As part of the Donner Party Hike festivities, organizers present an evening with Greg Palmer. This event is free and open to the public. On Saturday, October 8 at 5:00 at the Donner Memorial State Park attendees will hear about the first wagons over the Sierra Nevada. Greg Palmer will talk about the saga of the Stephens Townsend Murphy Party of 1844 known as the lost party.
Greg Palmer has years of experience guiding youngsters and history buffs alike in area history. He currently is a docent at Thunderbird Lodge and Donner Memorial State Park. He will delight our audience with his gift of story telling. The lost party is a story of the first wagons that came over the Sierra Nevada. The participants became the core of California development. This small wagon party made up of men, women and children became the first pioneers to successfully take their wagons over the first practical wagon route to California.
Complimentary cheese and crackers served and beverages are available for sale.
This event is produced by Just Imagine Marketing and Design in conjunction with the Donner Party Hike and serves as a fundraiser for the Sierra State Parks Foundation.
24th Annual Donner Party Hike
Hikers can travel the footsteps of early emigrant’s journey across the Sierra Nevada mountains October 8 & 9 by participating in the 24th Annual Donner Party Hike.
Participants can choose from six different hikes on Saturday, and a walking tour on Sunday. All hikes offer interesting insight into emigrant history from local area guides, along with invigorating recreation and beautiful scenery.
Saturday’s hikes begin and end at Donner Ski Ranch located on Highway 40 on Donner Summit. Guides will lead groups of approximately 15-20 people to interpretive spots giving detailed historical information focused on emigrant and area history. In the afternoon, hikers will enjoy a hamburger lunch, and a presentation by Frank Mullen an expert on the Donner Party.
There are six hike options of varying length offered on Saturday. Explore the Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road and 1913 Corridor Lincoln Highway with views of petroglyphs, old roadside billboards and the China Wall. Hike up Roller Pass and Mt. Judah to see where wagon trains were winched up over the granite. Discover pristine High Sierra Lakes or explore Coldstream Canyon. Back this year is the return of the Railroad Snowsheds hike. Each hike offers a unique and memorable experience.
Sunday starts with a more relaxed walking tour departing from the Donner Camp Picnic Area, located on 2.5 miles north of Truckee on Highway 89. Following the walking tour where guides will detail the Donner Party’s encampment, participants will drive to Donner Memorial State Park to hear more about the Donner Party, the Pioneer Monument, visit the Murphy’s Cabin Site, and enjoy entrance to the all new visitor center offering a historical movie about the Donner Party.
Space is limited for all events and reservations are required. Early registration for the Saturday hikes is $55 ($65 after September 30, 2016 per hiker) and includes a guided hike, commemorative walking stick, hamburger lunch and afternoon presentation. Sunday’s walking tour is part of a two day package and includes the guided walk and entrance to the visitor center. 2-day hike package is $80 ($90 after September 30, 2016). Complete hike descriptions and registration forms can be found at www.donnerpartyhike.com
The event is produced by Just Imagine Marketing and Design in collaboration with Donner Summit Historical Society. Sponsors of this event include: Best Western Truckee Tahoe, Donner Lake Village Resort, Donner Memorial State Park, Hampton Inn and Suites Tahoe-Truckee, Inn at Truckee, Tahoe Donner, Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Truckee Donner Lodge, Tahoe Trail Bar, and Wild Cherries Coffeehouse.
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