Donner Party

• Was a group of 300 migrants in 60 wagons led by the Donner brothers that started the Oregon Trail in May 1846 despite being advised to begin in April
• They were well-equipped although the group had more elderly, women and children than usual
• July - 80 migrants tried a new short cut that left the Oregon Trail and it cut around 550km off of the journey

  The trail guide had only written about it and did not know if it would work
• Shortcut turned out to be not so short after all and unlike the Oregon Trail was not cleared of obstacles which made traversing it difficult

  There were stretches where water and grass for the cattle to graze was not there
• Livestock died and food ran out

  First starvation death was on the 15th of December

  Half of the original 80 survived by eating those that had died
• Arguments were constant within the group as they were unsure whether or not they should turn back around

  This only slowed their progression