Page 5 - Death in the Donner Party: A Cause-and-Effect Investigation

Food supplies, too, ran dangerously low. The pioneers cut
their ration sizes. Some days they skipped meals. They were nearly
starving. Still, the Donner Party pushed on into the Sierra Nevada.
The sharp, rugged peaks of the Sierra Nevada trail down the
eastern edge of modern-day California. The Donner Party needed
to cross Fremont’s Pass and get out of the Sierras before winter

snows blocked them into the mountains until spring. They were the
last of the season’s emigrants on the trail.

On October 19, Stanton met the party along the Truckee River,
in the Sierras. McCutchen remained at Sutter’s Fort, having fallen
ill. Two Miwok Indian guides joined Stanton. The three men led
seven mules. Meat and flour filled the animals’ packs. The hungry
emigrants rejoiced over the supplies.
Stanton also brought word about Fremont’s Pass. Snow
normally did not block the pass until mid-November, Stanton told

them. This meant the Donner Party had a month to cross. With
this news, the group decided to rest. They wanted to prepare
for the hard upcoming journey. For six days they camped in the
Truckee Meadows.

As seen in this 1865 illustration, migrants
had to cross Fremont’s Pass early in the
season, before snow blocked the route.

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