Lessons Learned in Person and on the Ground
What can the Forlorn Hope Expedition teach us? There are differences between the Forlorn Hope Expedition of 2020 and the Forlorn Hope of the Donner Party in 1846. The four…
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November 27, 2020
Franklin Graves
Franklin Graves was born in the Green Mountains near Wells, Rutland County, Vermont abt 1789. He was raised an authentic backswoodsman, hearty New Englander. He married Elizabeth Cooper abt 1820…
November 25, 2020
What We Share With the Forlorn Hope: Humanity
You never know where life’s opportunities will lead you. 5 weeks ago, I received an attention catching text: I have an adventure I want to discuss. Of course, I called…
November 24, 2020
Antonio
The second member of the Forlorn Hope to perish was Antonio, a 23 year-old Spaniard. Antonio was born in Mexico. In April 1847, Lilburn W. Boggs numbered among the casualties…
November 22, 2020
Charles Stanton
Charles Stanton is regarded by many as one of the "heroes" of the Donner Party. A bachelor with no particular incentive to take extraordinary risks, he volunteered to ride ahead…
November 19, 2020
Q&A Expedition Team
Lead by Bill Oudegeest Q1: Examples of inconsistencies among sources? A: Example #1 - Sun December 20th: Sinclair (Eddy’s journal) reports 8 miles travelled this day. Reed’s diary reports 4…
November 9, 2020
Greatest Endurance Feat in History
By Bill Oudegeest, Donner Summit Historical Society On December 16th, presuming the weather cooperates, four extreme athletes will leave Donner Lake on snowshoes to cross the Sierra in a reprise…
November 6, 2020
The Snowshoe Party Becomes the Forlorn Hope
By Bill Oudegeest, Donner Summit Historical Society Life was clearly untenable at Donner Lake for the Donner Party in the winter of 1846-47. They were trapped in the snow. They…
November 3, 2020
Our “Why”
2020 will be remembered as the most pivotal year in our lives. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought worldwide disruption, it opened new paths otherwise not journeyed. I shall be…
November 2, 2020
Forlorn Hope Expedition
By Bill Oudegeest, Donner Summit Historical Society When you match an affinity for endorphins with an affinity for history you might get an interesting activity and a compelling story. That’s…
November 1, 2020