‘Into the Wild’ Pilgrimages Increase in Alaska

On the heels of last year’s successful film ‘Into the Wild,’ pilgrimages to the spot where Christopher McCandless died are on the rise.

Some people visit seeking adventure, some make the trek because they feel a connection to McCandless, and some just want to see the bus where he took shelter and later died of starvation. The bus has become a mecca of sorts for backpackers.

In the article on CNN, Ron Alexander, a visitor to the spot, says…

“That’s sort of the heart of the story (the bus),” said Alexander, 44, of Arlington, Virginia. “It’s almost like a Jim Morrison grave site, where people just want to go see it.”

This new rush of tourism to the Alaskan backcountry has residents of nearby areas a little worried. They’re hoping people won’t be rushing out there ill-prepared (like McCandless) and unready to face the challenges of the harsh Alaskan backcountry.

Former chamber president Neal Laugman warns visitors about a terrain — about 180 miles north of Anchorage — with no cell phone service, unpredictable weather, clouds of mosquitoes and the raging Teklanika River, whose swollen banks prevented McCandless from seeking help. Laugman has gotten replies from people who are determined to make it to the bus no matter what.

We’ve talked about this story before, but not really about the hype that surrounds it. Whether or not people idealize McCandless’ adventure, let’s just hope they have the common sense not to repeat it.