Here is the unsettling story of Chris McCandless, a man who ventured into the wilderness and never returned.
After graduating from university in 1990, McCandless donated all of his savings and set out to recreate the adventures from his favorite book, The Call of the Wild by Jack London. He traveled north to the Alaskan bush with the hope of living off the land.
Unfortunately, McCandless’ attempt to reject America’s consumerist culture and return to nature ended tragically. The 24-year-old ultimately starved to death in his makeshift camp.
Hikers later discovered his body in the rusted bus that had become his home. His remains, weighing just 67 pounds, served as a stark reminder of the wilderness’s unforgiving nature.
In the months leading up to his death, McCandless documented his life in Bus 142 on the Stampede Trail, Alaska, using his journal and a film camera. Both were recovered after his death.
The journal and photographs provided crucial insights into McCandless’ final moments in the wild, detailing how he arrived at the remote location and his attempts to return to civilization.
In April 1992, McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska, with his final encounter being with an electrician named Jim Gallien.
Gallien later admitted that he was worried about McCandless’s lack of proper gear and even suggested postponing the trip, but McCandless refused.
Equipped with only a few books, a rifle, and some rice, he embarked on his adventure and managed to survive for 113 days in the remote wilderness.
In the final days of McCandless’s life, he began to grasp the severity of his situation. One journal entry described his unsuccessful attempt to escape the Alaskan wilderness, thwarted by an impassable river.
This underscored McCandless’s lack of preparation, as a detailed map later showed that he could have walked out of his seemingly dire situation.
Realizing that he was nearing starvation and in urgent need of help, McCandless left a desperate message in the window of the bus that read: “Attention Possible Visitors. S.O.S. I need your help.”
“I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out. I am all alone—this is no joke. In the name of God, please stay and help me. I am out collecting berries nearby and will return this evening.”
“Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?”
In the days before his death, he wrote what he believed to be a farewell message and took a photo of himself holding the note, which read: “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord.”
“Goodbye and may God bless all!”
It is believed that McCandless either died from starvation or from poisoning due to wild vegetation he had consumed. The bus where he spent his final days was later removed from the site to prevent other hikers from attempting the same journey.
