Donner - Reed Tragedy by Ted Davidson
Looking
East From Near [Donner] Pass
The cabins built and used
by some of the party were beyond the east end of Truckee Lake (arrow).
The trail followed the north (left) side of the lake, curved around the
forested bowl west of the lake (hidden from view behind the granite ridge
(left), zig-zagged up to and curved around a forested flat (center-right),
and went up a steep V-shaped canyon heading west.
Sheer
Granite Cliffs
Part of the sheer
cliffs the trail passed in the steep granite-walled canyon section of
the trail.
The Last Section to the Pass
Emerging from the
steep, V-shaped granite-walled canyon [below Donner Peak, arrow-left
top], the trail followed north of a seasonal streambed to a shallow
pond. Then the trail turned south, climbing to a relatively smooth sheet
of granite before disappearing behind a granite knob as it turned west
to the pass (arrow-right).
Looking
East --From Alder Creek to the Pass
The
trail came from Alder Creek (behind dark, forested ridge on left) to
their cabins near the far end of Truckee Lake; followed the north side
of Truckee Lake; curved NW around forested bowl (behind granite ridge
on left; after zig-zagging, curved around the forested flat (behind
huge granite outcropping (center); came up the granite-walled canyon;
went NW to a seasonal pond; turned south and climbed a granite ridge;disappeared
behind granite knob (center right); emerged as it turned west to follow
the talus toward the pass. ]
