Chris McCandless: Piece of “Into the Wild” Bus Sold on Ebay
October 6, 2007
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):
I cannot disagree with everything you mention in this comment. The story is sacred to many people and the bus plays a part in the story. This area is sacred to me, along with many other areas of wilderness, one of the reasons I spend so much time in the backcountry. The sacredness is not apparent to me as any one event/tragedy or in physical objects as these are all subjective (although so is any other interpretation, such as my own); it is more a combination of many things, some of which cannot be communicated between individuals and are not equitable between persons. As for a permission/right for a particular action, I am honestly not sure which is correct in this situation; legality does not appear to be an issue, morality might. Capitalization on this event (certainly a tragedy to some, although the event would not have near the meaning to most had it not happened the way it did) is probably the main, if not only, reason that this topic is even in the consciousness of nearly everyone aware of what this is all about. Therefore, it is not as clear-cut as first appears. Intent for capitalizing on this story has even been used explicitly by Alaska tourism promoters (Visitors Bureau, Alaska Airlines, etc) in the local papers discussing courses of action. Incidentally, there is serious talk by the authorities of removal of the bus from out on the Stampede trail for numerous reasons, so much of the topic may become moot very soon. In the end, I understand some of how you feel the way you do, but feel you may be missing more of the broad picture and what McCandless was after in the first place. To be honest, my rational for this removal was that the bus and the area around it were becoming littered by material spread around by visitors and animals alike and in appreciation for the amount of effort undertaken by those who successfully make it out there (and those who don’t) some cleaning was in order. Judge me as you may. Thanks for the comment Kasey.
I am really sure this was all done in an effort to help beautify the park–if that were the case, he should have simply cleaned up the area that the National Park Service has claimed a nuisance around the bus. The many visitors have decided that this is also a nice place to lay down their trash–
What are your thoughts on the capitalization of the issue?
I am actually contemplating contacting the national park service over this to hear their views and if they are planning on taking any action against the seller for stripping part of the bus for his own gain.
In an unrelated item, if you would like to take a photographic tour of the famed Bus 142, click HERE for a photographic slideshow from photographer Carol Falceta.
Update: I have contacted authorities at Denali National Park about this incident and am awaiting a response. I have questioned the legality of this issue as well as a couple of other questions. Here is the letter I sent them:
Hey Guys, my name is Jason Hendricks. I run a website called The Adventurist that looks at Adventure Expeditions and Outdoor Recreation.
I am inquiring about an item I recently ran across concerning a piece of the famed Bus 142 along the Stampede Trail, being sold on Ebay.
My question is this. Since this bus was abandoned, does the National Park Service now have owner jurisdiction? If so, if someone happened to steal a piece of the bus and sell it, would that not constitute theft from the National Park Service? What are your feelings on this matter and will any actions be taken?
I do have more information that I would gladly provide concerning this event, including the Ebay Account name and photo of the item. The item in question is the Bus 142 instument panel. Send me an email and I will reply back with more details.
By the way, has traffic picked up in the area of the bus since “Into the Wild” was released? Do you guys have any future plans for the bus? Any information would be greatly appreciated on this matter.
Cheers-
Jason A. Hendricks
Editor
The Adventurist
Hopefully I will hear something back soon concerning this and can let all of you know how this will turn out.
What are your thoughts on this?
By the way, while researching exacly where the Bus 142 was located, I ran across a pretty nice description of the Stampede Trail, where the bus sits. A Denali Park Pilgrimage takes a look at the trail and the difficulties of getting to the bus in 2003, 11 years after McCandless was found dead. There are some nice photos of the region as well as a bit of info as to what exactly is in the bus now:
Today the bus is a shrine of sorts. There is a copy of Into the Wild there, as well as a bible, a notebook, the original Krakaur article that appeared in Outside magazine on Chris, plenty of first aid and survival gear such as rations and sleeping bags, and a plaque with Chris’s last words.
Should this bus be saved as a piece of history? A destination and focal point? Seems like many people are discovering Denali National Park because of this bus and Chris McCandless. For a National Park to look down on hikers making this pilgrimage, I thought it was a bit odd that the Denali National Park Homepage has a big banner advertisement, for what else? Into the Wild.
Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,From The Adventurist Vault:
Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Chris McCandless |
Jason,
My queston would be the legalityof DNP just leaving the abandond bus there fo so long when they knew it was there all along. Why was it lft there? And since they left it there, why the hassle over people making a pilgreamage to it? Are we to a point now that everyone has the right to just step in and say since you might not be a professional guid,hiker,climber, we must stepin and not let you do dangeous things like head out “Into The Wild?” Unfortunately, people will be people and lay waste to whatever area they walk, drve or inhabit. This will be an issue that will never go away. Do we now just close off all parks so tey are not disturbed and trashed? Do we try to educate more, have more severe punishments for littering?
I believe there may be sme moral wrong that this person has done by taking the item and selling it. First, it was no his nor do we even know at this stage who it belongs to. If we play out the whole compensating off of Chris’s tragedy, well, now we have a movie, Joh wrote an article in Outside about it and they all made money off it so wo is really in the wrong if anyone. Just random questions, not my moral position.
Thanks Jason for all the great info. I truly look forward to checking in everyday. It’s like having a great cup of coffee!
Lawrence Van Garrtt/NY
Well, here is a new fact I have just found out..haha. Bus 142 is not in Denali National Park, but rather a small area owned by the Department of Natural Resources in Alaska. Supposedly the bus was brought to the area in the 50’s and has been used as a sort of wilderness shelter ever since. As my article stated, there are medical supplies and basic emergency needs stashed in the bus. You have brought up some pretty good points. I have now contacted Alaska’s DNR on this issue and am awaiting a response. Denali National Park representatives were kind enough to send me in the right direction. They also have told me that they are contacted daily about the bus and that the movie has certainly given people more interest in the area. The Denali national Park entrance sits about 2 miles from the trail leading to the bus, hence the confusion. Will update once I get more information.
Thanks Jason. I also thoght that the bus was in DNP. Hmm. Man, I looked back at my post and notice letters missing in alot of words. Sorry, I was on my way out to bike and boulder and was in a hurry.lol
Thanks for all the information and your hard work.
Lawrence
Dear Mr. Hendricks,
I hope all is well with you and yours. Thank you for your efforts regarding this cause. Since discovering this listing on ebay and contacting national and alaskan new outlets last weekend I feel this story has caught some much needed wind in it’s sail. The more attention that can be drawn to Mr. Kasey Cory (kcmtbike) and his unjust act the better. I was extremely happy to read your well done piece.
Thank you,
Friday’s newscast:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kuac/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1160511§ionID=1
Here is another ebay listing by Mr. Cory that was not included in many of the AP news stories. A bit morbid.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Into-the-Wild-McCandless-mattress-remnant_W0QQitemZ290163634738QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290163634738
Pretty sad that someone is profiting off this story in this way. Considering the “cult” that has been build up around McCandless, they may want to consider pulling the bus out of there and and replacing it with a different shelter.
If I were McCandless’ family, I’d be pretty outraged by the whole affair.
I have actually heard that the DNR is considering doing just that. I have heard that this area has become a dumping ground of sorts from other hikers ect. Personally, I would really hate to see the bus go. The Bus, I am sure, actually lures in tourists for just a glimpse. To bad the DNR can’t do something to 1) save the bus and 2) somehow incorporate it into the current park system as an attraction, making it a protected part of the park. I am sure McCandless’ mystique will only continue to grow as the years pass and more people discover this story.
To Bernie: You have stated that the person who put this up on ebay is Mr. Kasey Cory. I find it interesting that on the Outside Blog a person by the name of “Amy” is laying claim to the items for sale..She is also claiming that if enough people email her with their thoughts, she will gladly take the items down. She said she had no idea that people were so passionate about Chris’ story…just another page to add to the confusion. Alot of people are commenting though on the Outside Blog about this, both for and against the Bus and Chris.
Hey thanks for the credit on my photos you have linked on your site. As for the bus being sold on ebay, I cannot say that it was or wasn’t but the Daily News Miner (Local Fairbanks paper) posted a few days back about the town folks wanting to move the bus so that people don’t go back there and end up like Chris did.
We haven’t seen the movie Into the Wild because the only movie theater in Fairbanks Alaska isn’t showing it, go figure!
~~Carol
Can the town legally do this? I have been told that this is a DNR property. To be quite honest, I do think that the bus will eventually be removed. Just a personal opinion, but I think people will and are beginning to look at this like it is a sacred voyage.
Carol, I linked to the photos because they are fantastic. I thought about asking for permission to use a couple of them, but the slide show format is definately more interesting than what I could have done. Beautiful photos. You do great work.
We have just finished watching the movie INTO THE WILD a little while ago. We had never even heard of his story before and immediately after watching the movie, we Googled Chris’ name and tried to find anything we could about him. We are absolutely shocked and appalled that someone would actually sink low enough to steal from what, to us, is like sacred ground. You have written a beautiful article and we think that it is wonderful that people are speaking up against what has been done.
We don’t believe that the bus should be moved, although that does seem like what will likely happen if people aren’t kept from trashing the place. We would love to see the area protected somehow from people who don’t have the integrity to leave it alone and respect it. The “Magic Bus” should be left as Chris found it and for the people who truly care to see for themselves. We want to see it one day and we want to see it exactly as Chris saw it. But in the world we live in, the world that Chris fled from, it’s possible that we won’t have that chance.
If there is anything that we can do to help preserve the area, then we would love to help. We find his story remarkable and it’s a shame that the whole world can’t be filled with the serenity and freedom that Chris found.
By looking at Chris’ story, I am not so sure about the ’serenity’ part. He died of starvation, begging to be helped. Was he a martyr for personal freedom? Perhaps many of us see a bit of Chris McCandless in our own lives, but are afraid to speak up or make the changes–Chris done what he wanted to do, but he died a harsh and painful death–Not sure what the lesson is.
I just watched the movie this weekend and was as moved as I was the first time I read the book. The project was a piece of magic, Sean Penns’ finest work. The outrage I feel toward the person or persons who have desicrated this piece of history cannot be expressed in words. The story of Chris and his inner battle to find himself will live forever and certiainly “touch” some of us who have had the temptation take a similar path. We all have our demons and Chris dealt with his as best he could. The remnants of the “Magic Bus” and the surrounding area should be left as is and protected by the DNR. To have tourists risking their lives for a piece of the bus is ludacris and dangerous. I’ve been to Alaska many times and been to similar areas. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can find yourself in trouble. For Chris and those before him, leave it be.
I believe we all have something inside of us bursting to get out. Maybe some of us never know because we are completely fufilled by the material things in life. I can honestly say I know exactly where Chris was coming from, he saw that everyone was so consumed with greed and the materialistic things in life. He needed to break free from that world and create something of his own, not to hurt anyone intentionally, but to create something for himeslf so beautiful and so profound it would be his legacy. In life and death we all have a story, it’s up to us how we tell it. Chris told his story the only way he knew how, he paid his life for it unfortunately, but with that he will live on in all of us FOREVER !!!!!
“Pretty sad that someone is profiting off this story in this way.”
But it is OK for Sean Penn and co. to profit off this story every other way? In the history of religion Saints and Holy men were always profited from in some sense - there are Cathedrals in Europe with Saints’ fingers, skulls, etc. If Kraukauer and Penn hadn’t set about to make Chris into a modern day Jesus, people wouldn’t be picking pieces off the Bus to sell on eBay. With the way he’s been mythologized in the movie I’d be surprised if the bus wasn’t stripped bare by the end of summer. To be honest, I’m surprised more of it hasn’t been going on already.
For those that idolize Chris, please keep in mind that there is absolutely no evidence pointing to his death being caused by anything other than starvation due to lack of knowledge, equipment, and supplies. It’s a sad, tragic story but beyond the lessons of lack of preparation and the danger of hubris, I’m not sure what else there is to be learned.
It is nice to see from his last words and last picture that he seemed to be at peace, and had accepted the inevitable, but it’s really no different than some of the people I have known who, for example, died of cancer. His young age, his decision to put himself into the situation, his pictures and journal, and the subsequent book/movie are really the only things different from the passing of thousands upon thousands of other people.
I read the book and I am currently researching more about Chris but although what he did seems reckless to many at most, I think it was very courageous of him. I wish that I could be more open to adventure and more willing to go and try something never experienced before. I idolize him for his audacity and open mind. I only wish that he had made it out of the Alaskan wilderness, oh how many questions I would have for him. How incredible the scenery must have been the rush and excitment of just doing and going never knowing where the road leads or how you might get there but just walking forward with your head held as high as it goes and smiling all the while. I believe that I have a part of Chris McCandless in my heart and he is now and forever my hero. I know that most people look at him like he is crazy. But the way that Krakauer portrayed him in the book into the wild just makes my skin bump over with intrigue. Granted he wasn’t prepared for the journey he layed ahead of himself but thats the fun of it. The thrill you get from jsut making it up as you go along!! I will never be brave enough to do what Chris did but I will always dream that one day I will at least have the courage to try. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family still that they can live knowing that their son and brother was a hero and that he has made the most incredible mark on history. I wish all well and I hope that you know how much I adore your son for what he did!!!
BE-BRAT18@Large [R.I.P Christopher J. McCandless]
I really dont approve of people selling off parts of the bus because ONE thats really disrespectful to Chris and TWO its not theirs to sell. I understand that its not 100% owned by anyone other than the park but I will never understand how anyone would have the heart to do something like that. Chris was my hero he portrayed adventure and a sense of not having to do what anyone was else said but himself. He detached himself for a reason and I admire him for that. You would think that even though people in today’s society are so FULL of themselves even than that they would have some respect or enough to leave well enough alone.
BE-BRAT18@Large [R.I.P Chris J. McCandless aka Alex Supertramp]