Crossing Donner Pass October 25, 2023

My wife Kathy and I decided to take the old Donner Pass highway over the Sierra Nevada, instead of Interstate 80. We did not realize that the main highway was closed because of snow and ice, and chain control was in effect. I have included the unedited iPhone video captured during the drive.
The most interesting section for some viewers may be found beginning at 9:05 in the video where we come upon an elderly man who had somehow flipped his car on the road. A Good Samaritan was already on scene in a pickup truck, so we continued driving.
It was a memorable trip.

[@rustypugh123]

I stopped driving trucks in 1989, but I’ll never forget my rite of passage when I was new. I crossed Donner pass at night in the snow. No chains.

[@Endtime12]

Me too 1986

[@ker4all]

Breath taking, what a beautiful drive! Thanks for sharing , it brings back great memories.

[@butchs6099]

Only once was over Donner, down the west slope and it was on I-80. Snow banks were 8-10 feet high and the road was clear. No jake brake, pulling a liquid one whole tanker. Other company trucks with wiggle wagons were going by me a little too fast with their brakes smoking. My dad had run it many times on the old road. Beautiful country, nice memories.

[@LELEPUK]

Thank you, that was an exciting snow drift with you. This message comes from Stuttgart, Germany. I look forward to more trips in the future.

[@sylviarosario6503]

Just watching this video gives me anxiety🫣😢

[@DataD-o1p]

This was amazing to watch. Thank you. I would love to drive this maybe without the snow. Love your commentary.

[@mrblanche]

How fast were you going? My wife used to do accident reviews for truck drivers. She said the one thing she never heard was, "Dang, I wish I'd been going faster when that happened." But the problem is that people almost always drive too fast for conditions in bad weather.

[@greographer]

About 20 to 25 mph

[@Mike-ms8uq]

What pickup truck are you using in this video

[@oOgy172]

@@Mike-ms8uqSounds like a Toyota hybrid suv

[@MR-puffnstuff]

Very pretty and chilly from up north east.

[@lindascharf70]

I have been over this Pass several times. It is a beautiful Pass. A little scary in the winter, but oh so beautiful!!!

[@Retired88M]

I stay at an air b n b back in June just about across the street from the boat launch at Donner Lake and Donner Pass Road was closed . Wanted to drive over it but had to take the I-80 detour around it. They said it was being repaired from an avalanche/rock slide that happened in the spring thaw. Thanks for the memories

[@jamespayton8072]

thanks james sacramento

[@woohu2u2]

Thats the old road from Donner Lake up to Norden.

[@jc7052]

Been down that road many times,beautiful !

[@cv41vf151]

Great video. I watched it twice normal speed…..very exciting that way.

[@Klapauzius-369]

Thank you for your work. :O)

[@criticaltheories5222]

I was expecting to see people eating each other........smh

[@ClandestineHerald]

Awesome bro.

[@ralphaverill2001]

Drove across Donner Pass many times in the 1970's, only once during a heavy snowfall. Thinking of the Donner Party the whole time, I never did that again.

[@SteveGraves10]

Wow. Glad I don't live in the snowy part of the country any longer. I can hack this from inside a warm cozy house, but I'd rather not drive in it ever again...

[@lawrencewiddis2447]

California here I come, right back where I started from. Where bowers of flowers…

[@jh748]

The diversity of CA's landscape is unequalled in any other state.

[@thedorescott1649]

This is great can you tell about some of what we seeing an the highway. 👍👍💛

[@NBZW]

LOL, Big deal, I crossed old Donner Summit in December 1947 at 13 years old driving a 1939 Cadillac, that’s how we learned too drive.

[@rayphillips332]

If I were driving I'd be thinking about if something happened I'd want not to be cold so I'd be driving really slow so that I wouldnt crash so I wouldnt be cold and in the elements so think of that when your driving in the snow .

[@greographer]

I was driving slowly. The wide angle lens on the iPhone makes it appear that we are moving fast.

[@clubmike2910]

I see you brought along some extra people in your car, hmmm...good thinking Donner Pass you know.

[@jaxcell]

Snacks for later

[@Ro6entX]

I wouldn’t be too worried about going through Donner pass during snow by myself but only if went there as a passenger and there was lot of BBQ sauce in the back.

[@k.williamelliott7969]

Beautiful and white knuckle scary at the same time...

[@jh748]

Use to drive Sacramento to Reno every day as OTR. Be on your best behavior, take your time, always alert, anticipate the highway and road conditions and Conner is your friend.

[@Babeck]

Smooth ride.

[@kenrobinson889]

Yes a tad bit on the fast side for conditions I'd say . All it takes is one slick spot and you could be meeting your maker . I've seen that so many times during my career . I am retired now but have driven thousands and thousands of miles on slick , ice and snow covered roads . If the driver wasn't on a down hill slope with those curves I might say it was a little on the slow side , at least for me . There's a whole lot to know and understand about driving one of those big rigs . A lot of drivers never learn before it's too late .

[@Bonegrit]

Nice Video enjoyed watching it .😄

[@jamescooley5744]

King Snow has returned to his throne.

[@nakamuraiwao]

Nice ride along!

[@family77866]

I hope you brought friends for dinner 🫣

[@elmerfrejoles98]

Bring some that snow here in the Philippines, please. Thanks.

[@barry3565]

Donna pass... Infamous place ! Watch out !

[@zuzanazahorcakova3869]

videjko je prenadherne,mate krasnu zimu a predvianocnu atmosferu,no u nas uz zimi pomali niesu ,ale pametam si taketo krasne pocasie,perfekne,kludna jazda v plnej nadhere snehu

[@BaxtiyorBulkbayev]

❤

[@rosyebbasta3441]

25 ottobre con la neve? 😳 Che luogo è? Qui nel sud Italia, oggi è il 6 novembre, ma le temperature sono di giugno.

[@donaldbrown7252]

there is always one of those!

[@kurtjensen7264]

You should’ve tried it back in the 70s before they fixed up the road. It’s twice as straight. And wider. And there were so many accidents when it was snowing you always made sure you filled up the tank before you left Lake Tahoe. Or you fueled up before you started up the pass. Because you might have to sit in the car for four hours with the motor. Running to stay warm.

[@steverudder3321]

This retired trucker is just itchin' to take a road trip. Wish I could afford the gas!⛽️

[@dchawk81]

Not sure why the Donner party had to eat each other. This doesn't look that bad.

[@walterdzukola2420]

There WERE NO ROADS, and/or CARS & TRUCKS IN THOSE DAYS !!!! I lived and worked just west of the Donner Memorial-I have seen & lived in up to fourteen feet of snow in that area - - - it was not horses and oxen & canvas covered wagons !!!! I have viewed more than my share of blood & death while I lived there, and it was NOT just in the history books !!!!

[@dchawk81]

@@walterdzukola2420 surely they could have called Uber

[@rmalus10297]

​@walterdzukola2420 you don't catch sarcasm, do you?

[@rickdozier3609]

use to live right there.

[@grizzleypeak]

I take only my tastiest looking friends on snow trips to Donner Summit... You just never know.....

[@larrylebowski8386]

Looks so dangerous. Did you have to chain up? Looks like the ski resorts are gonna be opening soon.

[@thatmichiganguy]

Colorado or California

[@runswithwolf7498]

Beautiful and dangerous

[@speedy423]

Ice and snow, take it slow.

[@gbrown3020]

So there was a little snow.

[@moonsapling]

What vehicle and tires did you do this with? Great footage :)

[@greographer]

Regular all weather tires on a Toyota 2021 Venza.

[@hereisyourmusic30]

9:16 oh man 😵

[@marciacapell1541]

Thats dangerous 😮

[@joycedudzinski9415]

Drove 18 wheeler on Donner. Curves, downgrades will get you.

[@Howrider65]

Kind of an early snow fall.

[@Betonrg]

California

[@ernestfortier]

If the guy behind you wanted to pass, why didn’t you let him. If he does and you don’t yield it could put both of you in danger.

[@ernestcabrera7166]

Donner pass

[@avalon1rae]

Global warming 😂😅😊. Thank you for sharing.

[@warrenwills3251]

BBQ weather

[@정복희-h5o]

😢😮 miserable 😢 😪 😫 Donner pass

[@sanuhazrokkalan]

I am pakistani, if any one inviting me to cross this grate donner pass i accept this inviting with thanx.

[@BradFalck-mn3pc]

The most closed highway in North America bar none , Even Canada keeps their mountain passes open more.....

[@ericvonp]

I think your supposed to eat somebody

[@xlilften3056]

PSA do not stop in the middle of the fucking road - truck driver

[@TheMediterraneanwave]

I love watching the snowfall that has just started.

[@Blackbeard70]

What are we Driving?

[@루담-h8w]

목소리 안 내면 유로 트럭 게임 인줄 알겠다😂😂😂👍