Did they find the cookbook that says "Tastes like chicken?"
Actually this is a fascinating story. One of the survivors trekked down to the Johnson Ranch and they got help from Sutters Fort to help with a rescue mission. He went down the mountain on old wooden skis as i recall. This probably saved many lives.
Snow shoes. One of the party was from one of the nordic countries, and he knew how to make 'em. There were several parties having various amounts of success in leaving that place.