The first book I remember reading more than once (for pleasure) was in
second grade: "Patty Reed's Doll". It told of one of the children in the ill-fated
Donner party, Martha F. (Patty) Reed. Even when the journey to California
became so arduous, the adults began dropping their precious cargo on the trail to
lighten their load, Patty secretly kept her little doll in her pocket. The
doll survived the journey (so did Patty), something a full half of the party
could not boast. The site of this box is a monument and museum commemorating this
incredible journey.

Rating
Clues: a little tricky
Difficulty: a nice, level 10-15 minute walk on a loop trail
Caution: In winter, snowy conditions will make this box impossible to reach

To the box: Go to the Donner Memorial State Park and park in the parking lot
(free). Find the monument to the Donner Party and count the faces in the
statue. Mulitply this number by 3. There is a lovely loop trail which leads from
the museum. There are stakes numbering from 1 to 17 on the trail. Go to the
stake with the number you figured out. Just to the left of this stake, take the
trail east through the meadow, about 97 paces. There you'll see a large, granite
rock which seems out of place with all this greenery around. On the west side
of this rock, under a rock of reddish hue, you will find the Patty Reed's
Doll letterbox.

Go ahead and continue on this trail the rest of the way around and stand in
awe at the huge rock with it's commemorative plaque erected in 1919 on the site
of the cabin where the Donner Party lived and died throughout that harsh and
fateful winter.

~~Doublesaj & Old Blue~~
P18 F57 X2 V5 A13 HH1


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