It might be saying that not everything fun has to be dangerous.
A soldier nicknamed Picayune Butler engaged in a conversation with Eliza Donner about the Donner Party. He spoke and repeated the words he read in the story of the California Star, that it was a party that is responsible for the misfortunes. If it had a price, the starvation brought by the miserable wretches were not worth the cost to save them.
The answer to your question is


The author is giving details and purpose to this event and is inviting people to come to attend it. They even tell you how you can get to the event and about the designated "drop zones".
I hope this helps you!