The 1840s brought forth a restlessness among Americans.

Driven by the promise of a more prosperous life, countless settlers embarked on treacherous journeys westward.

Among all those pioneers, the mention of one particular party always stands out, bringing chills to those who hear the tale.

The group derived its name from George Donner, who set out from Springfield, Illinois, with his family

and the Reed family in mid-April of 1846, heading towards California.

And like other wagon trains, they joined a larger party also heading west.

The first sign that things were about to go horribly wrong happened in Wyoming.

An experienced trail guide warned the group about using a new shortcut they intended to take.

But the Donners and Reeds refused to listen, and that caused a rift in the party.

The two groups parted ways and the

Donner-Reed party set off toward the shortcut. Shortly after, another traveler gave them

the same warning. Unfortunately, predatory business practices were common along the migration

routes. A local trading post-operator, knowing both the dangers of the shortcut, but also

wanting to keep a steady

flow of businesses, had assured them that they were on the best route. The pioneers took him at

his word. The travelers learned the hard way. New trails had to be carved out and deep gorges had

to be navigated with care. Even as they slowly progressed, believing that things would

eventually improve, they faced even bigger difficulties on the trail ahead of them.

The path forward lacked water, and the group lost quite a few oxen and other livestock,

causing them to leave behind wagons. In October, heavy snows blocked the path across the Sierra

Nevada Mountains, forcing

them to make camp for the winter.

...