I've been to that bus. The Teklanika is not to be messed with.

I'm going to be staying in Healy next month when we visit Denali; as much as I have enjoyed the book over the years, I'm not dumb enough to try to find the bus given the challenges of crossing the river.

---

"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

You should at least get to Stampede Road and take the 1st part of the trail in until you reach the river.

We are going to do that but going no further.

---

"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

From what I read, the river was running fast and deep do to recent rains. My guess is the crossing is dependent on recent weather, so if there have not been recent storms might be a simple crossing.

---

Just Triing
Triathlete since 9:56:39 AM EST Aug 20, 2006.
Be kind English is my 2nd language. My primary language is Dave it's a unique evolution of English.

 

I have read the book and seen the movie but still not sure about the bus. Did he know it was there and that was his destination or did he stumble upon it?


.

---

Once, I was fast. But I got over it.

Pretty sure he stumbled upon it.

---

How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?

I don’t remember but he seemed pretty unprepared in general, so that would be my guess.

It's never simple (except in winter when it's frozen)

They have a replica of the bus at the 49th State brewery in Healy. I recommend going there, having a beer, and calling it good enough.

Yeah, he stumbled on it. There's a lot of cabins in that area as well (at least one of which he vandalized).

Was it worth it? How was your experience?

I live here in Alaska and I feel they should move the bus out of that location. It’s pulling too many people to it that are ill-prepared and/or attempt something they have no business attempting.

But that is Alaska in a nutshell. Follow the laws otherwise enter at your own risk and be ready to suffer the consequences.

I live here too and agree - they should get rid of that damn bus. I don't really keep track of the body count but it must be half a dozen by now. Senseless deaths, all of them, including the one that started it off.

My friends and I went 2 years after the book came out. We have a lot of backcountry skills so we felt we were mostly prepared for the adventure. The beavers created a few dams that flooded parts of the trail so we ended up hiking a lot in water. Was it worth it - absolutely. Should the authorities move the bus - maybe now that there is a fatality? The one thing the bus has going for it is that it's in pretty unforgiving territory so the Instagramers will give up 1 hour or 2 into the trail. Here's my friend on the trail - taken with that technology known as slide film...

"Should the authorities move the bus - maybe now that there is a fatality?"

There's been more than just the recent fatality. As I've said, there have been maybe half a dozen over the years. All young idealists in search of adventure, drowned in what is a dangerous river.

BTW she was newlywed less than one month and her husband was there with her.

Krakauer's book and Penn's film have created an attractive nuisance. Innocent (if naive) young people continue to die, and State resources are expended uselessly for body recovery and rescues. As usual, the profits have been privatized and the costs are being socialized. The fucking bus should be removed, and Krakauer and Penn should be sent the bill. Yes, I do feel strongly about this.

I agree with your assessment. Has the state considered moving the bus to the other side of the Teklanika?

There's occasional talk of moving the bus, but given the current state budget difficulties and the resulting chaos in state government I don't think anything will happen.

In the good old days someone would've talked to the Army, and a Chinook would've picked up the bus and dropped it in a lake somewhere. :)

The irony here is that McCandless was in search of his own path and so these dimwits go out in search of their own path... by following his.

Get rid of the bus already.

That's obviously easier said than done. There must be reasons why the bus wasn't removed originally. And now those reasons are multiplied--like roads not being there anymore and overgrown with trees for miles.

Just let everyone who makes it there take a souvenir with them. It'll go away eventually

Ha! So much genius in that proposal. They could just pull it someplace safer and then sell permits to take a piece of it. They'd make money and remove a danger at the same time.

The local paper opines:
http://www.newsminer.com/...c5-4fa6f928d4f3.html

"You're all individuals!"
..."I'm not"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHbzSif78qQ

A current song by Ava Max (I have kids)

“It’s okay to be different...
because baby so am I.”