Photo: www.artofmanliness.com
It turns out the old 1946 Fairbanks City bus abandoned in a clearing on the Stampede Trail near Denali National Park, Alaska, has become a milestone for adventurers. The old vehicle became famous ever since the real-life tragic adventure of Christopher McCandless was chronicled into a book and later turned into a movie. The story revolves around the main character’s failed attempt to live off the harsh Alaska land, ultimately dying of starvation. The bus was the 24-year old’s last home.
In case you saw Sean Penn’s movie adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 1996 non-fiction book called “Into the Wild” you’ll want to know now you can actually walk on the same path the main character went through until he ended up trapped in the abandoned bus.
He hitchhiked to the Stampede Trail in Alaska and from there headed the snow-covered trail to begin an odyssey with only 10 pounds of rice, .22 caliber rifle, several boxes of rifle rounds, a camera, and a small selection of books.
He survived for almost 120 days into the wild
McCandless survived for approximately 119 days in the Alaskan wilderness, foraging for edible roots and berries, shooting an assortment of game - including a moose- and keeping a journal. Although he planned to hike to the coast, the boggy terrain of summer proved too difficult and he decided instead to camp in the abandoned bus.
In July, he tried to leave, only to find the route blocked by a snow-melt swollen river, which was tragically unfortunate as there was a hand-powered tram just upstream. The cause of death is still disputed, but starvation is most likely.
Problem is, ever since McCandless’s story become popular, the bus is slowly degrading as more and more people are taking the same trip and are ruining it. Some people even tear parts from it and take them away.
We don’t know about you, but this vehicle definitely qualifies for one of the world’s best story-telling vehicles.
Let us give you a heads up here
After graduating in May 1990 with high grades from Emory University, McCandless ceased communicating with his family, gave away his college fund of $24,000 to a charity, and began traveling across Western United States. Two years later, the young adventurer decided to take a dangerous trip through the wild Alaska.He hitchhiked to the Stampede Trail in Alaska and from there headed the snow-covered trail to begin an odyssey with only 10 pounds of rice, .22 caliber rifle, several boxes of rifle rounds, a camera, and a small selection of books.
He survived for almost 120 days into the wild
McCandless survived for approximately 119 days in the Alaskan wilderness, foraging for edible roots and berries, shooting an assortment of game - including a moose- and keeping a journal. Although he planned to hike to the coast, the boggy terrain of summer proved too difficult and he decided instead to camp in the abandoned bus.
In July, he tried to leave, only to find the route blocked by a snow-melt swollen river, which was tragically unfortunate as there was a hand-powered tram just upstream. The cause of death is still disputed, but starvation is most likely.
The bus is now a touristic attraction
The bus found its way to this location via the Yutan Construction Company which used 3 old buses to transport their crews from Fairbanks to the construction site in 1961, Road Trippers reports. After one of the axels broke, the bus was abandoned and became a place where many hunters, trappers and rangers would occasionally use it for shelter.Problem is, ever since McCandless’s story become popular, the bus is slowly degrading as more and more people are taking the same trip and are ruining it. Some people even tear parts from it and take them away.
We don’t know about you, but this vehicle definitely qualifies for one of the world’s best story-telling vehicles.
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