Behind “Into the Wild”: what the Alaska State Troopers found in Bus 142

Chris McCandless’s Fatal 113-Day Alaskan Bus Ordeal

In 1992, Chris McCandless gave up his normal life for a wild dream. After college, he gave away $24,000 and hit the road with no plan.

By April, he made it to Alaska with just rice, a rifle, and a few books. He hiked 28 miles through snow to an old bus near Denali Park, where he tried to live off the land.

For 113 days, he hunted small game and wrote in his journal. When he tried to leave in July, a swollen river blocked his path.

By September, hunters found his body. He had starved to death at 24.

The story of Bus 142 draws thousands to Denali each year, where his brief, bold adventure still echoes through the wilderness.

He Ditched His Privileged Life for Alaska’s Wilderness

Christopher McCandless left his cozy Virginia life in 1990 after finishing college at Emory. He gave his $24,000 savings to charity and hit the road with no home.

By April 25, 1992, he got to Fairbanks, Alaska after driving the Alaska Highway. He spent two days at the local university buying supplies and learning about edible plants.

Chris bought a plant guide, sent his last postcards to friends, and packed just 10 pounds of rice, a . 22 rifle with bullets, books, and basic camping gear.

The Last Ride Nearly Turned Him Back

Jim Gallien, a local electrician, picked up Chris hitchhiking on April 28, 1992.

During their three-hour drive to Stampede Trail, Gallien worried about Chris’s chances of living through his trip. He saw Chris lacked proper gear and seemed unprepared for Alaska’s tough conditions.

Gallien tried talking him out of his plan and pointed out the dangers. Chris ignored these warnings and insisted on going.

Gallien left him at the trailhead, thinking he’d never see the young man alive again.

An Abandoned Bus Became His Home

Chris hiked 28 miles west along the snowy Stampede Trail near Denali National Park. On May 1, 1992, he found Fairbanks City Transit Bus 142 sitting by the Sushana River.

Road workers left it there in 1961 after breaking an axle. Chris wrote “Magic Bus Day” in his journal and made the bus his camp.

The old vehicle gave him shelter from Alaska’s harsh weather. He put his few things inside and settled into his wilderness home.

Early Hunting Boosted His Confidence

Chris had some luck hunting small game in his first weeks at the bus. He shot porcupines, squirrels, birds, and geese for food.

He gathered wild plants and berries to add to his meals. His first bird kill on May 5, 1992 made him feel good.

His journal from this time showed hope about his wilderness trip.

He took many photos of himself doing daily tasks, looking thin but healthy and happy with his outdoor life.

A Moose Hunt Turned Into Disaster

Chris shot a large moose near the bus on June 9, 1992. What should have been plenty of food quickly became a problem.

Chris didn’t know how to keep all that meat fresh. Within days, the moose meat spoiled in the warmer summer weather.

Flies and maggots covered the rotting meat, making it unsafe to eat. Chris later wrote that killing the moose was one of the worst things that happened in his life.

Rising Waters Trapped Him in the Wild

In early July 1992, Chris tried going back to town but found his path blocked. The Teklanika River he easily crossed in April now rushed with summer snowmelt and rain.

On July 5, he wrote that frozen beaver ponds had become lakes and the river looked too dangerous to cross. Chris went back to Bus 142 on July 8, knowing he was stuck.

His journal showed growing worry about his situation and less food as summer went on.

Wild Potato Seeds Proved Fatal

Around June 24, 1992, Chris started eating roots of the wild potato plant. By July 14, he began eating the plant’s seeds in bigger amounts.

Photos show him with bags full of these seeds. He mixed this with mushrooms, berries, and small game.

Chris didn’t know these seeds had a toxic substance that stops proper protein use in the body. This food choice likely led to his death.

His Body Grew Too Weak to Stand

Chris wrote his most scary journal entry on July 30, 1992: “EXTREMELY WEAK. FAULT OF POT. SEED. MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. STARVING. GREAT JEOPARDY.”

His health got worse quickly as the toxic seeds harmed his body. Chris became too weak to hunt or go far from the bus.

He managed to kill five squirrels on day 105 but missed chances for bigger animals. His body started using itself for food as he starved during his final weeks alone.

A Desperate SOS Note Went Unanswered

On August 12, 1992, Chris taped a plea for help on the bus door. The note read: “I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out of here. I am all alone, this is NO JOKE.”

That same day, he went out to get berries, writing “Beautiful Blueberries” as his last journal entry on day 107. Days 108-112 showed only marks in his journal, with nothing on day 113.

Chris tore a page from a book and wrote his goodbye message.

His Final Message Showed No Regrets

McCandless’s last written words read: “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD.” He took a final self-portrait showing himself waving goodbye, looking severely emaciated.

Chris likely died in mid-August 1992, about two weeks before his body was found. His weight had dropped to just 67 pounds from his normal 140 pounds.

Starvation after 113 days in the Alaskan wilderness was listed as the official cause of death on his certificate.

Moose Hunters Found His Body Inside Bus 142

Three moose hunters seeking shelter came across McCandless’s body on September 6, 1992. They found Chris wrapped in a sleeping bag inside Bus 142, surrounded by his few possessions.

Alaska State Troopers recovered his journal, photographs, rifle, and personal items. His death sparked decades of debate about the toxic effects of wild potato seeds and wilderness survival.

Jon Krakauer later told Chris’s story in his bestselling book “Into the Wild,” which became a 2007 film directed by Sean Penn.

Visiting Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

You can explore Christopher McCandless’s story at several places near Denali National Park.

The original Bus 142 where he lived is currently in storage, but you can see a replica at 49th State Brewing in Healy at Mile 248. 5 Parks Highway.

The University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks will display the real bus in summer 2025, though you can view it online now. Denali Park entrance costs $15 per adult.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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