Weather History For October 31

1846 - Eighty-seven pioneers were trapped by early snows in the Sierra Nevada Mountains that piled five feet deep, with 30-40 foot drifts. Just 47 persons survived the "Donner Pass Tragedy". (The Weather Channel)

I grew up in San Jose where a lot of the survivors ended up. Street names downtown such as Martha and Virginia and Reed are named for some of them. As well Sunnyvale were the Murphys ended up. They made every bad choice possible along the way when they needed to make a choice. They started their trip from back east a scosh late in the year but it wouldn’t have been catastrophic except they got caught in a once in an 100 year storm. There’s been winters where I’ve been in Reno around new years and there is little snow on the hills. It’s probably only the 50’s there this time of year now and no rain/snow. Very very heavy Snow came very early that year and just dumped. Then they also took rifle shots at the local natives that were likely going to help them. In fairness they had negative interactions with other natives on the trail and were not taking chances.

I proposed to my wife at Donner lake. If you are ever on I80 between Sacramento and Reno and have the time stop and visit. They have a great museum and can walk around and see where they made their primitive shelters.

The cannibalism was only a few and and after those people had died and they didn’t eat their own families.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
... and they didn’t eat their own families.

Well that was mighty white of them.

V-tail has gotten an unauthorized copy of the Donner Party plan for when things go South, I see.

I have seen the term "long pig" used in reference to human cannibalism before, but my memory has lost the origins of that terminology. Any help?

Long. because it takes a longer rotisserie to roast a pioneer.

Better to rest in the warm belly of a friend than in the cold,hard ground

Make a reservation at a restaurant and tell them you're the Donner party.

I remember reading more about the plane crash in the Andes iirc more than reading about the Donner story.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
The cannibalism was .... after those people had died ...

Not according to " The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party", which I just read.

It started that way, and it was mostly that way, but there were instances described in the book where some were killed for food.

I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. - Hannibal Lecter

Gives me the Willie’s just thinking about it.

One year I named my fantasy hockey team The Donner Party Supper Club.

The Donner Pass Memorial State Park has picnic tables and grills.

I like lady fingers.

Also they could have made primitive snow shoes and hiked downhill. In about 15-20 miles they would have been pretty much out of the snow.

I have cross country skied that area many times, typically making igloos to sleep in. If the pioneers had come from Norway and had snow experience, probably all of them would have survived.

quote:

Long pig, anyone?

I'd never heard that term before...
Gross!

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Also they could have made primitive snow shoes and hiked downhill.

As I understand it, a number of them did just that. Some made it, some didn’t.

I worked in West Africa for several years in the 1960s. It was called Long Pork in those days. We were warned to only ever buy pork with the skin on.