Snow Mountain Passage

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This powerful retelling of the Donner Party's ordeal immerses readers in a central American myth through the eyes of its key figures, particularly James Frazier Reed and his family. Reed, a proud and headstrong leader, travels with his wife and four children, including his eight-year-old daughter, Patty, in a lavish covered wagon. Their journey across the country is filled with excitement and danger, but a wrong turn leads them to the Sierra Nevada too late to cross before winter snows block their path. Tensions escalate when Reed gets into a fight with a drover, resulting in his exile from the group as he ventures ahead alone in search of help. Over the next five months, he desperately seeks resources and allies to rescue his stranded family. Meanwhile, Patty's imagined "Trail Notes" provide a poignant glimpse into her childhood experiences as the main group faces starvation and despair on the Nevada side of the Sierras. This extraordinary tale of pride and redemption unfolds with gripping detail, revealing the fates of those involved—who survives, who perishes, and the reasons behind their outcomes.