A snowshoer in the Sierra who set out in search of fresh powder over the weekend had a narrow escape over the weekend when he ended up turned around a hypothermic just off the Pacific Crest Trail near the site of one of the most famous backcountry disasters in American history.

Heavy snowfall across California contributed to more than a foot of fresh snowpack, and limited visibility conditions in the Sierra, like those that the infamous Donner Party experienced in 1846. That year, 81 settlers heading to California via the soon-to-be infamous Hastings Cutoff route became stranded near a high mountain pass, where a harsh winter drove them to hunker down and attempt to survive the brutal conditions before finding a region in which they could settle. Only 45 of the 81 settlers—and neither of their Miwok guides, who one member of the party murdered—survived the harsh winter on the east side of the pass. 

Although the Donner Party resorted to cannibalism after about 13 people died, the missing snowshoer got luckier when 16 SAR personnel greeted him with snacks and warming gear to stabilize his core temperature and avoid severe hypothermia. Officials located the snowshoer about 2 miles from where he began his journey. He was wet and in distress by the time rescuers contacted him. 

Early weekend warnings from officials encouraged locals to take extra precautions against the mounting snowpack, since a speedy snow system was expected to blanket the region. 

Nevada County Search and Rescue, who received support from Tahoe Nordic Search, attributes the fast response time to new equipment that the department received. The team recently received a grant from Truckee Airport District, which contributed to massive upgrades and a new vehicle for Nevada County SAR’s team. 

As a byword for the worst things that can happen to a group of people in the wilderness, the story of the Donner Party still captures some hikers’ imagination. An annual event called the Donner Party Hike draws outdoorspeople to the area every year for talks, music, and guided hikes of various lengths and difficulties. In 2022, a group of California hikers went even further when they attempted to retrace the 100-mile route the Donner Party’s rescuers took, partially in period clothing.

From 2024