[T]here were 15 costly search-and-rescue missions related to the bus between 2009 and 2017. In 2019, a Belarus woman died trying to cross the Teklanika River to get to the bus, and another visitor drowned in the river in 2010. “We encourage people to enjoy Alaska’s wild areas safely, and we understand the hold this bus has had on the popular imagination,” Feige said in a statement. “However, this is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle that was requiring dangerous and costly rescue efforts, but more importantly, was costing some visitors their lives. I’m glad we found a safe, respectful and economical solution to this situation.”
June 22, 2020
"Into the Wild Bus That Became a Dangerous Tourist Attraction Airlifted Out of Alaskan Backcountry."
New York Magazine reports.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
84 comments:
It’s like Savannah was forced to remove the Forest Gump park bench to a museum because people suck and are deeply moved in sometimes bizarre ways by movies and the stuff that the movies make famous.
McCandless was a loser whose greatest accomplishment was a vagabond's braggadocio piggybacked on his Walter Mitty fantasy of living vicariously through better writers in an environment of isolation that was only 15 miles from the North Road from Anchorage. An environment that he starved to death in at the height of what is in Alaska the 'plentiful' season.
Romantics are genuinely the death of this country. Romantics like him. Romantics like leftists tearing down statues or setting up not-so-autonomous regions in the middle of cities. Romantics like trannies.
Don't be like McCandless. McCandless is loser. People who died trying to reach magic bus are ultra-losers.
Attractive nuisance!
There will soon be space available outside a museum in NYC
Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died.
I dropped off a hitchhiker on the short road he used but a year earlier.
I read the book many years ago. But I don't remember how the bus got out there in the first place. I've always wondered how someone could drive a bus out into the wilderness - especially one that didn't appear to be specifically built for off roading - and, yet, McCandless couldn't find a way back out. I don't remember now if he actually even tried.
There was a hand-operated tram across the river...one-half mile from the bus.
He killed a moose but did not know to preserve its meat.
His light pack contained 10 books. But few supplies.
He walk 15 miles down the river to the place where he had crossed months before, but the river was now too high to cross. He never tried again.
@AA
"Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died."
Death by consumption of 'wild potato'. You're right in that regard. That's definitely a 'famous first'.
> Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died.
Well, to be honest. It wasn't for the way he died, but for the fact that he came back from the dead.
"However, this is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle" so they should've just dismantled it, and buried the remains or sold it for scrap.
Better yet, they should have sold it to somebody who personally thought it was worth preserving and moving, and would therefore personally pay to move it - perhaps Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige.
"economical solution"
"Economical" is what I think when I see a gigantic helicopter carrying stuff.
Attractive nuisance!
Hey, that's my ex-wife you're talking about!
It's a story that has always bothered me. Intrigued me and bothered me. I've never had the urge to go follow his steps to the bus. But if you look at a map, it's out there. And if you read the book, the trek to get to that spot is out there. Doesn't matter if its 15 miles from a road to anywhere. What's that 15 miles like?
Anyway, I have a suggestion. Now that the bus has been removed. Why not send a cargo plane-load of statues that have been overturned and painted on to this area. Set them up like a Statue Park of formerly honored and/or famous and/or connected Americans that fell out of favor with The Left. Call it Antifa Park. Maybe, with a bit of luck, it'll attract some of the more creatively vicious Maoists out there. They can gather, dance around them, then look for berries to eat.
The bus should have been left in situ and State authorities should have given notice that they will not rescue any hikers in that area.
How isolated could this bus be? Someone had to drive it there in the first place and it isn't exactly an off-road vehicle.
Ann: thousands were crucified by the Roman empire. They are all so famous for it now!
Not only was that a wildly wrong statement -- to the point of trolling? -- but McCandless is famous for the extremity and single-mindedness of his vision and attempt, more than for the almost inevitable death. The death helped, but without the notebook, would that have attracted much attention?
Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died.
Jesus was famous for eating toxic food and getting sick and quitting eating?
the seeds contained 0.394% beta-ODAP by weight, a concentration well within the levels known to cause lathyrism in humans
How about...
Like Jesus, he's famous because people wrote about the way he died?
Still Wrong
the way Jesus died (executed by romans) made him a drop in a bucket (how many others were scheduled for execution by THOSE romans THAT day (2? Nope! THREE)
Jesus is famous because of the way he LIVED and CAME BACK to LIFE
Apparently, the bus was Darwinian.
"“However, this is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle that was requiring dangerous and costly rescue efforts, but more importantly, was costing some visitors their lives. I’m glad we found a safe, respectful and economical solution to this situation.”"
I can think of a zero cost way to resolve this situation, but it's too late now.
No no no... leave the bus! But put "BLM" and "CHOP ZONE" on it and let 'em come in mid December!!
Our Hostess is trolling again
THEOLDMAN
"Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died."
Never heard of magic bus guy before.
“ Belarus woman died trying to cross the Teklanika River to get to the bus,”
Do you have evidence she *self-identified* as a bus seeker?
However, this is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle that was requiring dangerous and costly rescue efforts, but more importantly, was costing some visitors their lives.
Don’t think of it as costing some visitors their lives. Think of it as evolution in action.
If only the bus had been a food truck, McCandless would be alive today.
“Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died.”
Breathtaking ignorance. You think crucifixion was *rare*?
I've never heard of this and it's a sad story. It sounds like the bus is mainly a danger for people that don't know how to handle themselves away from the city, which admittedly is most people. Fifteen miles isn't really that much. I mean, even without a trail, I don't see how it could take more than a day and a half to walk fifteen miles.
I realize the river is the real issue. When that water is up and moving fast there just isn't a safe way for one person on their own to get across. But if unknown is right and there was a hand operated tram across the river just a half mile away from McCandless, at that time, well then, that is just really sad. It sounds like he barely explored his surroundings.
And I'll bet he didn't have a map, or if he had a map he must have had a mistaken idea of where he was.
From Wiki: Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142 is an abandoned 1946 International Harvester K-5 that was parked in a clearing along the Stampede Trail near Denali National Park. It was originally one of a few buses used by the Yutan Construction Company to provide remote accommodations for the construction crew from Fairbanks that worked on road upgrades in 1960–1961. The bus engine was removed and it was instead towed by Caterpillar D8 bulldozers. It contained beds and a wood-burning stove, which still remain today. When the Stampede Mine ceased operations in the 1970s, all but this one bus were removed from the trail. Bus 142 had a broken rear axle, which caused the crew to leave it behind. It then served as a backcountry shelter for hunters, trappers, and visitors until it was removed entirely in June of 2020.
Are the statues coming down "dangerous tourist attractions"?
Send the bus to Portland, SanFran, or NYC. They now have all these empty pedestals and that bus, so aptly representing the Spirit of Stupidity, would make an appropriate topping.
" that they will not rescue any hikers in that area.”
That’s right, get the authentic adventure.
"Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages..."
Why are the people rescued not charged for it?
Kai Akker said...
Ann: thousands were crucified by the Roman empire. They are all so famous for it now!"
Ann got up on the left side of the bed this morning and decided to troll her conservative commentators.
How did the bus come to rest in such a remote setting?
madAsHell said...
How did the bus come to rest in such a remote setting?
If I remember correctly it was puy there by the highway dept to be used as temporary housing for roadway workers back in early the 60s. It was fitted out with a stove and bunks. It couldn't be pulled away because on axel broke so they just left it.
McCandless seems to have been seeking death. His goal seems to have been, find the heart of "the wild" as a virtually naked, helpless being and just BE There. What would have come after that?
In contrast to such a suicide mission, the gospels strike you by how many times Jesus of Nazareth avoided the big confrontation and the risk of death. His hometown folk want to throw him off a cliff after he proclaims himself, but he manages somehow to get through the crowd and escape.
When his cousin John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus withdraws into Galilee. Later, when he hears of the decapitation of his John, he gets the heck out of there, sailing "to a lonely place."
After the Pharisees arrive to test him, he sails away across the Sea of Galilee. He repeatedly warns those he healed not to tell anyone. When he realizes the Jewish powers are now out for his blood, he stays far away, in towns next to the wilderness. All this to the point that even his brothers, who do not believe in him, tell him to stop hiding, come back out in public.
Only then does he head up to Jerusalem for the final conflict. In the garden, he prays for it not to happen.
Very different approach to the various risks of death. Very human, shrewd, careful and calculating at many moments along the way. Not much like the poor, foolish McCandless.
Has anyone read the Krakauer book? I liked his takedown of Greg Mortenson's phony Three Cups of Tea tale but haven't read any of his other work. I'm certainly not going to watch the movie because one Eddie Vedder song is one too many.
Stampede Mine ceased operations in the 1970s, all but this one bus were removed from the trail.
I kinda guessed it had something to do with mines - those guys often did some amazing stuff out in the middle of nowhere.
Old Alaskan mines.
For people looking for religious inspiration in all the wrong places, an old bus-cum-casket is as good a place as any. Hope it works out for them, but it's unlikely to be better than nothing. As we are occasionally reminded, that's a surprisingly high bar.
Wednesday greeneyed devil: Ann trolls you people every day. You thought you were influential in here right leaning posts. Y'all got all comfortable and western. She is just doing the whipsaw troll today. Surprise surprise surprise, she's been fucking with you people all along. Not to worry, sweetie... I sure she will once again lull you babies back into the comfort of your complacency.
Be sure to exit through the Althouse Gift Shop sponsored by Jeff Bezos. For every dollar you spend, Inga will sew a mask for Antifa.
Krakauer had an agenda and omitted a great many facts to tell the story he
wanted to tell. Not the first time he had done so, or the last to sell his books.
Althouse compares it to Jesus. Althouse, Krakauer, and McCandless all end of the road
losers.
I understand McCandless, if just a little bit.
In 1983, I was 23, and working for the summer in Canada's Yukon Territory. A city kid, looking for adventure and meaning, with a passing knowledge of "outdoorsy" skills -- canoeing, hiking, etc. I had hitchhiked throughout the north, and did a similar thing to McCandless: Headed off into the bush to spend the summer "on the land" away from "civilization". Years later, I read "Into the Wild" and said "Hey, that's me! Except for the dying part".
I understand McCandless' urges, but the difference is that I generally knew my limitations. It was easy to pretend that I was getting away from it all, when in reality I knew I had backup, had contact with people nearby (although also "removed" from civilization), and could get back to the nearest town in a few hours on foot.
But nature can and will kill you -- even those who think they're prepared. We were camped on the shores of a glacial-fed lake between Carcross and the BC border, and a couple of us decided to canoe out into the middle... and then, like the idiots we were, dumped the canoe because we were goofing around too much. Sunny day, warm arctic summer weather... and literally ICE cold water. We were about 1/4 mile off shore and I thought: "Huh. I could die out here. And if I don't make it back to shore, I will". No motor boats, no first responders, far enough away from any settlement that no-one would hear our cries for help, if we had decided to spend the energy screaming. It was a very long swim, partly because I wasn't a good swimmer. I could feel my limbs getting heavier and heavier, and the shore made no attempt to meet me half way.
You an easily get yourself into trouble without thinking, and it's even easier to believe that you're young, strong and blessed. McCandless was a fool, but I read it as him thinking he'd head out for a little while into the bush... then continue his meandering until he found a reason to stop. I've been a similar fool -- building makeshift rafts to float down the Yukon river is another of my idiot ideas: It sunk with us on it a few miles downstream -- but I survived. You're lucky until you aren't.
Some of us grow out of that phase. Some of us don't. Some of us die. I ended up starting a software business. Sort of a combination of all three...
Ann Althouse said...
Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died.
---------==========
well done Professora ... outshin(eola?)ing Brett Favre
"McCandless seems to have been seeking death." True, but according to the soteriology of the New Testament, isn't the whole meaning of Christ's life bound up in being the sacrifice that redeems the human race's Original Sin? Presumably, this is why the Cross has been the central image of Christianity since its earliest days. And possibly why martyrdom has been such an enduring part of Christendom since those days, as well.
McCandless was not a loser (Yes, I know, he killed himself...). In fact, he was rather accomplished, if I recall correctly. McCandless was a dreamer, a visionary, a stargazer...and, of course, a fool -- all very harmless things (Yes, except to himself...can we dispense with that now and go on?).
When I read his story in "Into The Wild" the singular thought that kept popping into my mind was something I've thought about no one else in my life: he was a special being, one not really made for this earth. Which is not to idealize him or glorify him. Hardly. It simply seemed that that is what he was. Some who read the book, who weren't immediately sifting the story through the "What an idiot this guy was" filter and could see no more than that, might understand what I'm talking about.
I was sorry to see him go but he was destined to go, I think. He was, to put it minimally and simplistically, an eccentric. I've always thought that God put eccentrics on this earth for the rest of us to savor, and I do that whenever I meet one. I savored the hell out of Chris McCandless.
Good Lord, what a bunch of Judgy-McJudgers here. So McCandless was a loser? Compared to what? The noble, got-with-the-program masses?
Chris McCandless was naive, a bit careless, but he was also courageous, kind, talented, inquisitive about the world, and certainly wasn't looking to put others in harm's way. He can be admired as well as criticized. A worthy subject for a very good and popular book. Eat that, winners. -willie
They didn't need the copter, they could have applied the dead whale solution. Brought to you by DuPont.
""Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages...”
I’m reading that this week. It’s as amazing to me as it was the first time I read it. But yeah, we are reliving the Middle Ages. I think it was Voltaire who said that history doesn’t repeat itself, but human nature does.
While I admire his sense of adventure and desire to live off the land and by his wits, I can't help but shake my head at his lack of preparedness. Nature is a bitch and will kill you without a second thought. I suppose that's part of the adventure, but it's best to prepare so you can move the odds more in your favor.
When I was at Denali several years ago I spoke with a ranger who lived along the Stampede Trail about McCandless. He was diplomatic but clear that he thought McCandless was a fool and he was sick and tired of having to rescue "pilgrims" who got themselves into trouble trying to get to the bus.
^^ I like what Johnula, Ice Nine, and robother wrote above. Thanks for allowing humanity in the discussion. The loser talk really bothered me. -willie
They should have blown it up....like a whale.
""What an idiot this guy was" filter and could see no more than that, might understand what I'm talking about."
I read the book when it came out and, yes, thought a lot about his idiocy. The thing is, though, that the one time that I got into trouble in the woods for a few hours, all that I thought about in my resting moments was my own idiocy. Every item on the Boy Scout checklist - take a partner, check the weather, don't go forward unless you know that you can get back out the way you came in." I hate to think that anyone would try to make something positive of that kind of lapse, let alone make a shrine of it. I think that the lesson to take away is to just follow the checklist.
"Romantics are genuinely the death of this country. Romantics like him. Romantics like leftists tearing down statues or setting up not-so-autonomous regions in the middle of cities. Romantics like trannies."
All is revealed. You are a giant asshole. -willie
Can't say that I blame the Alaskan authorities one bit. For instance look at the death count in Yosemite or many of the more accessible national parks. No matter how many lectures, signs, videos they play to warn people to stay on the trail if you are going to climb half dome, don't get into the fast running streams that will sweep you over the falls into the 200 foot drop below, people do it anyway and die. The death count is monotonous as is the banality of the deaths.
The park rangers have to clean up the bodies and fend off lawsuits from the idiots next of kin. So yeah, it was less grief in the long run to have the National Guard do a training mission to have the bus plucked and deposited some place for those looky loos to ogle and buy souvenirs and take selfies.
Airbus 1.
with-the-program masses?
Chris McCandless was naive, a bit careless, but he was also courageous, kind, talented, inquisitive about the world, and certainly wasn't looking to put others in harm's way. He can be admired as well as criticized. A worthy subject for a very good and popular book. Eat that, winners.
He may have been all those things. I never knew him personally, read the book, or saw the movie so I can't speak fairly about his personal character. What I know of him is just the basic story: A young man that went out into the wilderness alone, inexperienced, under equipped, and against the good advice of at least the person who drove him out there (and I imagine most likely several others too).
But to me he represents perhaps one of the biggest problems we have as a species, the well intentioned, well meaning young fool who gets swept up by his or her passions. Of course such people never mean harm. And in fariness McCandless himself didn't really initially cause harm beyond himself (unless you count the grief his loss caused by those who loved him I guess). But as this story indicates, other fools have died pointlessly trying to reach this bus because of his story. And lots of money and effort was spent resuing other fools attempting the same.
Young people are foolish, and we older folks can certain relate to that. But I really feel our modern culture romanticizes youthful foolishness a bit too much. Maybe it's unfair to call him a "loser", but he certainly isn't a person that should be idolized too much either.
--- True, but according to the soteriology of the New Testament, isn't the whole meaning of Christ's life bound up in being the sacrifice that redeems the human race's Original Sin? [robother]
Those are meanings later imposed, much later. He himself said he was sent to show people the kingdom of God. Jesus never said anything about "Original Sin." He said he was sent to show the way to eternal life, in the kingdom of God, the light over the darkness. That's as much theology as I can manage, myself.
I think part of your point was to establish that, although he did not seek death, Jesus was prepared for it and, as he tried several times to tell the disciples, the Scriptures required that he be killed by devilish men, and then return to the kingdom of God. I did not intend to say he was always avoiding the fatal moment; just that he didn't seek it, whereas it seems to me that McCandless was seeking it, directly or indirectly, consciously or unconsciously.
@willie Unknown: I can't admire McCandless, sorry. He seems to me the very epitome of poor judgment. Of foolishness over prudence and care. Life is too valuable to throw away.
>>He can be admired as well as criticized
That's pretty much my opinion. One of those sorts that missed being Great by that much. Or a lot. I read his scribblings and they aren't all that deep or meaningful or particularly well-written; typical angsty teenager stuff. If they'd been really good, his death would have seemed nobler, I guess. As it is, he did fairly well for himself, but got in over his head.
I didn't really buy the "poisoned potato" thing Krakauer promoted. I think McCandless died of rabbit starvation.
Every time I hear about the that useless little narcissistic loser I get pissed off.
Howard really is losing it. Ever been to Alaska, Howard?
In other news, btw:
ding ding ding ding
"Kakauer had an agenda and omitted a great many facts to tell the story he
wanted to tell. Not the first time he had done so, or the last to sell his books."
Agree wholeheartedly. I've read this book and Into Thin Air. After those two, I've never felt like reading another.
This story presents the same question as the one with the anorexic woman on TikTok. To what extent should the normal world make efforts or accommodations to protect mentally ill or otherwise vulnerable people from themselves?
This story presents the same question as the one with the anorexic woman on TikTok. To what extent should the normal world make efforts or accommodations to protect mentally ill or otherwise vulnerable people from themselves?
His light pack contained 10 books. But few supplies.
"Stupidity, for Dummies", the 10-volume set
I didn't read the book or see the movie. It does seem that he (Mr. McCandless) came to an unfortunate end, perhaps persuaded by the beauty of nature with a less-than-adequate appreciation for it's ruthlesness. He didn't hurt anyone but himself. You'd think that might be a lesson for those seeking to follow his trail- but we are talking about humans here.
I had to drive the highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks a few times when I lived there. Doing it in the winter was particularly scary; lots of places where, if you skidded off the road, you might not be found.
"Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died."
No. He's famous because he arose from the dead. Oh, and that miracles thingy.
"Wednesday greeneyed devil: Ann trolls you people every day. You thought you were influential in here right leaning posts. Y'all got all comfortable and western. She is just doing the whipsaw troll today. Surprise surprise surprise, she's been fucking with you people all along. Not to worry, sweetie... I sure she will once again lull you babies back into the comfort of your complacency.
Be sure to exit through the Althouse Gift Shop sponsored by Jeff Bezos. For every dollar you spend, Inga will sew a mask for Antifa."
If comments are moderated, why does this shit get through?
I can't admire McCandless, sorry. He seems to me the very epitome of poor judgment. Of foolishness over prudence and care. Life is too valuable to throw away.
It's been a while since I read the book but I was never impressed that that kid knew what he was doing.
I met a guy who was a bus driver in Denali Park a few years ago. He spent winters in Texas, might have been a teacher. His sister had a homestead not far from Denali. She lived there year around. That summer he was going to help her wire her cabin for electricity. She kept a pack of huskies and had done the Yukon challenge, which was then 500 miles. Now, it is The Yukon Quest and is 1,000 miles to Yellowknife.
That kid was not as tough as he thought he was. Not by a longshot. He was just a fool.
I liked Alaska a lot but it is nothing to disdain. It kills.
I even have an Alaska medical license. Thought about it. They get a lot of nuts up there. To get a medical license you have to be personally interviewed by a member of the Medical Board.
Almost bought a house in Homer.
Ann Althouse said...
Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died.
It's funny to think of your own great-greats burning you alive.
See Jordan Peterson youtube video.
Althouse compares McCandless to Jesus. Then she accuses Scott Adams of making a poor analogy.
Althouse, I like your blog but you are just chock-full of bad takes today.
Others who are famous for how they died:
Trayvon Martin
George Floyd
Ahmad Aubry
People who are not famous for how they died:
The 3 year old kid shot in Chicago this past weekend
Those victims of ISIS that were burned alive in cages
Makes you wonder what makes a person famous, doesn't it?
They get a lot of nuts up there.
As the Alaskan ladies like to say, the odds are good, but the goods are odd.
Blogger Skippy Tisdale said...
"Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died."
No. He's famous because he arose from the dead. Oh, and that miracles thingy.
McCandless roseth frometh doth graveth. Sean Penn has movie evidence he will live on forever. As for miracles, the boy has made a bus fly. Jebus couldn't never do that
He was a nice kid from Atlanta, a graduate of Emory. A good hobo who made it across country, tossed his car and burned his inherited money and lived off the land or worked to earn enough for his Alaska trip dream. His dream of self sufficiency. This broke down in a couple of ways self sufficiency wise. He eschewed maps and thus in the Spring flood did not know that there was a cable crossing less than a mile away down river. It is the little things that kill you in places like that. That and not reading his edible plant book carefully enough. After reading Tolstoy he determined that his life alone was not the right path and that is when he headed home and found the river un fordable.
"Like Jesus, he's famous because of the way he died."
I like when Professor talks about Jesus and the Bible.
Herbie pushed Tony from the Boys' Club roof
Tony thought that his rage was just some goof
But Herbie sure gave Tony some bitchen proof
Hey, Herbie said, Tony, can you fly?
But Tony couldn't fly--Tony died
I am Laslo.
This was an extremely inefficient way to get stupid people to put themselves in life-threatening situations. The Seattle CHOP appears to be a much more cost-effective way to achieve this. One can only hope that it is replicated in Madison and other progressive areas.
exempt from wearing masks
"People of color who have heightened concerns about racial profiling and harassment due to wearing face coverings in public."
https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/hhs/page/face-covering-directive
Liz W and Rachel D, you can breathe easy, yo.
Oh Jesus H.Christ in a basket of chicken. So now this farce with the face masks can be waved away if poc in Oregon feel afraid? What a fucking farce.
Exceptions:
Persons with health/medical conditions that preclude or are exacerbated by wearing a face covering.
Children under the age of 12. Children over the age of 2 but under the age of 12 are encouraged to wear face coverings but not required to do so.
Persons with disabilities that prevents them from using the face covering as described in this Directive. These persons must be reasonably accommodated to allow them access to goods and services.
People of color who have heightened concerns about racial profiling and harassment due to wearing face coverings in public.
McCandless was arrogant. Arrogant and wilderness don't match. Once you march past the end of the road into the underbrush nature tames you. Not the other way around.
The scouts got it right. Be prepared.
I read the book but it would never occur to me to go see that morbid and depressing landmark if you can call it one.
Post a Comment