March 14: Donner Party Relief Expedition Trekkers Available to Answer Questions about ‘Extraordinary feats’

On Feb 14^th, 1847 a group of 7 rescuers set out from Johnson’s Ranch near Wheatland CA, to rescue the Donner Party trapped at Donner Lake.  On Monday February 14^th, 2022 four ultra-distance runners set out in an attempt to recreate the route the rescuers used to reach the Donner Party and to honor the heroes who saved their fellow pioneers.  On Monday, March 14^th, at 5pm please join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, to hear the story of these 4 adventurers and historic trail trekkers.  Bob Crowley, Tim Twietmeyer, Jennifer Hemmen and Elke Reimer as they traveled roughly 100 miles from Johnsons Ranch to Donner Lake in 5 days. 

 

The Team will discuss the research and findings that went into determining the rescue route, as well as the challenges of the journey itself. 

 

In a previous statement in the Sierra Sun, Crowley said “The project is about the will to survive and bring back those left behind. Our team will honor the grit determination and selflessness of the 7 rescue members. It is about people risking their lives to save others.”

 

Please join us on Monday, March 14^th, at 5:00 PM online at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM. The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM, or log onto YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain. 

#forlornhope #Donnerpartyrescue

 

The audience will be able to submit questions online during the presentation.

 

Bios

 

Bob Crowley is an amateur ultra-distance runner and historian with an appreciation for American Western history and epic adventure tales. He is endeavoring to combine all these passions to help bring history to life, coined History Trail Trekking. 

 

Crowley is an entrepreneur. He co-founded  The Mustang Group , a Boston-based private equity firm. Prior, he co-founded, was CEO and/or management member of numerous media, telecommunications and software companies. He now splits his time with non-profits and as a mentor to young entrepreneurs.

 

Crowley’s passion extends to his athletic hobbies, most notably ultra-running. He’s completed more than 200 endurance events, including  Western States  and  Hardrock 100  mile endurance runs, several 200+ mile mountain runs as well as the famed  Tor des Geants  in the Italian Alps and numerous self-directed wilderness adventures. He led and grew the  Trail Animals Running Club , the largest trail running club in the country. 

 

Tim Twietmeyer is an ultra-distance runner and an engineering manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, in Roseville, Ca. He is best known for his five victories and unprecedented 25 sub-24-hour finishes at the 100-mile (160 km)  Western States Endurance Run . He has also qualified and participated as an age-grouper (50+) at the Ironman World Championships in Kona.

 

As an endurance runner, Twietmeyer is the only person to have completed the Western States Endurance Run 25 times, each in under 24 hours. His five WS100 victories came in 1992, 1994–1996, and 1998. In 2003, he completed an unprecedented 15 consecutive top-five finishes.

Twietmeyer has served more than 20 years on the board of trustees and is a current vice president of the Western States Endurance Run Foundation.

Beyond his WS100 exploits, Twietmeyer has won the Eagle 100-mile (160 km) Run in Canada, and completed the  Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc  through France, Italy, and Switzerland. He has completed more than 200 marathon and ultra-distance races.

Outside formal competition, in 2004 Twietmeyer led the first “winter crossing” of the Western States Trail, following the trail from Squaw Valley to Auburn as did many of the gold miners back in the day. He followed that in 2006, becoming the initial Fastest Known Time setter for the 168-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, arriving back in Tahoe City in 45:58. In 2008, following in the spirit of the 4-day Capitol-to-Capitol horse ride, Tim ran from Carson City, Nevada to Sacramento, California in 43:30.