musiqsoulman
Tourist
Reged: 10/18/05
Posts: 4
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Christopher McCandless died here, on August 1992, on the Stampede Trail in the Denali national Park, near Nealy, Alaska.
He died of Starvation, after surviving around this abandoned Bus.
Bus's coordinates should be these: 63D51'58"N 149D44'00"W.
If you wish to read more about this story, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_McCandless
Edited by musiqsoulman (10/06/06 08:04 PM)
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Hill
Master Guide
Reged: 10/31/04
Posts: 9202
Loc: Southern California
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It's always good to leave a link, like this , for example. Remember that there are almost 525,000 people signed up to this BBS (and over 100,000,000 copies of GE downloaded). Many don't know why a person, place, or event is posted here without a little help. A link will help them.
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Ben_Wearn
First Post
Reged: 07/11/06
Posts: 1
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I recommend modifying the placement of the Chris McCandless placemark, as the position mentioned in the first post is off by 12 miles.
A position of 63D51'58"N 149D44'00"W would be much more accurate; this should be within 1/2 mile of the bus.
Although I haven't been to the bus, I'm certain the coordinates 64N 150W are only approximately correct. The confluence.org website notes that the bus is "within a few miles" of 64N150W. Working from a map that appeared in "Into the Wild" and the descriptions in the book, it is very clear that the bus is along the Stampede trail (visible in roads layer) near the intersection of two smaller streams just before the Sushana river.
Modifying the first placemark will avoid placement of duplicate placemarks.
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musiqsoulman
Tourist
Reged: 10/18/05
Posts: 4
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Thanks for the advices, done it.
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4FRNFR
Tourist
Reged: 11/01/05
Posts: 2
Loc: ALASKA
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Christoper McCandles was no Alex Supertramp.
He died of stupidity, and not starvation.
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bruce23
First Post
Reged: 03/21/08
Posts: 1
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Why didn't Christopher find the tram just south of where he couldn't cross the river but rather go back to the bus for about another 42 days and reportedly not try again? It seems like he didn't want to leave the bush eventhough right after he got back from not being able to cross he recorded he was so scared, lonely, depressed etc. There is no further mention of him trying to leave rather he decided to stay at the bus. I am sure this is baffling to anyone with a stable mindset. It seems like he committed suicide and I see many others agree. Hollywood has only sensationalized the story to sell it as it often does. To me this is just a sad story stemming from a past of personal and family problems. At least the movie showed how painful and sad it was for him in the end because I think that really did represent his mindset (full of pain and suffering that he was trying to cleanse but couldn't. Oh, unless like in the movie that moment there in his last breath hugging his parents is considered an overcoming of all his emotional problems etc.). Of course, just a moment after that he would hopefully have gone to heaven anyway and all his pain gone as well.
.
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dannybuntu
First Post
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 1
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How did the bus get there anyway?
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jennychic
Tourist
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 17
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Good question, the terrain seems a bit rough for the bus
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Motorhome rental USA
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Fairlane500
Tourist
Reged: 09/10/07
Posts: 131
Loc: New London
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Often vehicles seem to make their ways to remote locations for long-forgotten reason. Perhaps its story is similar to an abandoned 1920's Greyhound Scenic Cruiser on Tiger Mountain in Washington State. The bus was driven deep into the woods as a logging camp many years ago, and left to sit for many years following the end of logging.
If only the bus had left behind a journal just as its occupant had...
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"Now I can't see, I just stare."
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Hill
Master Guide
Reged: 10/31/04
Posts: 9202
Loc: Southern California
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A topographic map of the area shows a dirt road on which all three placemarks posted about the bus are located. The road may have been in better condition when the bus was originally left there.
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AterDraco
First Post
Reged: 04/07/08
Posts: 1
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Three buses were skidded in behind industrial logging equipment in the 50s. They were put there by a company trying to turn the Stampede Trail into a road. They quickly realized that the runoff made the area too difficult to build a road. When they pulled out they left the bus. Whether the two other buses are still there or not I do not know. They gutted the buses, put in bunks and a woodstove and food stocks for workers who got caught out in the wilderness during inhospitable weather.
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Mikey2
First Post
Reged: 04/07/08
Posts: 1
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I hope that people finding this entry realize that prior to the short and intrinsically shallow movie about such a complex and speculative circumstance, that it was based on a bestselling and well-researched book on the subject, which delves much deeper into the circumstances of the tragedy.
John Krakauer (the author) theorized that he was essentially poisoned by eating the seeds of Hedysarum alpinum, or "Eskimo Potato" (or at least the mold thereof) in an already weakened state. This poisoning precluded any possibility of a "second attempt." Although unlike the movie, his conclusions are more opaque, as befitting the true story.
That said, I actually agree and find it likely that it was some combination of suicidal despair and ignorance, although of a more complex yet common nature, such as those who purposely engage in dangerous activities such as extreme sports in order to both denounce and reaffirm their existence.
Regardless, the last moments are still just speculation. Thus it vexes me to see so many people pass judgment prior to knowing many of the fascinating and surprisingly universal aspects of his humanity, even if in the end his actions could be justifiably condemned.
I know this is not the place for a literary/philosophical argument. But seeing this Google Earth entry struck an intense personal emotional reaction. I write this to the others who feel the same way, and to plead to the rest to try to understand on a level more than a Hollywood synopsis.
...Besides, I do not think that casting "judgment" is the point at all...
MikeY
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Stevenpg
First Post
Reged: 09/21/08
Posts: 1
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Very interesting as I flew over the bus this last June on a photo mission for NASA. I have pictures of the bus from overhead and it appears to be in the same condition/position as the movie. I will share images to anyone that would like them.
Thanks,
SPG
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Hill
Master Guide
Reged: 10/31/04
Posts: 9202
Loc: Southern California
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You can attach them to your post by first putting them online and then linking to their url there. You can use ImageShack, PhotoBucket, or any of a variety of other free services.
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