I find the Donner Party to be an interesting subject and useful study in survival. Some additional materials you might find interesting:

Overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party

Time line:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party_timeline

Hastings cutoff:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings_Cutoff

Photographs of the Hastings cutoff. Gives me a good feel for the difficulties and a greater respect for their efforts:
http://www.utahcrossroads.org/G_HR_Tea.htm

A list of some of the myths and controversies that spring up around such historic events. Like the Donner party was not slow; it almost caught up to the preceding party and did it over more difficult terrain:
http://www.utahcrossroads.org/DonnerParty/Briefmyths.htm