The frozen rock and gravel road over Sonora Pass was not kind to any form of weakness. Crossing the 10,000 foot Sierra Nevada pass was a balancing act where one side dropped off into icy snow-melt river waters and the other side dived into canyons of massive granite boulders. The harsh winter's blast brought death everywhere. Into this setting arrived the Byers brothers and six horse drawn Murphy freight wagons from East to West at a time when the pass should have been closed to winter travel. They hoped to overnight at the ancient 21 Mile House for shelter, perhaps even warmth and food. If the weather didn't stop them first then the outlaw Pau Lim, was certain to kill anyone who ventured into the 21 Mile House. Within that abandoned lodge he hid his victims, his horrible secrets and stolen Wells Fargo gold. Pau was no stranger to killing; one more victim meant nothing to him, and the Byers brothers and their wagon train were headed right his way! Death in the frozen clutches of the old hotel fit into his plans just fine.