An abandoned bus in the Alaska wilderness where a young man documented his demise over 114 days in 1992 has been removed by officials, frustrated that the bus has become a lure for dangerous, sometimes deadly pilgrimages into treacherous backcountry.

An Alaska National Guard Chinook helicopter flew the bus out of the woods just north of Denali National Park and Preserve on Thursday.

Christopher McCandless hiked to the bus located about 250 miles (402 kilometres) north of Anchorage nearly three decades ago, and the 24-year-old Virginian died from starvation when he couldnB次元官网网址檛 hike back out because of the swollen Teklanika River. He kept a journal of his plight, discovered when his body was found. McCandlessB次元官网网址� story was first documented in Jon KrakauerB次元官网网址檚 1996 book B次元官网网址淚nto the Wild,B次元官网网址� followed by Sean PennB次元官网网址檚 movie of the same name in 2007.

Over the years, the bus became a magnet for those wishing to retrace McCandlessB次元官网网址� steps to the bus to pay homage. But the Teklanika River that prevented McCandless from hiking out also has caused problems for people who came later on pilgrimages. Two women, one from Switzerland in 2010 and one from Belarus in 2019, drowned on such pilgrimages.

State officials said there have been 15 other search-and-rescue operations since 2009, including one involving five Italian tourists last winter, one with severe frostbite.

B次元官网网址淲e encourage people to enjoy AlaskaB次元官网网址檚 wild areas safely, and we understand the hold this bus has had on the popular imagination,B次元官网网址� Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Corri A. Feige said in a statement. B次元官网网址淗owever, this is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle that was requiring dangerous and costly rescue efforts, but more importantly, was costing some visitors their lives.B次元官网网址�

In Alaska, the Department of Natural Resources is responsible for protecting and preserving state land.

B次元官网网址淚 was stunned when Commissioner Feige informed me,B次元官网网址� Carine McCandless, ChristopherB次元官网网址檚 sister, said in an email to The Associated Press. B次元官网网址淭hough I am saddened by the news, the decision was made with good intentions, and was certainly theirs to make. That bus didnB次元官网网址檛 belong to Chris and it doesnB次元官网网址檛 belong to his family.B次元官网网址�

The 1940s-era bus, sometimes called B次元官网网址淏us 142B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淭he Magic Bus,B次元官网网址� was used to house employees by the Yutan Construction Co. when it built an access road about 25 miles west of the Parks Highway, the main thoroughfare between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The National Guard named ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 bus lift B次元官网网址淥peration Yutan.B次元官网网址�

The bus was abandoned in 1961 and had become an emergency shelter for those using the backcountry to recreate or hunt.

B次元官网网址淪eeing those photos of Fairbanks 142 flying out of the bush triggered a flood of complicated emotions for me,B次元官网网址� Krakauer said in an email to the AP.

Krakauer said he respects the decision to remove the bus, B次元官网网址渂ut some powerful history is attached to that old bus. A great many people care deeply about what happens to it.B次元官网网址�

For now the bus is being kept in a secure, unnamed location while the department decides what to do with it, Feige said. A release from the Alaska National Guard said the discussion includes B次元官网网址減ossible plans to display the bus for the public to view at a safe location.B次元官网网址�

The guard said its air crew also is safekeeping a suitcase that holds sentimental value to the McCandless family. Officials didnB次元官网网址檛 detail what was in the suitcase.

Mark Thiessen And Becky Bohrer, The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation