees and I miss it there. Thank You for telling their story.

Love your channel I am a total history buff! Thank you both for the sharing of history, it's so great!

I drove through Donner Pass November 1st 2014, and it was amazing how fast the snow came on and started coming down, as all the truckers pulled over to put tire chains on. Then as you go down the mountain, it stops just as quickly and warms right back up.

Very interesting story. All the times I've been to Tahoe I've never stopped at the Donner site. Guess I need to check it out

Donner Party, a true American tragedy. Loved the video, you both stay safe and well!

The A&E "The Real West" special episode of the Donner Party featured historians who explained why the Breens and Reeds did better than the other families. The Breen ate first the poor pieces of the starved oxen that had been slaughtered (hide, mostly) saving the better meat for later; the other families ate the good meat first, but couldn't keep their bodies nourished from the hides that were left, especially as the winter dragged on. The Breens also made sure that every bone was boiled over and over to extract any particle of meat or marrow; and according to Virginia Reed she and her family lived on the remains of their little dog Cash for a week.

There is a really good book to read about the Donner party story. It's called, The Best Land Under Heaven. The Author is Michael Wallis. It's very informative, well written.

The Houghton’s retired on a small farm / dairy in Long Beach ca. Their children donated the property for a park / Houghton park. There is a community center on the where their house was. The Bixby’s paid for part of the original community center in 1925. Most of that community center is still there.

Your girl there is a woman after my own heart ❤. Pinecones and moss are awesome souvenirs!

Great video! Regarding the cannibalism, I think most people forget that the Donner Party knew that if they could just get through the winter, they would be rescued. So I can't blame any mother who would do anything to keep her starving children alive until help arrives. It's not for me to judge any of them while I'm sitting on my comfy couch, eating strawberries and watching documentaries!

Such a fascinating story and journey. I loose my mind when I get hangry, jk. Love that tree. Thank you Jeff and Sara for a lovely trip.

Another great episode. Solid information on a tragic situation. Your videos make me feel like I visited the place myself...well done!

I found your channel today and it's just amazing. I've watched several videos. Thanks for sharing. What a great job 👍👌

Wonderfully and respectfully done video. Thank you!

Thanks for this! Brought back memories! Heartbreaking story of real true grit. I spent a month one summer in high school, camped out in the area north of Donner Pass, near Frenchman's Lake. Laying in my cot at night, reading under gaslight about the Donner party, was a thrill! It got close to freezing at night...in July! ...the only time we were allowed to use the camper potty, was at night. But I just can't imagine the hardships they faced.

These are always interesting to me. I've been a very amateur western historian, visited many ghost towns and read more books than I can count,. 70 years ago at 5 years old I was watching Kit Carson on b&w tv that's how far I go back, sad isn't it! Lol

I can't get enough of hearing about the donner party. Great video. We were camping in Arnold this weekend and it made me think a lot about how the people have change since that time. Those people were tougher than people today and if it were reversed there wouldn't have been any survivors left.

Great presentation! My Dad and I stopped at the Donner Pioneer Monument back in 1980 when I was 21. Didn’t Really appreciate the gravity of their situation at that visit. Thanks to your wonderful video, I do now.

I enjoyed this video very much. I visited this place about 30 years ago and I learned a lot from you. Thank you.

Thank you for this video. You’re the best. I haven’t seen one of your videos yet that has bored me. Thank you for all the effort you put into your videos, and gathering all the research and info. 🙏👍

There are pictures of the camp site after the rescue that shows all tall cut off stumps were still standing.

Love the time and research you guys put towards these videos! Keep up the good work!

Fascinating, I’ve been to there a few times and you do a great job of researching this tragedy.

The Last Podcast on the Left has a great series on the Donner Party for anyone who wants all the gory details

It would have been fitting for George Donner to be buried at that cemetery. It is very remote but it's also beautiful and peaceful. The view from that spot probably it looks the same now as it did when George and the rest of their party passed by in 1846. Thanks for another great episode.

Ironically one of the most beautiful places out west of the rockies if you enjoy forests and mountains.

That’s just insane. But I guess when you’re starving, anything can be good. Great story Jeff, as always. Why isn’t this show on National Geographic?

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you!

Another awesome video. I enjoy your work. Thank You.

There are several good books that cover the history, both old and new. The real tragedy is how much time they wasted prior to reaching the Sierra's. There are also some good videos covering the topic.

Camped there several times. Just in awe of the history. Regarding the tall memorial, there is another plaque behind it with a story and noting that there are relics from some of the survivors inside like a time capsule. I don't think it was ever meant to be opened.

Thanks for another entertaining Sunday. I was reading about the Forlorn Hope. Seems like a lot of suffereing there as well.

Another very interesting site you have shared with us, thank you.

I've rewatched the Donner party documentaries several times. The one that is so incredibly well done, i think, was done by PBS. Anyway, you will be shaken if you watch it. Thank you for this amazing vidio.

Thx! Very enjoyable vlog!

Very interesting. I will have to stop there when come to visit our homeland of CA. Hopefully soon.

This was really good and informational.

Thank you both for this video. ❤

Excellent...Thanks...

Thanks Jeff.

Learned about this in Jr High.. I bet no kids these days know or care about what happened..

Jeff & Sara, i might have told you about this book already but this video just brought it to mind... In the book " The Diary of a Forty-Niner" by Chauncey L. Canfield. the is a comment about a "Lost grave" of the Donner party. "We all thought about the Donner party, and it was a coincidence that not half a mile from where these emigrants were camped was the grave of a young girl who was brought out from Starvation Camp by one of the rescuing parties that went to the relief of the Donners, and who died and was buried on the ridge. A pen of logs has been piled around it and it is known as the "Lost Grave." if you get a chance, read the book lots of historical information of Navada city area.

The movie Ravenous was loosely based off this.Great movie.

I snowmobile in those mountains, with many many feet of snow under your feet. We go really deep, miles and miles into the forest. The vastness and isolation is mind blowing.

Very fascinating. Thank you so much.

Once you realize you wanna live, everything is on the menu.

Love your shows!!! Keep up the good work....After Huell's lost...Your shows been a savor...

That was a very nice post, Thank you, greetings from Vienna

Excellent presentation on this topic. One of the great American tragedies. Sarah is right you do what you gotta do. The whole thing could have been easily avoided. The hastings cutoff was a real gamble. Think long and hard about taking a shortcut.

Awesome just Awesome. I love history

🪔❤Hard pressed story🪔 So very very sad🕊🕊🕊🕊.Tku for this...🐦

A little gruesome, but an excellent video. thank you.

Good background history keep up the good work👍

this is such a tragic story, but great video!

Thank you for a job well done!

Great history lesson

Excellent Episode and man... what a Story. Heard the Term Donner Party somewhere before but wasn´t really aware of what was happening. This Episode has somehow a dark touch and a certain Melancholy to it, first because of the Story itself, secondly that Cemetary in the Desert bizarre spooky in a way. However...enjoyed the full watch :)

I've heard it was notoriously haunted.

Thanks for the great overview of the Donner party matter. Lots of good information, not gossip and legend.

Hi Guys, the reason for the mound of dirt on the graves is because of the amount of room the body took., I've seen several Old Grave's in Eastern Oregon that fell in after the casket rotted away. As for eating the dead people, can't say until you are starving. Thanks for the video. 🇺🇸

Any chance of a video of Joaquin Murrieta Carrillo (Known as the Robin Hood of El Dorado and the inspiration for Zorro), the legendary outlaw of Northern California during the 1850's California Gold Rush. I would love to hear more about him and the decimation of the Sonora Indians killed or driven off by White settlers in Sonora California.

Hello thanks for great video I enjoy your work ,there is a donner family member buried here in my home town by name of wilder

the Breen family survivors opened a restaurant in San Juan Bautista, ca. after their ordeal. there is a plaque there, and the building was still there last time I was there 15 years ago.

Great video Jeff and Sarah very interesting 👍🏻

I thought Tamsons body was never found? I’m writing a report for my 5th grade class. We’re they found?

Well I've seen several documentaries on this subject and it's always such a tragedy. Enjoyed your video very informative thanks for taking us on the adventure.

There is an excellent Doc on PBS American Experience. I think it is called The Donner Party. An amazing documentary about the story of the Donner party, including a double-decker covered wagon. leaving relatives behind on the trail who could not contribute anymore.

Sad story, over the years I will not sleep at the donner rest area off of i80 west of Truckee, have bad dreams on either side of the rest areas, I feel something bad happened there. I will not sleep there ever again. Ok thanks for the video and safe travels now.

My wife an I visited the area a few years ago. We arrived late in the evening and also had a hard time finding something to eat, but not quite as bad as they had. Actually, I should not make light of their suffering. I don't understand why they didn't just fish in Lake Tahoe. They really were just caught in that freak snowstorm. Once they made it to California were they taxed out of existence like the current residences of California?

added so much depth in such a short video. new subscriber

I love history. Always got A's in school. There's a place in the coast range you need to visit Mt Oso Observatory and the mountain school house Barney. It's something alot of people don't know about.

Another great book about the Donner Party is The Mothers, a must read when my husband taught at Lake Tahoe.

I do SAR in the sierra Nevada couldn't even imagine this

Wow That Was a Krazy One... Once Again Never Knew That... Thanks and Hope You All Got Out of There After Those Eating Us Mosquitoes...LoL 👍🏻🤠🇺🇸

So intresting i was just watching the documentry trying to picture the area

lol you guys remind me of family members. yes i to am from California. going way back. Thanks for the cool vids Jeff

awesome video...loved it..thank you

There were 9 blizzards that hit that area at the time, and the snow was 30 feet deep in some places!

We have our annual Donner Party BarBQue every year. One invited comes only once.

250 dollars for one of those bottles seems like a bargain for such a unique piece of history

20 or so years ago i was with a friend and we decided to stop in reno. the marque outside the hotel said "donner party reunion" so evidently there are many donners now.

From where you were standing, looking at Prosser lake, they would have come from your left, up Dog Valley and past Stampede Reservoir.

Love the videos, I have watched nearly all But did this video have alot of ads ?

The gate to the cemetery (small gate) is like what we set up around the farm when I was a boy.

there is also a piece of railroad known as donner pass named after the donner party

Losing their minds from eating humans. Sorta like mad cow disease! 🙄

Great video Jeff, it sure a a tragedy the party went through.

When i was a kid i went to the donner site and you could still see the reins of the horses still up in the trees about30 ft off the ground.

Thanks for the video

awesome video. and very informative. thanks for sharing

Great video

And i who all the years was told that they all died and no rescue came. Thanks for the info.