The Donner Party: Cannibals on The California Trail | 2024 Documentary

[@matteorenner1386]

I've lived in Truckee California (right next to donner lake) nearly my entire life. Everyone learned about the Donner Party in school as children, but it wasn't until my early teens that I could truly grasp the tragedy of what occurred at the Donner Pass. I'm an avid snowboarder and my home mountain is Sugar Bowl, which sits on the western side of Donner Peak. The highway we call "Old 40" is the road along Donner Lake which climbs up the Mountains that overlook the lake from the West. The well accepted consensus is that this "Old 40" is the route the Donner Party attempted to take before getting stuck at Donner Pass. I drive up this road almost everyday and the gravity of the place never goes away. The fireplace of the Murphy Cabin stands to this day at the western edge of Donner Memorial State Park. Visiting the Murphy Cabin on a cold winter night is a harrowing yet fantastic experience, which puts into perspective just how harsh the conditions they dealt with were.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

An incredibly vivid write-up of your experiences, thank you for sharing! We love hearing personal stories like this.

[@FOX007-um1wr]

Truckee is beautiful. I'm don't in the valley in Cali, but I'd rather live up north. We have visited the Donner Memorial State Park. It was hard for me to imagine everything the Donner Party went through.

[@wbaldwin666]

I go fishing on the east walker and it's weird that that area is so accessible now!

[@SondraCurl]

I live in Ohio, Never been to California, But I love history and constantly consume it. That is so awesome that you live in the area and can see these places. I also think it is absolutely amazing the effort these families put in to protect each other. I could never in my wildest dreams understand the hardships these men women and children faced, next time you visit, send a little positive vibes to them from me :)

[@line4expeditions751]

Grew up 40 minutes from donner summit, and remember learning about this in school. I’ve had similar thoughts climbing and snowshoeing at the summit over the years.

[@KlausToth]

it is so soothing to hear a real, warm human voice doing the narration .

[@catherinewilke5583]

I can’t imagine making this trip with modern gear and trails. The concept of going in a dress, inadequate shoes , and wagon with no trail is just mind boggling.

[@cynthiadavidson3557]

I read a book of diaries of women crossing by wagon train. Those women were amazing. There was a job to do and they used grit and determination to get it done. Sadly underprepared isn’t a big enough word for how skilled they were. Many actually believed that there were streets made of gold all over the country. Foolish yes but I recently watched an interview where one of the newest illegal aliens complaining that we aren’t doing enough for them. Despite the free hotel room, vouchers for food, assistance with getting what they need including medical care, we don’t have streets of hold and her kids won’t eat our food. I wonder how well she would have done on this wagon train.

[@sourgummiez]

Thank you for keeping soft quiet music in the background that isnt obnoxious and distracting. You also have a very nice voice and pace

[@JimmyMatis-h9y]

agreed 💯👍🏻

[@ferociousgumby]

And I think it's a real person, which is a rarity and a treat. Most YT narrators are not human.

[@allisoncolby7851]

​@@ferociousgumbyI agree with you completely. I find the mechanical sounding robot narrators annoying. The voice inflections of living humans helps capture the spirit of the story or account, and captures the essence of emotion in their struggle, allowing people to empathize/sympathize with the subject, and if only minimally, allows anyone hearing this story to experience their ordeal more vividly. It seems way more respectful and relatable than hearing a monotone, emotionless robot. Actual speech, to me, is far more "alive" and meaningful in us. Those stinking robot voices, are like hearing a song that is sung in only 1 note. How "moving" is that? Robot voices are just lame. Can't have a symphony with one note.

[@ferociousgumby]

@@allisoncolby7851 It's hilariously awful to hear the programs skip and stutter over acronyms, initials, or even the simplest names, often spelling them out phonetically. I watched a video about Zsa Zsa Gabor, and it came out "Zee Ess Ay, Zee Ess Ay, Grabory."

[@allisoncolby7851]

@@ferociousgumby 😆I know right? it's just goofy. Words get messed up in the sentence; words like "live" or "read", etc., words will be said one way (usually wrong) then said the other way if the word is repeated. Of course, there's always the words that don't sound at all how they are, like "Colonel" (pronounced like ker-nal, but they may say co-lon-el. IDK, I just get bugged by the whole robot voice thing. I'll always prefer a human voice, as the tone helps what's said be more relatable. The monotone, mechanical sounding bot voices, are just creepy and annoying. It's like hearing a song with 1 note. Who really wants to listen to it? Oh boy, let's go see the robot symphony perform. How moving!😅(sarcasm, oops-!) umm, I'll pass. Can you imagine? There's always going to be a group of geeks that want to "replace" humans, because, you know, isn't it so cool and amazing. Please! There's just some things they can't do, like Idk, getting a haircut? Also, I saw this video yesterday, and it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen in a while. It was a "robot chef"! It was rhythmically sauteing something, sliding the pan back and forth on the burner, flipping and tossing. Then suddenly it would stop, and do this thing, like it was hitting the food in the pan, like he was "hammer-hand" stabbing it! It was able to use the pan fairly well, flipping the food without a utensil just using the pan. That was fairly impressive, but I was actually startled and confused seeing this thing, how it was hitting the food about 5-6 times in a row like it was spanking the food, just standing there, lifting its arm as high as his own head, and giving it a real beating!😦 I have no idea what that technique was, and never seen an actual chef do that, but It wasn't at all necessary, so why did they program it to do that? It was really odd, and very comical to see. Like a Star wars character cooking food! Ooh, stand back! You might get smacked in the face! 😅😆 Geez, So goofy~!!🤪

[@dinarusso3320]

😢 if an experienced traveler/mountain man advises you to not go a certain route, listen!

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

It's true! Although, the tales of the west would have been much more tame had everyone followed instructions.

[@scarasara]

So true. I would've been worried, although I'm sure women back then had no choice in the matter. I would have trusted the mountain man and probably would have begged my husband to listen to him

[@jaguarpress]

This is a lesson in ignorance rather than perseverance

[@montanacrone8984]

@@jaguarpress😮😮

[@jerryoconnor-ps8bb]

Spot on, we have a saying here in Ireland; " the man from the bog knows the passage ".

[@WonderDerek]

Fun fact: the man that undressed himself and went out into the cold while saying its warm was suffering from severe hypothermia, obviously. That can cause somrthing called "paradoxical undressing," where someone thats obviously hypothermic feels warm due to the blood in the body mostly retreating to the torso to keep the internal organs alive. This makes the person feel warm since most of the blood is concentrated in 1 area. Interesting stuff. The Dyatlov Pass members suffered the same thing.

[@tcb6857]

The Dyatlov pass group left their tent, which had a heater inside, and sustained horrific injuries. They all died outside, not even that far from their tent that had everything they needed in it. What are the odds of 9 experienced hikers all dying from hypothermia due to paradoxical undressing? Pretty slim.

[@butterflytigress1985]

@@tcb6857 AFAIK the most widely accepted theory about what happened is that there was a very specific type of avalanche. It explains why some of them suffered horrific blunt force injuries, why their tent was destroyed, and why they were outside at night without their gear, having fled their tent in a panic when they heard the avalanche coming toward them. The ones who survived the initial avalanche took the clothes of the ones who didn't in an effort to keep warm, and that's why some of them were found without clothes. At least that's how the theory goes.

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Some might call it a fugue state.

[@NY51663]

Not very fun fact.

[@Arielsfork]

​@@CaptainCraigKWMRZ not sure why they'd call it that because that's a totally different thing and not related at all to hypothermia or paradoxical undressing.

[@cadence4527]

If you went to a certain location near Truckee, you'll find a forest of dead trees with the crowns of the trees missing. Some people may find this odd, but this is just an indication of just how deep the snow was. They harvested what they could, leaving the rest buried in the snow. If any of you play RDR2, there is a unique detail about the "donnor party" reference. A random camp encounter will have you learn about a tragic story very similar to the Donnor Party. Up near Lake Isabella, (I believe) just southeast of Spider Gorge you find a collection of oxen, dead and frozen. These are the oxen of the in-game Donnor Party counterparts. Near the dead oxen, you'll find a bunch of trees that have been cut down. Look again and you'll notice that only the crowns of the trees are cut down, with the rest of the trees buried beneath the snow. While a good number of youtubers will point the detail of the oxen out, the detail about the trees gets overlooked, mostly because it is a fact that not many people will know about. RockStar really did their homework with this one and I applaud them for adding in this special piece of authenticity. Its unfortunate that it is a detail that only a small handful of players will really appreciate.

[@louismartinez4467]

@@cadence4527 yes the book was saying that some ax marks were 12 - 14 ft high as per the height of snow but prob long since gone

[@Inthepotwithdiogenes]

THIS is the selling point that's sold me on rdr. I find that so absurd I had to share. Of course, the donner party would be what does it 🫣

[@audreywrisley2485]

I'm a direct descendant of Patrick Breen, the man who wrote the diary on the Donner Party. He lived to have children, so clearly he was the one doing the eating. Strange stuff.

[@angelbabe133]

He definitely ate someone but not the brains

[@ThomasOToole-ws5fq]

Breen was from co Carlow Ireland

[@sandidavis820]

@@ThomasOToole-ws5fq Breen is a real old name from Ireland and comes up quite a bit in Irish History.

[@PavlovsDog-kl8mo]

Sooo, in his diary, um, did he ever mention the words, "Tastes like chicken." ? Sorry. Can't stop myself sometimes. Sorry. Really sorry.

[@WonderDerek]

​@angelbabe133 you can eat brains and not get the laughing sickness. I forget what it's technically called. Just have to hope the person's brain youre chowing down on isn't infected

[@Sincityraider]

It was taught at my elementary school in Reno, Nevada back in the 80's. We even took a field trip to Donner Lake and hiked out to the exact spot where the cabin was. It's something I still remember to this day. PBS did a documentary on the Donner Party which I own a DVD copy of, It's very eerie and sad.

[@heatherrose4749]

Hey @sincityraider You intested in selling those PBS DVDs on the Donner party? I cant find anywhere to stream that specific piece of media.

[@mh8704]

I was fascinated by this story as an 8 year old visiting my grandparents house in California back in the 1960’s. My grandpa had a collection of True West magazines and they had an in depth article about the Donner Party with photos. It was disturbing then, and it’s still disturbing now. Thanks for your excellent video!

[@mrmj2397]

I was fascinated with those little plastic army dudes with those parachutes when I was 8 years old. You must've done ALOT of therapy since then! Who teaches this to an 8 yr old?

[@StephanieFlynn-y3i]

​@@mrmj2397 The guy's grandpa had books. Did you even read his comment? Nobody was "teaching" this kid anything, the kid's curiosity made him open the book.

[@mrmj2397]

@StephanieFlynn-y3i that's fair. I should've read his comment more carefully. I guess something must've been bothering me that day, but you're absolutely right.

[@Plumbingadjacentdrainguy]

A well placed cantina burrito advertisement turned this into a comedy for a second

[@bold810]

Donner Party Food Fight. "Golly!, I got hit in face.. WITH A FACE!!!" 😌

[@xeutoniumnyborg1192]

Depending on the cantina burrito location, it might be safer dining with the Donners.

[@erikhesjedal3569]

Get adblocker

[@Smooshes786]

@@erikhesjedal3569and miss that bit of humour? Sometimes, it’s’ the little things in life, you know?

[@codyvolk5201]

bet they would've KILLED for a cantina burrito LOL

[@maryearll3359]

What a tale of human frailty and courage. Wonderful narration. I'm left feeling sick at the suffering, finding the tale to be so horrible and marvelling how people survived without losing their minds. What courage was shown by all involved. Everyone did ehat they had to do - we can't judge their actions. It's great they won't be forgotten. ❤

[@ryancantu2141]

I regularly stay at a little hotel right on Donner Lake. There's a plaque right on the banks of the lake with all their names. It's very creepy at night in the winter. Quiet as can be, and the lake just looks so pretty despite what happened there

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

We hope to spend a night or two at Donner Lake sometime in the near future! Thanks for the teaser.

[@nikmpup]

I've heard there's also ironically a marked picnic area with benches...

[@davidbigbee3556]

I’m impressed!!!! That is the most detailed description of the “Donner Party” that I’ve ever seen. I subscribed halfway through! 👍🏻

[@trevorthompson8252]

Same here. I’ve listened to quite a few donner documentaries and this one stands out far and above. Excellent work. Can’t wait to see what else is on this channel.

[@shelbyjames1894]

This is just the Wikipedia article being read aloud.

[@katesdygerz7]

I am from Springfield, Illinois, and Abraham Lincoln is popular here. From what I've learned, Lincoln was friends with James Reed and was invited to join the party westward, but Lincoln declined. Mary Todd said "Hell no," or however they would have phrased it in the 1840's.

[@elizabethgoodman9290]

I've heard that also!!

[@daviddavis3389]

Is t that city is where Homer and Bart As Simpson are from? WOW! You guys are famous! 😄

[@daviddavis3389]

I meant to ask, isn't that the city that your family shares with Homer? I've always loved to visit it.

[@EthanOlson-i3r]

@@daviddavis3389 there are lots of Springfield's..

[@zuleimahernandez8037]

@@daviddavis3389they are purposely vague as to what Springfield they were actually from.

[@rekunta]

Hastings…..what a guy! It’s amazing to think that all those months of struggle, that horror, that hardship, can now be bypassed by simply buying an airline ticket that will get you there in a few hours. We have no concept as to how easy we have it nowadays.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

I'd say that's a thought exercise most of us never consider!

[@daviddavis3389]

At least he went down in history...we all still deme bed him rite now.

[@farrislaura]

Very well done. It was if I was taking a history class, and this was the topic for the week! Thanks.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

An incredibly humbling comment, thank you! To achieve in giving that experience is a major goal of ours. Much more where this came from!

[@MrSkydiverDan]

This is your best documentary so far! Everything about this was great and the narration was perfect, as always.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Wow, thank you! We really appreciate the kind feedback.

[@dreamofmermaids]

I'm so glad I found this channel! You are a great story teller! I've been to the Donner party museum and stayed at Donner lake many times in my life. A very haunting story.

[@anthonylewis1980]

Your smoking hot

[@notsurewhatscookin8691]

@@dreamofmermaids I totally agree and I just found this channel also.

[@nikmpup]

Anything good to eat around there?

[@mikebee6530]

This was so well done... I've been to Donner Lake and only knew of the Donner Party very little, this helped me gain so much more insight....what a heartbreaking story

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KazyReed]

This is a VERY good documentary. Thorough research, clear well-paced narration, and the background music was quiet and solemn. This was the first time I'd ever heard what had happened to the victims in later life as well. Excellent job!

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Much appreciated!

[@CrazyCatMom11]

For anyone who wants to read a detailed and well-researched book about the tragedy, I strongly recommend Ordeal By Hunger, by George R Stewart.

[@goodvibesteadyblazin]

the indifferent stars above is also very good i’ve listened to the audiobook a few times too

[@thebandit666]

I highly recommend the indifferent stars above as well!

[@donnawoods8039]

Great book.

[@gdcitizen2]

Thanks 👍

[@tinamacy3312]

I wonder if we can listen audio books???

[@laurel237]

This is great. I grew up living near and visiting the Castro Breen house in San Juan Batista. As a young adult I lived in Truckee near Donner Lake. Both of these places have museums and there’s an amazing statue at Donner Lake of the pioneers looking to the west.

[@bold810]

I'm from the North Coast, and every time I drive to the east or back home, I try to stop there and say a prayer. 😞😔🙏

[@laurel237]

I love this

[@allanolivier9589]

Im not American but have a deep interest in this country's vibrant history. Wish there were more books available on your history.

[@mr.iforgot3062]

Groovy. Yeah, these were the old West days. Lawless. I live on the trail in Oregon. Nothing but open land out here.

[@yvonneconte3040]

That's really cool. USA 🇺🇸. Our country is beautiful in all regions. Such a variety of beautiful nature

[@bryanfrombuffalo7685]

The founding fathers didn't found this nation on the god of the bibles principles...but the god of this world...that's why you have a Egyptian obelisk in our capital and a pyramid on our bill

[@H22ej8nw]

There are hundreds if not thousands of books on this era. Look for them under the following subjects Westward Expansion, Manifest Destiny, American West History, How the west was won, Native American history, American Gold Rush. Also nearing and after the turn of the century with Trans continental railroad, great depression, dust bowl. Just to name a few topics.

[@IchigoOren]

​​@@bryanfrombuffalo7685 Those are just silly symbols. Nothing else. Look closely at the principles the Founding Fathers laid out. They were indeed Christian and not Egyptian.

[@davemathews7890]

I was ten minutes into this documentary before I realized that its subject was California cannibals, not California cannabis.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Sorry to let you down! Stay tuned for a "Cannabis in the Wild West" essay in the near future!

[@cwtrain]

"Donner Party" didn't clue you in? Need a bit of time on the whetstone, huh? 😏

[@davemathews7890]

@@cwtrain Why is everyone so fucking snarky these days? Does acting like a shit make you feel smarter than other people?

[@daver00lzd00d]

​@@davemathews7890 ...you new to the internet? because if that comment bothers you you're gonna have a bad time fam

[@davemathews7890]

@@daver00lzd00d No, I work for a living. I know what people can be like.

[@rzum81]

I used to go to my late Aunts cabin at Donner Lake. Kinda morbid and strange how it became quite the tourist spot knowing the history as an adult.

[@cdfdesantis699]

This is the most comprehensive account of the event that I've seen. Thank you.

[@shelbyjames1894]

It's literally just the Wikipedia article lmao.

[@cdfdesantis699]

@@shelbyjames1894 Ah, but Wikipedia ain't got the graphics!

[@CC-hz1qm]

First leg of the journey….Finally something I can sink my teeth into 😮

[@martinalewis2844]

Lol

[@tinygrim]

For readers.. Ordeal By Hunger. Classic story of the Donner party. George R. Stewart.

[@Inthepotwithdiogenes]

Respect for talking about those who died from tuberculosis early on. It's rare to see them spoken of in any detail, let alone mentioned. Only partially through the video, but I appreciate the lack of sensationalization so far.

[@polarfamily6222]

This is one of those real events that needs to be taught in schools. People don't realize the horrors that also took place in building this great nation.

[@huasohvac]

They teach it to us here in California.

[@SuperPlastered]

They taught it to us in my school in NV. But, I have a Donner Party Mix: Serving your fellow man since 1846 tshirt and wear it in FL without anyone even noticing.

[@musakamara4157]

There's a lot they should be teaching in schools

[@davemathews7890]

And the millions of Indians who were slaughtered...

[@SuperPlastered]

@@davemathews7890 my school taught that as well. But, here in FL??? Not so much.

[@johnappleseed6422]

Absolutely riveting story. So sad, but thank you for highlighting it and sharing how hard things have been in the past. Great video.

[@5amH45lam]

They sacrificed two native Americans viewing them as inferior to themselves, then rely on the generosity of a native American camp to receive some sustinence. You get what's coming to you.

[@Twistandshoutpodcast]

😂 sounds about white

[@david-lx7uj]

Those guys were killed against their will,that means they were murdered.😢

[@patmcgrath1591]

Had to chuckle at the title screen for the first part, "The First LEG"!

[@kathleenhebert2278]

😂stopppp!😂

[@Nat929]

I've always been fascinated by this case, so horrific 😢

[@timeforcoffee485]

Excellent storyline, thoroughly enjoyed.

[@dannydevito5729]

Everyone should read The Indifferent Stars Above, one of the best non fiction books you'll ever read

[@alyssabeam5062]

Great jon on the video, very detailed and just all around a great job

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@weirdbeard1980]

From the time I was a kid, I've always found the Donner party tale fascinating. I often look around and try to imagine what it would be like to attempt an ascent of the mountains here in a wagon train. I live in a neighborhood called Prosser which is across the street from Alder creek. I play where these people suffered. Rafting the truckee river, swimming and boating in Donner lake and skiing on the surrounding mountains. Nearly every video I've posted is rafting the Truckee or skiing one of the surrounding mountains. There's even one rafting video that ends at sutters mill, on the American river.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

We love hearing responses such as this one! What a peculiar feeling it must be conjuring those images as you stand where such tragedy once unfolded. Thanks for sharing!

[@bettinaamado4296]

Very well narrated, it is such a horrific tale of unfortunate events. Very sad and difficult the choices that they had to make. I have no idea what I would have done in their situation, probably the same😢😞🙏

[@stephenmorgan2714]

I’ve been working on donner pass for the past 4 years at sugarbowl ski resort. I used to make snow there on graveyard shift. 12am-12pm outside in the snow and dark working our butts off. Our joke when we were exhausted and hungry was that we’d start eating each other haha

[@JimmyMatis-h9y]

uh oh! sugar bowl ski resort becomes the Wendigo ski resort 😱🫣

[@chillmoinky94]

Lived in truckee my whole life. Everyone in the Reno/Tahoe area knows about this story. It is truly creepy to drive up to the summit and look over at Donnor lake, knowing this is the exact spot the party eventually turned to cannibalism.

[@veritas41photo]

Those poor, incompetent, people suffered so badly due to being susceptible to rumor and bad information. The children who succumbed were especially pitiable. So Sad.

[@craigdutton6072]

Pioneer story’s have always interest me ,I live in pioneer country in Australia 🇦🇺 just imagining how hard it was with the very little folks had ✊they pushed and pushed to find new country knowing that it was life or death 💀 with kids at foot ,that’s brave rite their in its self ❤️

[@glendabarton1914]

One thing that is rarely mentioned in accounts is the reaction of the indigenous tribes of the area upon becoming aware of the Donner Party. They watched, hidden in brush, these strange white people who knew nothing about how to dress or forage for food deep in a relatively severe winter, historically one of the worst on record. It was such a bad winter that even the tribes were affected by lack of food.At one point one member of a local tribe approached with food, likely meat, but was shot at by one of the men of the Donner Party, so he beat a retreat. The Indians were shocked by the evidence of cannibalism, as it was considered an absolutely unthinkable practice in their tribe. I know this persobally because my son's friend was a member of the Washo tribe and related their ancestral oral histories of living nearby the Donner camps. It was validated later on by archeologists studying the event. The attitude toward Native Americans was well encapsulated by the tragedy of the two Miwok guides of the Donner Party, who, becoming aware of the plans for cannibalism, made a run for it. They were stalked by one ruthless member of the Party, and they couldnt run far or fast enough, when he gained on them and killed them and feasted on them. Whether he shared them with others I dont know, but it definitely highlights the disposable nature of Native Americans at that time. Of course this tagedy wa followed hy the wholesale massacre of certain tribes and a bounty set by the government on each Indian killed in California.

[@TuyenPham-bt6yx]

Driving thru the Sierra mountainsides during the winter in a car is tough enough. On an oxen-driven wagon without modernized traveling resources?...A serious deathtrap!

[@NY51663]

There's nothing worse than being so cold that you can't feel your limbs. When I was a kid I was homeless for years. I remember not being able to walk because I couldn't feel my feet. I can't even imagine how bad it was for these people. To this day ( I'm 50) I have circulation issues because of it. But ironically, I absolutely love the winter and the cold. Probably because I now can get warm at any time.

[@tombombadilofficial]

I googled John Stark to see what he looked like and he looks exactly how Imagined him to be! What a badass!

[@DM-kl4em]

Lewis Keseberg was found sitting under a tree, gnawing on a leg bone. He had a big belly, and he couldn't stop belching. He asked the rescuers what had taken them so long, and if they had brought any steak sauce. Later, in 1895, he went prospecting for gold in San Francisco, where he drank water from a contaminated stream, and died from McGill's pop, due to the terrible case of dysentery that followed. He was 81 years old.

[@martinalewis2844]

Sounds almost comical

[@steevieel]

Great Documentary .. RIP TO ALL 🙏🙏🙏

[@RepentfollowJesus]

The heat would have killed me. I never would have made it to the cannibalism. Poor animals and kids. They had no choice.

[@jaguarpress]

This is a testament to the stupidities of settlers because the indigenous people who knew the mountains told them not to pass at that time of year and they ignored the people who knew better. This is not a tale of perseverance. It’s a tale of ignorance.

[@martinalewis2844]

Word!!!! 👍

[@grzlbr]

The indigenous didn't tell the Donner party squat.

[@jaguarpress]

@@grzlbrwell, I believe this documentary itself shows the tribe saying “don’t climb the sierras in the winter” which is also common sense. Donner Party pretty much wanted to die. Then they did.

[@jaguarpress]

@@grzlbr There are several accounts of indigenous people telling them not to pass the mountain in the winter. But its also common sense. The Donner party had no common sense, they were bottom of the barrel settlers who couldn't even figure out that winter in the mountains is cold. What stupidity leading to tragedy. Common sense is uncommon, as they say.

[@grzlbr]

@@jaguarpress Wrong, you might be thinking of Lewis & Clark

[@stevebailey325]

There is a California State campground and museum there now. I've stayed at the campground and been to the museum a number of times. Though the dont lnow the exact location of the cabins there is a large rock they think one of the cabins was backed up to. The doll one of the girls had is in the Sutter Fort Museum in Sacramento.

[@TobyAva2023]

very good...easy listening...

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Thanks for listening!

[@JimmyMatis-h9y]

so well detailed & produced thank you #liked&subbed

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Much appreciated!

[@glendabarton1914]

I remember going to the Donner Memorial with my Mom and feeling uneasy in the public restroom as if I was being watched. At least for me, the area had an eerie aura.

[@synsrfem4428]

Some of your pictures were confusing because they didn't match the script but your essay was very well written

[@mattwilliam5522]

Nevertheless still so sensual and erotic

[@strawberryseason]

Right. He puts up a pic of Margaret Breen when he says Tamsin Donnor.

[@thegooman-tt9xx]

So you make the documentary

[@shelbyjames1894]

He didn't write this essay, he read the Wikipedia article.

[@louismartinez4467]

You can cross Donner pass on I-80 from Reno to Truckee, then on to Sacramento the terrain is so rugged I cant imagine going across in covered wagon

[@lauraf4202]

I taught this story from the perspective of the mathematics of survival; calculating the values of each delay and mistake and their effects on distance speed and time. I reached the conclusion that no amount of bravery on the trails will save you if the snow is coming. Such a moving and tragic story.

[@patriciaclark9957]

And now disturbingly this area is a picnic ground.

[@davemathews7890]

In Truckee, a diner serves "Donner burgers."

[@Moonewitch]

​@@davemathews7890 😳😳😳

[@TwinSister1957]

@@davemathews7890

[@sheilatruax6172]

What??!

[@sandidavis820]

When did this happen??? I was there in the early 1980s or late 1970s.

[@gracenern4280]

the fact that the indigenous people helped the forlorn hope party oblivious of the fact that they had killed and eaten 2 young men in their community : (

[@jenniferunderwood951]

It is a very sad event in American history. Under nothing conditions a person, if necessary, could go 9 days without food, but can not go without water.

[@jenniferunderwood951]

That’s “under normal conditions “.

[@normstewart67-99]

@@jenniferunderwood951i thought it was 30 days for food?

[@gloriarangott8803]

Correct...but the condition of those ppl having gone without sustenance for a prolonged period of time is very weak, and not able to do very much. I've been too sick to consume food twice in my 84 years of life, and can tell you that after awhile the body starts to break down and the mind hallucinates....

[@yamil.343]

It’s 7 days without water & 3 without food

[@jenniferunderwood951]

@@normstewart67-99 30 days if under a physician’s watch. Gotta wonder: Jesus Christ went 40 days without food or water. He must’ve been pretty emaciated.

[@joebeck1888]

Thank you. A terrible tale but a true one. A very sad story. 💐

[@brettscott7770]

Extremely well done thank you.

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidwcurrier]

I worked in the northern Sierras doing trail work back in 2011. It wasn't uncommon for us to see rock walls near our hiking trails that were built for wagon trains passing through the mountains.

[@Da_Publick]

When they found that letter by Hastings, claiming he'd come and guide them forward, they must've felt that they made a huge mistake. It would've been hard enough going, as it were, if they had followed the known established route.

[@SJoiseyKid]

Cannibal the Musical is probably the most accurate portrayal of the Donner party's tragedy.

[@rakuencallisto]

Great video. Very informative.

[@liennitram9291]

The amount of grit and bravery you would have to have for making this journey is stunning. To leave behind settled country to go through a continent of angry natives......

[@Twistandshoutpodcast]

Should've stayed home, wouldn't have had to eat their own kids! Pretty sure they were the red head whites eating people that Indians talked about.

[@nephilimdemon4643]

Excellent work here 👍❤

[@annmariehawkins7635]

What a fantastic Documentary I live in the UK I've heard of this before but this is brilliant thank you for sharing

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Our pleasure!

[@lizclarke8570]

Great documentary, by eck it was a tough life back then.

[@loridavis5699]

Im pretty sure the youth of today have no idea what our ancestors went thru

[@josephclarkakl]

Yeah today's youth goes into full panic mode when they lose their phones or gadgets 🙄

[@mrcha0s]

​@@josephclarkaklYeah and our ancestors don't know what it feels like to lose your phone or wallet full of credit cards. If I had to pick I'd rather eat my party (or be eaten) than lose my wallet and phone.

[@chriswick7987]

I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t eat each other though?

[@loridavis5699]

@@chriswick7987 how do you know? Have you ever been so hungry that your will to survive overrides everything? I have not so i cant say what I would do

[@thegooman-tt9xx]

Yeah today's youth is so weak Like back in my day we would put spoons in our freezer, and wack eahother on the cock head as a game with the frozen spoons Then I'd drink from the hose and get molested by my uncle, priest, gym teacher, and the local drunks at the bar My mother would burn me with a cigarette, and then we'd all snort asbestos while playing Atari Yeah this future generation man they dont even get it man, like Jesus they have AnXiEtY Truly us dying old folk are the best generation that'll soon die Oh and the housing and economy We're happy we fucked it up So now these kids will have to have even worse growing up mwahahaha

[@vincentp.locollo3343]

You mean they ate each other up!!! They had to , to survive Danny!!!

[@yarbisallee7501]

Shining reference you are my soul mate lol

[@vincentp.locollo3343]

@@yarbisallee7501of course I saw it on the television!!

[@ericjepson3765]

Interesting the first name you mention is Breen. I actually got everyone in my family a copy of his diary as Christmas presents a few years ago. Coulda been a heck of a weather man. haha. Rip

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Wow, an incredible story! Thanks for sharing. There's no doubt meteorology was in his blood.

[@mfburns7909]

1 of my teachers,Bill was related to the Donner Party. RIP Bill and the Donners

[@daviddavis3389]

The entire party?

[@mfburns7909]

@@daviddavis3389 I don't know

[@david-lx7uj]

Hello mf,your other replier is proud to be a wittiot.

[@marc8h726]

Took off from Missouri, mystery unlocked. My mom’s family is from Dixon, Pulaski county. I see why they left.

[@notsurewhatscookin8691]

Great story 👍 telling and what great info. I didn’t know a lot of that. Full watch with ads also 👍

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

We sincerely appreciate that! Thank you! Viewers like you help us make even bigger and better documentaries in the future.

[@TonyCox1351]

Really well done video

[@footprintsofthefrontier]

Thank you very much!

[@theDurgaLove]

Love it! Especially without the background music. Way tp go! Nevermibd... it started a few minutes in.

[@SpaceCowboy-u7j]

I love living near Donner Pass. 🤓🇺🇸

[@chrisgrill6302]

Some maps of the area where this happened and the passes and routes and camps and the fort and settlements and so on would really have been helpful here. Where are all these places you speak of? I found it pretty difficult to build a mental picture of where everybody was and how far they had to travel. Confusing, annoying.

[@kazneasham9110]

How sad😢 have read about this tragedy and horrors years ago😢

[@mattsmith1137]

I lived right by Donner lake for many years and it always bugged the crap out of me it occurred to no one they could have busted through the ice on one or more of the many small creeks feeding into lake set up some improvised nets to catch fish or spear them. Problem solved.

[@gorelash9056]

I had the same thought, but I'm sure there were logistical reasons/difficulties why they couldn't do it. I mean you could also ask why so many Irish died during the famine when they live on a big island and could have just gone fishing. I'm just going to trust that there were real reasons why this wasn't feasible

[@ayan6759]

Ever since I first heard this Story, I've refused to hike with friends/family, without at least having Salt, Pepper & Matches in my Backpack!

[@tdecker2937]

Great documentary and narration. Only one small correction… Toward the end, the cannibalism didn’t “claim the life“ of her family members, it occurred after her family members perished.

[@Jennx7080]

Well done

[@anitaholst7671]

Im familiar with this true and tragic story and have yet to listen to this. I cannot fathom watching my child die of starvation. Angela's Ashes is as harrowing and soul-piercing a story ever told about a poor Irish family... my stomach ached for food during the entire reading. Of course the eating of a dead person's flesh should not be condemned if it promises life and relief under circumstances such as the Donner Party's, as well as the airplane full of soccer players that crashed in the Andes. But to actually be faced with such a choice!

[@opwave79]

The more I hear about James Reed the more I respect him.

[@Evilzionistbabykillers]

Made a movie about it, Worthy of a watch 💯

[@sjb1971]

Serious question-I notice in several pictures, the faces are blurred out or not shown at all. Is this to be respectful of the deceased? Thank you.

[@selenasanchez4244]

No. This is because these pictures are not the people bring spoken about. The picture just shows a picture of a similar family from that time period. I assume that no actual pictures exist of those families.

[@kleopatra6234]

I live in Tahoe. Truckee gets way more snow than we do here around the Lake. My son Adam learned about the Donner Party when he was in school His take on it was "where the Donner Party had a finger party". 😅

[@Yourmomma92]

Ask a Mortician has a great video on this too! And maybe even Simon whistler?

[@mauriceclark4870]

Those. Shortcuts. Turn. Into. Long. Cuts. Sometimes. !!

[@kayfitzgerald309]

Nice documentary 😊Thanks I live by the Weber River!! (pronounced " Wee-Ber")😊

[@kendraheard8240]

Wow I went to the San Bernardino museum near my home in southern California and they talked about this group and particularly the woman with 13 children they even had her wagon they claimed she rebuilt because she lost the first one that she traveled in!

[@markfrost2707]

yeah, it's bs

[@robertmoldovan5931]

Worded slightly different but you can follow along the story told here on Wikipedia. However, reading along on Wikipedia and listening to the story helped me follow this story better. Very interesting story and what those people had to endure is fascinating.

[@BrettGreenwood-k6y]

I still can't get over "THE FIRST LEG" title at 6:08. Great job though!!

[@Gillespie91]

The photo of the faceless family was weirdly creepy

[@luanagardner1815]

Excellent