05/07/2026
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST SIERRA SPEAKERS SERIES OF 2026
SATURDAY, MAY 16, DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK
In partnership with Sierra State Parks Foundation, Nevada County Library, and California State Parks, the monthly Sierra Speaker Series connects folks to the rich cultural and natural history of the area. Join us at Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center to learn and engage! Doors open at 5 with presentation to follow at 5:30 pm. Parking is free after 5 pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Light refreshments and wines, sponsored by Highway 12 Winery, will be available. No registration required.
Weather and snowpack conditions during the winter of 1846-47 are critical to understanding the narrative of the Donner tragedy. Periods of heavy snow overwhelmed starving pioneers in the mountains while Pacific rainstorms flooded lowlands and stymied rescue efforts. This unique analysis looks at real-time weather observations from American warships, eyewitness accounts from on-the-ground personnel, as well as reliable statements from an array of contemporary sources.
Tahoe Sierra weather historian Mark McLaughlin is an award-winning, nationally published author and professional speaker with 8 books and more than 1,500 articles in print. Mark has appeared as an expert consultant for CNN, The History Channel, The Weather Channel, and the BBC, as well as many historical documentaries. A North Lake Tahoe local since 1978, he’s a five-time recipient of the Nevada State Press award. Mark has been writing from the mountains he calls home for over 35 years.
