The Alaska Into the Wild Abandoned Bus
Stampede Trail, Healy, AK 99743
An abandoned historical site – (moved to an undisclosed location in June 2020)
The story of Chris McCandless inspired the movie Into the Wild
The Magic bus, as Chris McCandless named it, is more than an abandoned bus. It is a historical place where Chris perished in 1992, but it is not a place of sadness. The bus represents freedom, adventure, happiness and peace. The story of Chris McCandless is remarkable and there are many websites and articles to give justice to Chris’ story, not to mention a feature length movie “Into the Wild”. In 1992, after making his way to Alaska, Chris ventured “into the wild” on the Stampede Trail with a minimum amount of rations and supplies. After 100 days Chris succumbed to starvation and died sometime around August 18, 1992 on the bus. It is commonly agreed that Chris embarked on his adventure to find enlightenment. He carried only minimal material possessions, because “it made the journey more enjoyable.” (wikipedia)
For more information on the Christopher McCandless story check out:
But what about the famed Fairbanks bus #142 a 1946 International Harvester K-5.
- How did it get there?
- Why is it abandoned?
- Why do so many people want to see it?
- How do you get there?
The Stampede Trail
The former location of The Bus….Healy, AK
The Stampede Trail began back in 1903 as a mining trail blazed by prospectors drawn to the Kantishna region by the discovery of placer gold. Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. In 1960, Yutan Construction won a contract to upgrade the trail as part of Alaska’s Pioneer Road Program. The upgrade allowed trucks to haul ore from the mines year-round to the railroad, but there were no bridges built over the several rivers the road crossed. In 1963 improvements were halted and the road was rendered impassable to large vehicles by soft permafrost and seasonal flooding.
Today the trail is used by backcountry travelers on foot, bicycle, dog sleds, snowmobiles, and ATVs. The trail’s main difficulty is crossing of the Teklanika River. With spring thaw and flooding, the river level fluctuates making fording impossible at certain times of the year. Many people each year are rescued and or die trying to reach the bus.
The bus could be hiked to, but, hiking to the bus was discouraged unless you are very experienced. People would die every year in pursuit of experiencing the bus.
The replica bus used in the movie Into the Wild, it is now in the yard of the 49th State Brewing Company. It is located in the town of Healy, Alaska, just 10 miles from the entrance of Denali National Park.
Fairbanks Bus #142
Why was it Abandoned?
The Magic Bus, as Chris McCandless named it, is an old Fairbanks City Transit System Bus #142. It is a 1946 International Harvester K-5. The Yutan Construction Company in 1960, brought several buses to the trail for the construction workers to use for shelter in the remote location. The buses were outfitted with wood burning stoves and beds which are still there today. Bus 142’s engine was removed and was towed to the location. When work at the Stampede mines was shut down in the 1970s the buses were cleared from the trail. Bus 142 had a broken rear axel (wikipedia) and was left for use as refuge for back country campers.
Why did people trek to the bus?
In 1993, author Jon Krakauer published an article in Outside Magazine titled “Death of an Innocent” describing the death of Christopher McCandless. In 1996, Krakauer wrote the book Into the Wild, an expansion of his 1993 article. McCandless has become something of a cult hero to people who make the pilgrimage to see the bus and his place of death. For people the journey becomes a search of moral or spiritual significance and visit for their own enlightenment. Chris McCandless’ sister has said that even if the bus was moved to a more accessible location, it wouldn’t matter, people would still go to the location and erect a shrine in its place. Many people feel a connection to Chris and want to connect with his spirit and what they consider a sacred location.
How to get to the bus (moved in June 2020)
Thousands of people have made the trek on the Stampede Trail to the bus. It is not an easy hike through the Alaskan wild. There are many sites with tips, information and directions
Check out this website for some good information on reaching where the bus was: ChristopherMcCandless
Amazon Links
Abandonedexplorers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Etsy -The Experiment Lab
Check out my Etsy shop for cool handcrafted items.
