Donner summit is the highest point of interstate 80 going from San Francisco to Reno over the Sierra Nevada’s. Just beyond the summit is Donner lake. Both the summit and the lake get their name from the ill fated Donner Party that got lost near by in the 1800’s and turned to cannibalism to survive. A little known fact is that the Donner party left a month late, was ill equipped and was following a route that was laid out by another explorer a year before. The Party somehow got off the trail, and then was caught in an early season snow storm. The pass they were looking for was about a mile away from where they were trapped.

 This area was carved by glaciers during the last ice age. In fact glaciers carved much of the sierra’s into their current impressive forms.

  In the winter time the pass and lake are covered with snow making the lake and the valleys around it very impressive. During the summer time, the area is a Mecca of out door enthusiasts. There is a wide verity of activities that you can take part in. The area is also extremely beautiful in the summer time with granite palisades, and scenic views of the lake.

 Part one has pictures I took during the winter time from around the northern part of the Lake. Part two and three contain photos from early summer.

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