Chris McCandless Bus 142 Theft: Alaska Department of Natural Resources Responds

I have finally recieved a response from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.  The  information in question regards the recent thefts that have occured on Bus 142–the bus where Chris McCandless died in the Alaska wilderness.

This letter is pretty interesting and does answer all of the questions that I raised concerning this issue.  Publicly, I would like to thank Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources on their response in this matter and for the fast reply. 

Now the letter in full:

Jason,

Your request for information on Bus 142 was forwarded to me.  Thanks for your offer of information on the identity of the person who sold a part of the bus on ebay.  There have been articles in Alaskan papers that identify this individual, so we probably don’t need any additional information.  If we do, we’ll get in touch with you.

Following are answers to  your questions:

Since this bus was abandoned, does the Department of Natural Resources now have owner jurisdiction? 

Yes, it is now State property, since it has been abandoned on State property for more than 40 years. 

If so, if someone happened to steal a piece of the bus and sell it, would that not constitute theft from the DNR? 

Technically, since the bus is State property, any vandalism of the bus is a criminal offense.  However, DNR is not actively pursuing any prosecution at this time.

By the way, has traffic picked up in the area of the bus since “Into the Wild” was released?

Travel to the site does not require any permits from DNR.  Therefore, we do not have any data that would indicate that traffic has increased.  Certainly, public awareness of the Chris McCandless story and the bus has increased with the release of the movie. It would not be surprising if the traffic did indeed pick up. 

Do you guys have any future plans for the bus?

 As you know, there are a variety of opinions on what should happen to the bus.  Some believe that it should be moved to Healy in an effort to prevent future travelers from experiencing accidents in their quest to reach the bus.  Others believe that the bus should not be moved.  To date DNR has not received any requests for action regarding the bus.  The current policy is that DNR will not move the bus.  If DNR receives a request for purchase or removal of the bus, DNR will process the request through a public process, where the public has an opportunity to provide input.

Gary Shultz
Natural Resource Manager
Division of Mining, Land and Water

So, there we have it.  Alaska’s DNR does own the bus.  Vandalism to the bus is a criminal offense.  And no charges are being sought…

End of story?  Possibly.  I am personally still a bit curious on how a crimminal offense can occur–yet no charges be filed.

What are your opinions on this matter? 

It is also mentioned that the DNR must recieve a complaint about the bus or a prospective buyer in order for actions to be taken to remove the bus.  At this time, neither have occured.

As it sits now, the bus will stay exactly where it is at.  I am sure this controversy will continue on concerning Bus 142, but hopefully something will be done before it is to late.

Chris McCandless: Bus 142 Theft Gets Deeper…Sean Penn Chimes In

Update:  Click Here For Alaska DNR’s Response 

I have recently been covering an interesting story regarding some items that have mysteriously shown up on Ebay.  Those items of note, an instrument panel and a piece of mattress, were taken out of Bus 142 on the Stampede Trail, the same bus that Chris McCandless, the man behind the story “Into The Wild, died in.

It seems I have not been alone in this enquirey.  You may know that I have tried to contact the Alaska DNR on this subject, as the bus lies on a DNR property outside of Fairbanks, Alaska.  My question was “Is this an act of theft?”

The person in question, who represented these items on Ebay, Mr. Kasey Cory, has stated that he had only taken the items in an effort to “clean up” the area, and put them up on Ebay in order to stir a bit of controversy.  Now it seems like his controversy may have been taken to far.

In Friday’s addition of the Anchorage Daily News there is an article on what has been taken place surrounding Mr. Cory, the community, and the local and state authorities.

The community says that the bus needs to go.  The State says that charges could be filed against Mr. Cory pending an investigation, and Mr. Cory–well, he still has no idea as to what he has done wrong.

To make matters worse, Sean Penn, the producer of the newly released movie version of “Into the Wild”, has stated that he recently made his own trip back out to the bus and noticed that another theft had occured.  Someone had stolen the pair of boots that were found in the bus with Mr. McCandless upon his death, and replaced them with a pair of their own.

The community says their concern comes with the fear of someone else dying or being injured out there, while trekking to the bus.  They are also noticing a mixed breed of trekkers trying to share in Chris’ story.   One individual has camped out on the Stampede Trail, with a bag of rice in tow, and refused any assistance from the community or authorities.

I personally think that as Chris’ infamous legend begins to expand and become that of mythic proportions–as we all know it will–that only more people will try to venture forth and trek to that bus.

The DNR and the State of Alaska have stated that if enough complaints come in, they will be more than willing to get rid of the bus–but first they have to get a claim of ownership, of which they have not done at this time.

In Alaska, it seems as if this story is actually bigger than the movie itself–Daily headlines have been pouring forth and attention is growing in this story.

I do find it quite interesting that a reader here at The Adventurist, Carol Falcetta–who I featured on a previous post for her nice photography of the famed Bus 142, has made a comment that she has been looking forward to seeing “Into the Wild” but can’t find it on a screen in Fairbanks.  Two miles from the famed Bus 142 where Chris McCandless died.  She is not alone though, this week the movie that has been garnering major acclaim has only opened in 135 theaters nationwide–leaving many of us to believe “what is the hold up?” .  Knowing Mr. Penn, he is probably trying to build a slow following for this movie leading up to the Oscars–just a guess.

Chris McCandless: Piece of Mattress From Bus 142 Also Put Up On Ebay

Update:  Click Here to Read Alaska DNR Response 

So I mentioned the piece from The Outside Blog yesterday regarding the instrument cluster from Bus 142–that Chris McCandless was found dead in, in 1992.  Now comes a more morbid item.

 

A piece of cloth from the mattress that Chris died on.  The seller, who happens to be the same person who sold the instrument cluster for $177.50, has stated that these items were taken on a “cleaning” expedition for the trail that he went on.

I have one question.  If it were a “cleaning” expedition, shouldn’t these items be in the trash and not at the sellers house?  If they were “trash”, then why are they on Ebay?  The seller is trying not to draw to much attention to these items by claiming he was only there to clean the area…yet he came home with items that he specifically was marketed as the “Into the Wild” movie has hit the big screen.  Sound like a person only out to help clean up the environment?  Yeah, not to me either.

I did contact Denali National park about the first item.  They told me that they have no jurisdiction over the area, as the Stampede Trail lies two miles outside of Denali National Park.  They have put me in touch with the Department of Natural Resources, though, in Alaska.  I am still awaiting word from them at this time.

To myself, this is plain and simple theft.  The perpetrator is trying to cash in on an unfortunate situation..and he is undoubtably drawing more attention to himself.

I now have the guys name and hometown, along with the ads for the two items and the photos of the bus and the matress ect..as proof.  This information will be given to the DNR, and hopefully something good will come out of this.

My intention lies in the fact that this seller is keeping the money and cashing in on something that doesn’t belong to him.  The matter of the bus on the Stampede Trail should be a DNR issue.  If anyone cashes in, it should be the DNR and the Alaskan Park system…not some Bozo that seen dollar signs with anything he could grab out of the bus.

The piece of mattress for sale had an asking price of $20.  No one bid.  The auction closed with no bidders.  Seems like a few people have noticed the same thing–

I will keep you updated as I dig a bit deeper. 

Chris McCandless: Piece of “Into the Wild” Bus Sold on Ebay

Update:  Click Here For Alaska DNR’s Response 

Bus 142, the famed place where Chris McCandless was found dead in 1992, has become a rite of passage for many people venturing into the Alaskan outback.  Many people want to sense the myth and the tragedy that became famous in Jon Krakauer’s “Into the Wild”, that is currently in release as a major motion picture.

Along with fame and myth comes the people looking to capitalize on the situation.  In 2007, Bus 142 still lies where McCandless was found.  The bus has been untouched, albeit a bit more rusty.

In a controversial move that has been highlighted on todays Outside Blog a recent trekker to the bus came home with a piece of infamous history–then decided to sell it on Ebay.

The seller, simply known by his Ebay name of kcmtbike, has recently posted and sold the whole instrument panel from the famed bus for the amount of $177. 50

This brings up many questions of both legality and morality when it comes to items like this. 

First off, the new movie was released just two weeks ago.  The attention is there to capitalize on the situation.  The legality factor, to me, should be a noted item since the bus had been left abandoned in the National Park, thus it should now be the property of the park.  On a moral issue, it just isn’t right to capitalize on a tragedy such as Chris McCandless.

The National park service has actually been contemplating pulling the bus out of the park because of all the attention and people that embark on finding this piece of tragic history.

On a note to the question of why someone would do such an act, the seller had this to say (as posted on Ebay and The Outside Blog): Read more