The Dying Season: The Donner Party's Nightmare in California

Something I had heard years ago that stuck with me, and is depicted in this video, are the 20-foot tree "stumps" that were revealed after the snow melted away. The trees were cut where they were accessible, which was 20-odd feet above the ground, because how deep the snow was. 😳

An excellent narrative of the Donner party. I read a book about them while in college many years ago, in fact, I still have a book. Your narrative brought back the horrors of their experience. The video was excellent: the graphics, and especially the storytelling. Keep up the excellent work.

I have been to the camp, it was quite an experience. It was summer and there was a light mist that day. I walked around and could feel the sadness and despair those poor people felt and went through.

This two part series is some of the best history content available now. You deserve much more views and praise for your hard work. Thank you and keep up that amazing content.

Wonderful storytelling, easily the best recount I have heard among the many. Thank you

It took awhile to get this one out, but it was truly worth the wait! The details were intriguing and of historic importance. I will never look at the Sierra Nevadas the same knowing what tribulations took place there. Another great tale told by The Story Out West. Thank you very much for sharing!

Just finished ‘The Indifferent Stars Above’ not long ago. Definitely worth the read / listen.

The determination and goodness (for lack of a better word) of people like John Stark are hard to overstate in the midst of this horror show. It would be easy for would be rescuers to find themselves unconsciously developing a self-defense mechanism of holding back a bit, rationing their effort and rations, so as to not end up in the same boat. Stark had tremendous confidence in himself (or his God) to determine he was going to save 11 people, none of whom can initially walk. This was not a, "here's something to eat, the helicopter will be here in an hour" situation. Great episode, love your research and presentation.

Grew up at Donner Lake - grew up listening to the history. Great video

I been reading The Donner Party tragedy for the last 3 years. Also visiting Donner Lake area including Donner Camp over Elder Creek several times. In Sutter Fort I was able to see the original Patty Reed's Doll. Thanks for sharing your own testimony about this history.

This is the best Youtube doc on this subject I have found. Good info, thorough but concise, and it wasn't just a flat reading from Wikipedia. Subscribed!

The myth of the "hardy pioneer" dies hard. But your description on the party is 100% accurate. They were small farmers, and some shopkeepers from Ohio. Even in 1845-46 hardly the Great Plains or "Great Desert" as they would've known it. Also, the refusal to cooperate with each other, glossed over in other more "mythic" accounts is a key issue in their disintegration when the situation became desperate. Well done.

I haven’t revisited this story since middle school, the horrors stuck with me tho. Sick video, great topic

Well worth the wait!!! Learned a lot more about the incident than I ever knew.

Top notch series on the Donner party.

Absolutely brutal. Fantastic video. Thank you. I love your channel and I'm glad I found it. I do hope to see more documentaries on Plains Indians.

Brilliant videos! Enjoying the channel

Well done video! It must have taken a lot of work to do the maps and visuals. It’s such a dramatic, pathos-filled American pioneer story.

Been waiting for it, you certainly put in the effort. Excellent product, the detail surpasses anything I have previously read in one place. You are a skilled teacher - I'm looking forward to your next lesson.

Thank you. A brilliant depiction of events. I’ve just finished reading C F McGlashan’s book and I cannot pass judgement on how some kept alive as who knows what anyone would do in the same predicament 🇬🇧🙏