The notorious true story of a group of pioneers forced to make impossible decisions when trapped in the mountains for an entire winter—part of the New York Times bestselling What Was? series, featuring 16 pages of photos.
In the winter of 1846-47, a group of eighty-seven pioneers heading from the Midwest to California found themselves snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range with no way forward and no food or supplies. While forty-eight of the group members survived, the others perished due to extreme weather, starvation, and illness. To survive, the remaining people resorted to extreme measures...including cannibalism. Theirs is a story of miscalculations, bad decisions, and extreme weather—but it’s also a story of survival and bravery among everyday people.
This is Book 62 in the What Was? Series. See all What Was? books here.
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Ben Hubbard is an author of nonfiction for children and adults.
More about Ben HubbardGail Herman has written several biographies and nonfiction books, including Who Was Jackie Robinson? and What Is the World Series?
John Hinderliter is an award-winning illustrator and fine artist living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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