Who authored a guidebook that contributed to the Donner Party disaster of 1846?

Lansford Hastings authored the guidebook that contributed to the Donner Party disaster in 1846. His book, "The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California," promoted a route that he claimed would shorten the journey to California. However, this route, known as the Hastings Cutoff, was poorly researched and presented significant challenges, including difficult terrain and a lack of water sources.

As emigrants, including the Donner Party, followed Hastings' recommendations without fully understanding the risks involved, they encountered unanticipated hardships that ultimately led to tragedy. The misguidance provided by Hastings played a significant role in the disastrous outcome for the Donner Party, which became stranded in the Sierra Nevada during a harsh winter.

This event highlights the dangers of relying on misinformed or overly optimistic travel guides during a time when accurate information was scarce. Other figures mentioned in the choices, such as Johann Sutter, Mariano Vallejo, and Sir Francis Drake, were significant in California history but did not directly influence the disaster of the Donner Party in the same manner as Hastings.