The Tragic Journey of the Donner Party: A Cautionary Tale of Shortcuts and Poor Decisions
One of the most well-known endeavors in American history is the journey of the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who embarked on a quest to reach the Pacific coast in 1846. Despite the experiences shared on History Channel and other reliable resources, the journey of the Donner Party remains a tragic tale of poor decision-making and underestimated risks.
A Mixture of Bad Luck and Poor Decisions
The primary reason for the dire circumstances faced by the Donner Party can be attributed to a mix of bad luck and poor decisions. Instead of adhering to established routes, the party chose the untested Hastings Cutoff, which was developed by Lansford Hastings and wasn't well-traveled. Founded on the misguided belief that this route would be shorter, the party based their entire journey around this unproven path.
Structural and Planning Mistakes
The Reed family brought an unnecessarily large wagon called the "Pioneer Palace," which was ill-suited for the journey and caused delays. They left a month later than desirable due to unforeseen circumstances, including the flooding of the Big Blue River. Their timing was further affected by their tardiness at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Had they arrived on schedule, they would have had Lansford Hastings with them to guide them through the cutoff. However, as a result of their poor planning, they missed this crucial guidance.
The Hastings Cutoff: A Leap into Disaster
Lansford Hastings had planned for the Donner wagons to venture through the cut-off, but warnings from experienced mountain men like James Clyman advising against the risky path were ignored. Once the group reached the cutoff, they were left without the guidance of Lansford Hastings, and they discovered that the route was not viable. Trying to force their way over an extremely steep mountain only exhausted the animals and left them with precious little time to rest.
The journey became even more harrowing as they encountered the Great Salt Lake Desert, which drained their water supplies and led to the loss of a significant number of oxen. The "shortcut" only ended up taking more time than the ordinary route, and the party reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains in October, only to be struck by an early and severe snowstorm. Their already difficult situation was compounded by packing too little food, followed by the loss of most of their oxen. They were truly "utterly screwed."
Desperation and Survival Strategies
As the situation deteriorated, the Donner Party resorted to desperate survival measures. They began to eat their horses, mules, and oxen, and eventually turned to cannibalism when faced with starvation. July, typically the peak of travel, had become their winter, and attempts to reach the Sacramento Valley were delayed by relentless snow and ice. By February 1847, relief parties arrived, bringing hope and rescue, but many were too weak to walk, as evidenced by the heroic efforts of John Stark, who carried 11 children to safety.
Lessons from the Donner Party
The Donner Party's tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the perils of taking shortcuts and poor decision-making. Despite the Hastings Cutoff taking a month longer than the regular route, and wagons heading north staying on the main route, the Donner Party paid the ultimate price for their misguided choices. This cautionary tale is a poignant representation of how even the best-laid plans can be derailed by factors beyond our control, and how wisdom, caution, and preparedness are essential for success.
By understanding the struggles and mistakes of the Donner Party, we can appreciate the importance of thorough planning, taking advice from reliable sources, and being prepared for unexpected challenges.