I did live in Tahoe, and we called it the Donner Pass. Yes, it’s a paved highway, but it can still be sketchy to navigate especially during harsh conditions. The western approach is easier, but it still can be a dangerous road. Especially for an impaired young driver at night.
The weather in the Donner Summit/Donner Pass area is extreme. The average annual snowfall is nearly 400 inches (10 meters). That’s 33 feet, about as tall as a three-story house. This is one of the snowiest places in the contiguous states. During winter storms wind gusts over 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour are common. Blowing snow can reduce visibility to zero. Sub-zero (Fahrenheit) (-17.8 C) temperatures are not uncommon.