A team of scientists and undergraduate students have analyzed the body size for 25 marine species, including whales, sharks, squids, and other ocean giants. A team of scientists and undergraduate students have analyzed the body size for 25 marine species, including whales, sharks, squids, and other ocean giants.
Donner Summit is also the Sierra Divide where storms spend most of their time, dropping 35-40 feet of snow a year, making skiing a major industry and making the Sierra a reservoir for the rest of the state. Arguably, Donner Summit and Donner Pass across it, is the most important square mile in California.
At that point on October 28th, the snow began to fall, and they were stranded. Of the 81 people who arrived in the mountains that fall, only half of them survived. JULIE SCHABLITSKY: One thing that people don't realize is that the Donner Party split into two separate locations, six miles from each other. One group wintered at Donner Lake in three cabins and a lean-to. The remaining party included the George and Jacob Donner families, as well as teamsters and the widow Mrs. Wolfinger. Those 21 people camped at Alder Creek. There, they weren't as fortunate and had to quickly erect lean-tos and other brush shelters.