Most people know what happened to the Donner Party, a group of settlers led by George Donner and James F. Reed, once they reached Alder Creek, California, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Members of the party resorted to cannibalism in order to survive after they became trapped by a massive snowfall.
However, the Donner Party, which set off from Missouri in May 1846 in the hopes of reaching California in mere months, made an unfortunate series of mistakes that led to delays and disasters. At every juncture, the party seemed to make the wrong decision, and while some members of their group did turn back or take safer routes, many continued doggedly marching to their deaths.
From crooked "guides" to hostile Native Americans to unseasonable weather, the Donner Party members were victims of every kind of bad luck. Here is the story of the Donner Party and the tragic fate that befell them.
They Started Too Late In The Season
April was considered the best time to leave in order to travel successfully to the west coast, usually mid-April. Leaving then meant that the grass on the plains was high enough to provide enough food for the emigrant's livestock, while giving the humans enough time to get across mountain passes before winter. Remember that this is a time before snowplows, so travelers in the winter could only make slow progress, and they didn't have much hope of digging themselves out if heavy snow started falling.
The Donner Party left one month later than they should have, on May 12th, which put them a month behind before they even started.
