The Chilling Discovery Inside a Deserted Alaskan Bus
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 06. 2024
- Thoughty2 Audiobook: geni.us/t2audio
Thoughty2 Book: geni.us/t2book
Support Me & Get Early Access: bit.ly/t2club
Thoughty2 Merchandise: bit.ly/t2merch
Follow Thoughty2
Facebook: / thoughty2
Instagram: / thoughty2
Website: thoughty2.com
About Thoughty2
Thoughty2 (Arran) is a British CZcamsr and gatekeeper of useless facts. Thoughty2 creates mind-blowing factual videos about science, tech, history, opinion and just about everything else.
#Thoughty2
Writing: Steven Rix
Editing: Sandeep Rai
Oh the glory days when a man could support two families on a single job....
Lmao. Sad, but true.
Now a man can barely support himself.
I’m sure an aerospace engineer can do that even today
Aah yeah, you found the main point of the story! :)
Men paying spousal/child support still do
I lived in Alaska working as a bush pilot when Chris did this. It's far more depressing and sad than uplifting. He had no idea how to live wild. Then, just 100 yards from him was a zip line to cross the swollen river with. As long as he was there, he never noticed it.
I agree. Any skills he had hiking or living how he did in the USA proper, would not of prepared him to live alone as he wanted in Alaska. Not having the right tools wouldnt of helped.
Wow I didn't know that part, how do you not notice that?
@@stevenschalck2781 it wasn't particularly well marked, but it was in the P&W literature. If you walked the riverbank it wasn't hard to see. As I said, more sad than uplifting. If he'd taken some pen flares, I could have easily picked him up with a helicopter.
That does seem impossible to miss but I think he may have been too weak to explore
100 yards? Should be visible if not hidden by foliage. But video said the cable car was 800 meters away, which is almost 875 yards.
"he didn't want a career he wanted a life, he didn't want things, he craved experiences" Me too Chris....me too....RIP
The experience of dying alone isn't that special tbh you can aim higher. I mean YOU should definitely leave your house more, just move, anything, lord knows... but just don't go that far from your house like he did.
@@GlennDavey everyone dies alone you delusional fool
@@GlennDavey
Get out more.....
Live A little.......
He was rich and had money,,, so really, the rest of us will not eat, drink, or travel without having a job.. He was stupid, too stupid to realize he didn’t have the proper equipment or know how.
He was an idiot.
He lived life his way and done it . I take my hat off to him . RIP brave young man
he was a douche and died, loser who never was satisified. No loss, he is worm food.
He didnt live long. He made stupid decisions. He was not brave but ignorant. Died from misreading a book on poisonous plants. He was never going to make anything of himself.
That is probably true, but he did live life the way he wanted to and for that, I respect him
My man just wanted to play his game without the tutorial and I respect that..
On survival mode fr.
Hardcore
He tried ironmanning the wildy
Hey played the red cartridge, first time, on Nightmare mode . He met his "Doom" alright
I feel bad for him tho, no joke, as stupid as this was, but I did this too and that could have been myself if I hadn't've smartened up and went back to town
I've watched the movie about him and read about him too, he was totally unprepared to live in the wild if he had done a couple of simple things he would probably be alive today.
Had he just walked a little further down the river that trapped him he'd have seen a hunters bridge and been fine.
I agree, he was totally arrogant about how cruel the cold can be. But I admire his courage to be free from society
@@paulseal6263 He was suffering under the Dunning Krueger effect. An heroic but very sad story
@@chuckdavidson5483 Not knowing what you don't know?
Hindsight is always 20/20
He unfortunately was blinded by the luster of an adventure and did not think thoroughly. But with all his trauma and his sense of freedom. I can't help but admire his determination and even his character. He was pure at heart. At least he passed doing what he loved and managed to express it with some joy.
Prove he did not think thoroughly. He got what he wanted.
When my then teenage son suggested this as a book for me to read (Into The Wild) years ago I cried! I cried like any mother would as I could easily put myself in his or his parents shoes. This story affected me so much that even now. Years later. My thoughts sometimes, somehow, still wander to this young man and his plight. It was that profound for me. It’s ironic that just the past couple days something triggered me thinking of Chris yet again and not even 48 hours later, here’s his story once again looking me in the face. Of course I watched it. And sobbed all over again. It’s easy to understand him and why he chose an adventure for himself so as to grow spiritually and emotionally. It’s also so easy to understand his parents and that they only wanted to give their children the best in life but somehow got their priorities twisted and lost themselves along the way. Such a sad and profound story this is. Sleep peacefully Chris ❤🌟🌹🧚♂️
Me too. I too was thinking about him. Still cry thinking of what happened to him. Really felt a connection to him.
@@-Diana469 😃✨
He should be honored forever with a memorial plaque!!!
@@josephchang955 😃
bro his smile in every selfie he just looked so happy thats admirable for sure
yah....it feels like he was a changed man in those last days and judging from the notes he left it seems that he learned the lesson of compassion and the importance of society/family/love for your neighbor
You can learn that without carking it on a fucked bus, if you can't without such an experience then to be honest this dude had the right end
Thanks bRo!
@@noeyes6151 well obviously yah ....nobody should have to go on some epic search to "find themselves" or "find peace" ...or "find"..anything really......but people with the fortitude to just grow up don't get glorified the way that self-destructive people do.
Dude was mentally ill. There’s nothing to admire about his stupid story
I remember reading his story as a mandatory book in high school. I always thought, "You walked into the Alaskan wilderness with just that? How did no one stop him?"
I also studied that book in high school. Did you go to IB?
A couple people definitely tried, but an adult has free will. Can only lead a horse to water.
The guy who took him up to the forest begged him that he'll to go to the store and buy him some equipment but Chris refused. He gave him some sandwiches and boots instead.
I also read that book and thought the same thing
the guy who dropped him off tried to. as stated in the above comment, also tried buying him some proper gear, but Chris refused. as also stated, a grown adult can do whatever he or she wants, no matter how stupid and foolish it may be. Chris was actually quite an experienced "adventurer", if you can call it that, and had survived several other dangerous excursions in dangerous areas. but Alaska is just on a completely different level of "dangerous" altogether, and even the most experienced outdoorsmen have perished in the Alaskan wilderness. Chris really didn't have any real skills for long term survival in the Alaskan wilderness. sure, he had survived many previous dangerous experiences..but in reality, he had just gotten really lucky. Alaska is no joke, and the lack of skills and proper equipment, in that kind of wilderness, is practically a death sentence.
Into the Wild is a good book. If I remember rightly, the man who drove McCandless to the wilderness actually offered to take Chris back to town and buy the supplies he would need himself. But Chris refused. Afterwards, Alaska had to remove the bus because it had become a dangerous hiking destination.
His story actually motivated me to live simple and travel. I first read it when I was a kid. RIP Chris. 🙏 thank you for writing your journey
I lived in Alaska when this happened and spent a lot of time out in the bush. The first info that was put out was that he thought that he was a survival expert and thought he could survive in the Alaska bush. They also said he died from exposure. This is interesting. Alaska is a different place from any other place in the US. Once outside of town, anything can happen and you need to be prepared.
Your also basically the north pole too so ya cold 🥶.
I have a hard time feeling sorry for a person like this. If you decide to live a "simple" life in the wilderness, then first make sure that you actually have some serious survival skills. Kind regards, someone from the Nordics.
@@Elora445 So how do you suppose your survival skills would matchup to McCandless, at age 22 & in a place where the temperature was the extreme opposite?
@@sunshine3914
Would probably be as bad. Hence, why I don't decide to suddenly live in the wilderness. But if I did, I would definitely be better prepared. Some things that are basics he decided to skip - that's just stupid. No matter if you are 22 or not.
When I heard where he spent his time before going to Alaska I just shook my head. Knew it was a bad idea to go from one extreme to the other.
I wouldn't like to live where outside can kill you.
I spend my whole life in Alaska except for a few months on and off in recent years, and like to think I've become quite the Outdoorsman, we all know his story and we all think he was foolish, Alaska is very unforgiving and hundreds of people disappear each year. But God rest his soul, he got to experience what many never will. My longest uninterrupted time in the woods is only half his, it was some of the greatest time of my life. Thanks for sharing his story
The thing that hit me belatedly was that this happened during the Alaskan spring/summer months (as indicated by the swollen river due to meltwater). Unless he'd planned to spend the summer there and then hike out, he'd have never survived the autumn and winter months.
@@balesjo I wouldn't say never. A little more knowledge with some practice and I believe he would still be here telling the story himself. The charcoal in the fire could have helped with the positioning. Knowing the terrain more so and along with better mapping skills and he could have avoided the river levels! He threw himself in the wild BLINDLY. I was in boy scouts most of my childhood. Some of those skills could have helped him a lot. We had to spend 5 days in the wild with what we had in our pockets. Which then I cared a lot. Like a multi tool etc. I had a bug out bag for weekends in the woods. He would have known how to preserve that moose, or even some trapping skill and had practice these skills before hand. I believe he would could have survived it!
@@josephspruill1212 Ahh yes...because you were a boy scout that definitely equates to being able to survive the harsh winter of Alaska with just a multi tool. Dumbest thing I've heard all month. Go try it and let us know how it goes buddy.
I was a bush pilot for 12 years and married an Alaska girl from Delta. We felt the same way. Dumb kid.
@@josephspruill1212 I think it is safe to say >he< wouldn’t have survived the winter, given his nearly non-existent preparation and minimal skills. That someone else could survive the winter in Alaska well prepared? Well, people have been doing that for thousands of years.
Eddie Vetter put it to words. Its a heartbreaking yet inspiring story.
Mr Supertramp, Chris, had the life he came here to Earth to live. It was not yours or mine but it was his and he lived it well.
Inspiring? So his story makes you want to go out into the most desolate wilderness utterly unprepared and attempt to live off the land with zero clue?
He lived it well? He died in pain in a bus of starvation/sickness, I most certainly assure you.
Uhm, Eddie Vedder!
Alaskans see this far too often and have to deal with heartbreak of knowing what will happen. My parents were stationed in Anchorage and heard first hand from people who had told a lot of young idealists, "Don't do this unprepared." McCandless is just one of many who've died this way in Alaska.
I'm from Alaska. This has always been a cautionary tale (one of many) about the dangers of the bush and not respecting the wild. It's always been a story of all the things you need to not do in Alaska.
Like a Jack London story.
Prove you're from Alaska. Liar.
Alaska is very unforgiving --- even the most hardened survivalists will tell you that
@@fredwerza3478 Do you shake hands with imaginary people and say you spoke with the inventor of insulin, like your demented senile joke of a leader does? LOL! M oro n.
Poor fella had no clue what was in store for him.
I remember reading about this in school in like 2008, and when I visited Alaska with my family back in 2009 we went river rafting for a full-day trip. At the end, a plane with huge tires came and picked us up right from the riverbank. On our flight back to civilization we flew right over the bus, super low! Really neat to actually be able to see it, and it really is out in the middle of nowhere!
Personally I think it should be a cautionary tale instead of the idealism of anti materialism that Chris sought. His family life absolutely played a huge role in him turning his back on society. But so did his schooling in anthropology. Our universities have become anti-human, even back then.
This story was almost exactly what happened to my cousin as well, a very similar pattern at the least: a mostly easy childhood, then in young adulthood serious trauma that made him question his upbringing, followed by an education system that made him further doubt the world and society around him.
My cousin grew up in a middle class family, his grandfather was the local pastor at the church, he enlisted in the Marines and went almost immediately to Fallujiah. His time was up shortly afterward & he grew into some depression. He ibis GI Bill to attend a nearby university focusing of social sciences and essentially through away everything he grew up with. Was a staunch conservative Christian, and almost overnight did a 180°. His professors merely added fuel to the fire. Then, to help “clear his head” he had his father drop him off at the beginning of the Appalachian Trail with the intention of doing a through hike. He made it 6-8 weeks before he was back on his dad’s doorstep unbeknownst to him. He had nearly died several times of dysentery & dehydration, gave up & took a bus home.
Into The Wild should more likely be a tale of “how not to be an idiot.”
youre the pixel gun youtuber right? I used to watch you every day!
@@soonerfrac4611 sounds like something an idiot would say
15:40 - "... and it really is out in the middle of nowhere!"
@@realitytroll1155 it's the same with all mountains and plains mother nature takes no prisoners! But his sister is on another level ,hoping she just needed the money for desperate measures for her family!!🤞
I am the child of homesteaders. I am from the north. I spent my school summer holidays working in the huge garden, foraging in the bush for wild berries on the weekends, working into the night with my working parents, preserving food for the winter.
I read Into the Wild. I just shook my head. So unprepared. He really didn't give himself a chance, especially in Alaska.
I live on a farm. Nearest city is 50 kilometers away. There's busses. It's still a hard life. This guy was a complete fool, had no clue what he was getting into.
This man lived my dream life. What a legend. The note he left for visitors knowing he'd ineluctably die soon after actually made me cry. After just 12 minutes of knowing of his existence, it felt like it was me dying. What a beautiful story, what beautiful pictures, what a beautiful smile. May his soul rest in peace.
I totally agree. It's sad that some people are saying that he was an arrogant sad person because he shunned society and people from his life. I think he is an amazing person who was brave enough to pursue his ideals that are unique to him. He didn't harm anyone along the way and created great memories with others when he could. He was incredible. I hope his soul is still having fun traveling and roaming around the way he pleases 🎉👻🧳🎉
An interesting side note is that that the Alaskan National Guard had to remove the "Magic Bus" with a CH-47 a few years back. This was because so many people sought out the bus as a pilgrimage site of sorts. These tourists were constantly getting lost or stuck that local authorities were afraid the disaster might be repeated.
I don't understand why the guy is idolized.
@@Bhartrampf I don't know myself, I think it is largely because of the book and movie "Into the Wild." Jon Krakauer goes out of his way to make a lot of comparisons to Chris and himself in a way that feels strange and unnecessary in the book. He also spent a lot of time commissioning studies to prove Chris was poisoned by some obscure process of potato seeds to prove something. I think Krakauers obsession and the constant excuses he makes for Chris is a big factor in the stories notoriety.
@@Bhartrampf People love to be involved with Books or movies. Take the "Joker" stairs that he dances on in the movie. Search social media and there are thousands and thousands of people that traveled there to dance on those stairs.
Society is just weird like that.
@@Sweetyhide 😲
@@andrewsmithphoto Yeah, I mean really, what does it matter how he died, as long as it wasn't murder, which it wasn't! What's this guy trying to prove?
I grew up in Healy. We trekked out to the bus many times as young adults but were prepared and understood the terrain. This man's story is nothing more than a tragedy and it being romanticized so often is why they had to finally move the bus entirely.
well said
Sad - and I wish I could disagree with you, but I feel the same.
The government couldn't figure a way to exploit it into a money maker, so they spent 1,000's of dollars to destroy it. Soon they will denie it ever existed.
So they destroyed a tourist attraction. Gotcha.
@@NiteCreature666 They removed a macabre novelty that generated multiple unnecessary rescues of unprepared people who romanticized a troubled young man.
I think the nomad approach to life, rejecting materialism, is way more common than we realize, he just wrote about it. The soundtrack to the film adapted is really good. RIP Chis.
Yeah, the soundtrack is amazing.
It is frustrating that a lot of people call him crazy or stupid just because of how he wanted to live HIS LIFE. I found him inspiring and he became one of my favorite persons, just knowing money or what others thought he should do with HIS LIFE didn't matter to him. He was set up to have an easy life but didn't take that path. I didn't think he was "crazy" for not taking that path, I just think he was more free than most people ever are regardless of his age when he passed away. Love the movie too. 💖
I think he was stupid not because he wanted to live but how he thought he could survive let alone live in the cold wilderness of alaska without any real preparation whatsoever.
Exactly this. He didn't feel at home in the system, so he left it. And people call him stupid for doing so. He may not have been able to enjoy his freedom for long, but he still experienced more freedom than most of us will in eight decades. Honestly, I envy him. He didn't die because of illness or an accident, he took a risk and died on his own terms.
Being from alaska, I’d like to also add that the three months of summer he survived in would be the only months it would be possible to without being incredibly well prepared. Like a float plane of materials and literally constant working prepared. The wildlife density is sparse in summer, but nonexistent in winter
the guy didn't know how to make jerky . something anyone who would want to live in the wild would want to learn if they had any brains.
Very true
As a Canadian, I approve this comment.
@@Galadrian70 but how do they feel about it in Letterkenny?
Yep, I am not from Alaska, but I was thinking the exact same about the season, actually quite focussed on in this aspect in the story, since this is quite a big difference. If even August is dangerous, then the cold months cannot do otherwise than becoming a huge problem. The human body uses energy to keep itself warm. That will get very difficult when very cold freezing temperatures arive. Not an issue with enough food, but with a shortage of it, it is not going to work out well.
But anyway, nobody says that Chris McCandless's plan was to stay there during winter. And apart from all this.
I think the story is beautiful in a lot of ways and even when dying was not Chris's plan, he at least found peace and beauty in his life and that's important here.
You told this better than I've heard it before. Astonishing story.
I agree, I’ve read the book and watched the movie. I like your video the most.
who asked?
Really? Better than the classic American book? You must have a hard time reading then cuz this video isn’t that great🤣🤣
check out Wendigoon then, he did a vid on the same topic, you might like it
@@ryanmurphy2089 stop bashing the man, not everyone knows about "classic american books" not everyone is american
I lived in part of Arizona called the big empty as a young man. I grew up in a neglectful home so when i filled a backpack with misc items and struck out one summer when school was out for an adventure my parents didn't really care. I came back 3 months later with a completely different perspective on nature, mostly due to the fact i barely made it back alive.
I'd come to realize every person who romanticizes the outdoors probably never spent a single night in it. They think living in the wild is some ultimate affirmation of freedom and independence when in reality it's a daily fight just to find enough to stay alive, you spend every day worrying worrying that the smallest injury will kill you (because it will) and even the basic like finding food and water becomes all consuming.
Imagine the worst day of your life then add starvation on top of that and you have a good idea of what "living off the land" is really like.
Sweet young man. Bless him. One cannot live on enthusiasm and love of nature alone. It's beautiful but brutal.
Emile Hirsch did such a fantastic job portraying Christopher in the film 🎥 INTO THE WILD. The pain of his self realization he had eaten the wrong type of berries that helped in hastening his demise was an absolute, gut-wrenching heart ache. And the old man asking him could he adopt him? The heart strings were most definitely being tugged at!
How do you know that did you know the guy in person
I think it was because he thought he was eating wild potatoes but it was something else. Something that would prevent the stomach from digesting food. So he starved to death.
@@dustinfrost5214 Hollywood has been known to take "artistic liberties." In the end...he lived his short life his way. Choices can have positive and negative consequences, and sometimes you never know which. Always have a back-up plan,and never under estimate potential problems.
It was a great film, I love it
Yes 🥺 a great movie
Chris McCandless is a prime example of "don't do this" especially in Alaska. He romanticised Alaska without knowing anything about it. He was ill-prepared from the start. (BTW the bus is now in Fairbanks)
My husband said to me once "let's move to Alaska. Wouldn't it be fun?" I looked him dead in the eyes and said "I can't get you to chop wood for our 3 months of winter, let alone 6-9months. So let's not go and say we did"
His ignorance got him killed. I wouldn't say arrogance he seemed to have pure intentions and probably had a fairytale mindset
@@carlamarlene2927 Not everyone here in Alaska has to chop wood. Most cities/towns here have electricity. Lol
@@akmetalhead95 Back in the early days of the internet, in the 1990’s chat rooms, I used to talk to a kid from Canada. He said people asked him how he did the internet if he lived in an igloo…
I really got a kick out of that. So, if Canadians live in igloos, what do people think Alaskans live in?! Lol.
I have to wonder who's bus that was originally. And if he knew that the bus he abandoned would eventually have somebody live and die in it.
I grew up in Alaska, and his lasting that long in the wild clueless is amazing in itself! I wish he had stayed in a town in AK long enough to learn more about survival. 🤘❤️🙏
Damn. Amazing tale. My opinion of him bridges the two extremes leaning slightly toward arrogant and willfully unprepared for his Alaskan trek. Had he known just a few simple things about meat and how to cure it and keep it edible in warm weather with next to nothing that moose meet could’ve kept him alive for a long time. There’s a really interesting tale of a man who was hiking and backpacking near the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada. He shot a bear, skinned it and cooked all the meat. He had good thick plastic sealing bags. It kept him alive. While he was hiking a fierce three day blizzard trapped him there. The cold also helped keep the meat.
We were stationed at Ft. Wainwright when this occurred. He was completely unprepared and at that time there wasn't much sympathy for him. He had a friend that worked as a park ranger and even he spoke up. Now, years later, there has been a movie and multiple books/articles about this guy. He didn't know how to prep food and the moose he killed ended up rotting. He didn't know what was safe to eat etc etc. Seriously, he should have never attempted this. The Alaskan wilderness is 100% unforgiving and if you make even 1 mistake, you are dead. I don't mean to sound harsh but the public mentality of the situation has completely flipflopped from when it happened..
As someone that lives in the area for 30+ years your assessment is 100% accurate.
As the public opinion should've.
Some people just don't know what they don't know....innocent as a child and naively gutsy. Too bad he DIDN'T survive. He might have been someone many more would have learned good things from.
Well said.
I agree but you got to give it to him unprepared and with no knowledge he managed to live there for 107 days sure the last couple were quite terrible but the guy was stout and idiot but stout indeed
Into The Wild was by far one of the few pieces of mandatory reading in High School that I truly enjoyed. It's a story that's an interesting combination of inspiring, relatable, and tragic. To think that if he'd had the sense to travel up and down the river in search of a better crossing point, which would have led to finding the crossing trolly, he might've made it out alive.
The book was awesome. The movie Into The Wild was good too. Every time I hear the Eddie Vedder song "Hard Sun" I think of Chris.
Edited to add: The movie is on Pluto TV for Free
I read it “for school” when I was sitting in the hospital while my sister was passing away. I read it out loud to her and she loved hit. She was handicapped but always loved the wilderness. I think it was a great story.
That and Holes lol
@@Sweetyhide and also free with Surf Shark lol
It is just a shame that the book romanticized this idiot to the point where people were dying trying to copy him. This is one of the times where I really dont understand how people can think he was anything but an unprepared dumbass. Actually, maybe its because the people reading it blindly believe what's in the book instead of spending 5 seconds to realize that it was totally sensationalized. I think it is pretty telling that it is always people that are like 25 or less that actually idolized this person and got a positive message from the book.
I met a guy who lived like that about 20 years ago. He camped in a state park that I was camping in .but he'd stay for a few weeks off the land. I would miss the conveniences of a warm bathroom and shower and all else.
I read the book when I was in college. I actually had the honor of interviewing his aunt to write my college paper about that book. It was an amazing experience and I respect chris. Man lived how he wanted.
Oh sounds cool.
I always appreciate an update on this story. There's a lot that can be learned from his mistakes when trying to live freely with no boundaries. Sometimes, to live freely, you do in fact need to be prepared.
@SoulJah That too. My next personal "into the wild" journey will be smarter and freer since I won't have things chaining me to a schedule by that time. Can't wait.
It wasn't a mistake...he was just stupid....even I'm a lone wolf and sometimes take risk and just wing it...but Alaska is extreme north and that too in winter, temp can get -20, -30 avg..
@@ameyas7726 I agree. He needed a better survival plan than sitting in a bus and not taking a map...
Shows you’re not really free, u have to plan and study the environment ur abt to live in, or else you’ll perish, just trading one life of hard work for another
@@notyourtypicalcomment2399 That's the price you pay for survival.
First time I heard this story was from Wendigoon, and it will always be one that sticks with me and I don't mind listening to it again. One of the things he wrote that I'll never forget is "Happiness is only real when shared."
Have you watched the movie Into The wild? It's a true story based on this guy that died in the bus.
@@AlanTClark It's definitely on my list, I'm just bad at watching movies when I'm not forced to lmao, I'll get to it eventually though
@@calebcraven7409
"Happiness is only real when shared" I sat here thinking about that statement, and came to the conclusion of how true that really is.
It sounds nice yes....But happiness is each owns experiences. Shared or not. If everyone lives to serve someone else, where will they find anyone?
@@oneandzero6251 I don't think they mean it has to be in service to someone else, but it's exceptionally hard to experience happiness when you are the only one experiencing it. They aren't saying work makes you happy but you are more happy when you are with other people, friends, family like that. Share the experience
I watched the movie and could never forget the story! His sister was very devoted to him and commented a lot during the film. It seems that beside being idealistic and fundamentally honest person he had some psychological problems (Borderline disorder?). People liked him but it didn't seem reciprocal. He suddenly abandoned his parents without scruples and without a word, and his sister -- also. His parents were flawed but loving and his sister considered herself to be his best friend. He left a couple of hippies who liked him, a girl who fell in love with him and -- most important -- an old lonely man, who became attached to him and treated him like a son (his own son and wife were killed in the car crash years ago). After Chris's death this man stopped believing in God. If I remember right not long before his death Chris wrote in his diary that the beauties of the world have meaning only if you share them with somebody. Maybe that's what he was supposed to learn. I feel so much sympathy towards his sister! His parents and an old man are probably not alive any more, but they died with broken hearts. Such a bright young man, such mistake, such despair and painful death in the end!
I totally understand Chris' desire to piss off.... I think many of us often tired - I don't there's anything wrong with that: there are people living in Alaska (Kanada, Siberia, Sweden) off the grid, some of them for decades, but they went there prepared and with equipment they needed; having what Chris did: venturing into Alaska's wilderness with nearly nothing WAS stupid. RIP Chris, hope you're in a better place, dude
People have lived in isolated regions for thousands of years
I remember first hearing about him when I was eight years old, visiting Alaska and part of the trail where he walked so many years ago, it was gorgeous and I can tell why he was at peace with himself until the end. I respect him and his ideals but cmon man failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Hell yeah! Beats dying in the city.
He didn't fail. He found his peace and saw some of the most beautiful things in existence.... I say that's a success.
Last time I checked, NONE of us get out of "THIS" alive..."Prepare" all you want I suppose, but THIS ^^^ dude?!?! He didn't just TAKE the "baton" and RUN with it....He said: "Gimmie that fucking thing asshole!"🤣🤣
I feel sorry for anyone who would call him stupid or even arrogant....Just his life in the "Lower 48" is something pretty damn extraordinary!! (Never mind dying in the Alaskan wilderness!)
I suppose it might be understandable to call him unecessarily reckless though.😶
Who says he wanted to go there prepared?
This is a good take. He could have lived successfully in the bush had he taken a little time to prepare. He seemed to appreciate the beauty of the wild, but didn’t respect it.
I remember this story.
He basically created his own demise by doing everything wrong in a solo hike.
What a tragedy to lose ones mind and life like this to me is just madness
R.I.P. Chris McCandless (a.k.a. Alexander Supertramp). Having read Into the Wild multiple times I wish peace to those who knew and loved you. Reading the memories of those you met on your travels remains with me as you were loved and friends with salt-of-the-earth people. May the journey continue!
He didn't want a career.. he wanted a life.
Damn, that hits hard
And he lost it in the process
You don't want life if you think its ok to live in a metal box at -40F. I know I have survived 34 winters in the area!
He reminds of most people I talk to when I asked then, "What is your plan". And what they usually give me is a goal, not a plan.
@@answerman9933 That is an amazing way of phrasing it!
@@answerman9933 so basically he is not any different 🤔
“Talketna River” pronounced “tal-keet-na”
Fairbanksan here. You did a pretty great job with this story. There is no doubt he went in to the wilderness completely unprepared for the hardships he’d face. Survival in the interior of Alaska can really tough, even with all the necessary items, without them, there’s not much hope. People have no idea how brutal it can be. There’s zero room for error in the bush of Alaska.
Even if there wasn't any errors, it'll take someone out. He didn't stand a chance. Sad it happened but he refused to be prepared. 😕
Exactly
100% accurate stupidity killed this man
👻💬
69 likes . cool
What a Beautiful Person. In Tears.
What's super crazy is the people that died or had to be rescued trying to visit the bus. The National Guard had to remove it from the forest. It always sticks in my head that I could die alone in a forest and then inadvertently cause the deaths of others. We are more connected than we can imagine.
👍👍👍
My dad loved this guy, the book, the movie, and showing me the movie…he always loved doing things in the wild and would’ve loved to do something like this(obviously not to the extreme of passing away) but last summer at work he had a traumatic brain injury and has been in a vegetative state since…I loved the video the story just makes me think of my dad and my dad looks like Chris too …it just upsets me and rly makes me interested in the story…and I remember my dad always telling me if he walked half a mile he could’ve went across the river and hearing that in the video too just makes Chris’s story even more sad.
Sorry to hear about your dad. Hope he gets better
Give him as much attention as you can. ❤ I know I regret not doing it for my dad.
Maybe he is dreaming, and there he can fly...
I wish you all the best!
I feel sorry for you're dad😔
I often quote the words Chris scrawled on the bus as a personal mantra: "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED."
I wrote that on a scrap of paper and stuck it on the wall with a push pin. I’d forgotten where that came from until just now reading your comment. I’ve lived alone for 18 years since my ex left me in 2004 after 18 years of marriage + 2 beautiful kids. The book and movie have been favorites of mine for a long time. Apologies for the rant….
@@dr.jamesolack8504 are u ok bro? not judging or fucking with u, i went thru it too.
As a friend of someone who recently vacationed himself to death in a different way, this hits hard.
There's a reason survival experts say, you need to make sure you do research and are prepare on where your going before you go. He live the way he wanted (no rules, and free), but even in nature there are rules, going into a environment like Alaska thinking it will be like camping in the lower 48 is asking to get killed. I praise him for living the way he wanted, but there was no way his death was how he wanted it, as he went out in the most slowly painful way anyone can (especially if the seeds were poisonous).
What makes this story even sadder is that all this guy had to do was walk less than a mile north from where this bus was and he couldve crossed the river/stream where it was less than knee deep, but hey hindsight is 20/20
The car driver who gave him a lift should have contacted the authorities..
@@ameyas7726 10000000% AGREED
The river was a raging from the spring melt There was no place to cross
@@larryhullinger4141 there was a bridge around a two day hike south of the river crossing spot and also a USGS gauging station around half a mile north of him. But I was not willing to use a map, so I did not know or did not want to know.
@@michlblacksmith there was also several stocked cabins within a few miles of him They would have been clearly marked on a map
My senior high school (year 12) English teacher taught us this man’s story and honestly it was one of most engaging stories we had learned at that point. Almost everyone in my class was nose deep into the book, some even read ahead. I graduated in 2018 and I can still remember almost everything from that book, despite only reading it the once.
I learned about him too then in my first college semester, it was for a humanities class and we had to watch the movie adaptation and write an essay or a report on it I think! The movie is really good and heartbreaking it’s called Into the Wild
I hated reading his story with a fury 😂 I get why people like it, don’t get me wrong, I just found the book so boring to go through as someone who has only ever enjoyed books in the genres of fantasy and fairytales. The author’s writing style was entirely new to me and bored the hell out of me. It’s still not my style but I get it
I love this story. The film, soundtrack and message hits home. I saw it in the theater when it came out with "the one that got away". Thanks for letting me revisit a simpler time in my life.
Excellent clip. Your words to this very moving video; for me, brought home the humanity of this young man. He lived life, experienced it's marvels and wonders. RIP Chris
I felt nothing crazy about this, to be honest.
The way he'd just walked out and lived all the good sights and hard days of living a more-or-less homeless lifestyle, it looked like he'd done with total acceptance of everything that happened, good or bad.
Godspeed, goodman.
Dead by 24 of exposure to the elements. Hard to get more simple and authentic than that. Keeping it real 1200 ad style.
😮😮😮I love this man....he would be a great friend to have in life.....❤❤❤❤
Wowowoowowow! I have red/seen/listened to a bunch of stuff on McCandless Supertramp and your vids sums it up greatly. We learned way after the hype of the movie of how twisted and effed up his family actually was and it was, purposely left out by Krakauer and later, Penn's (genuinely fantastic) movie. Your video constitute a great final chapter on this sad, yet magnificent story. I personally changed camp from seeing him as an illuminated genius to a naive self absorbed kind person with ptsd. Again, GREAT vid. Thanks a bunch.
I am from Norway. We have the same mountains, woods, and climate as Alaska. I can understand him. But no one get out in the wild without a compass, maps, or real boots and clothing. It is the certain typical death of a City Boy. Rest in Peace.
Yeah can confirm as a Fin. There is absolutely no way i would attempt to leave even the road with out compass, map, knife, fire tool of several sort, WATER and some way to communicate. This in area that i'm not entirely familiar with. To go over night to forest, tent, sleeping bag, several set of warm clothes in water tight bags, axe, saw, first aid kit, flashlight, whistle, cooking gear, dry materials say cotton in water proof container as fire starter materials as barest minimum...to live in the forest and live with its content, one would need to prep for that for years building up shelter, storage building garden to grow say potatoes, carrots, onions, smocking shed to store meat, access to sea or salt mine would be beneficial to get salt as preservation of meat, glass jars and well pretty much whole 40's house and tools pretty much just to have chance to live in summer, but winter would still be tough even when prepared properly. At very least one should have half a years supply of good foods if you try to survive in winter, but then you run into issue of heating.
Its kinda too bad the guy found the buss since that gave him shelter one would not normally have and he might had started to go back towards city much sooner than dying in malnutrition. Also even if you manage in Commifornia, or any other warm state does not mean you have any actual capability to survive in the forest like that, specially on start of you journey to great outback. Sure he made much further than 99% of the people, but that also was his doom. More idealistic and naïve would have realized their situation probably after couple first days and turned back, but his issues slowly creeped in and killed him. Too bad but its good lesson to many. While it is possible there is ridiculous amount of work required to be absolutely independent in the wild and even then since you are alone chances of you surviving long are decreased that of living in even small community. He simply went too far too fast.
@@Hellsong89
I'll add as a British Columbian that surviving in the woods in very mountainous places carries it's own challenges and that even people who'd consider themselves survival experts on flatter land run into problems in the mountains of BC, Alaska, the Yukon that they never anticipated. Stories and legends about the mountains and living in them/travelling through them rival the old mariners tales from the age of sail.
Going off and trying to just live in the woods isn't really heard of except among indigenous people and people who otherwise have lived a long time near and in the bush who eat sleep and breathe the mountains but all kinds of tourists get into trouble going to remote places and assuming they'll be able to pick up the phone, call 911 and have help arrive in a timely manner. If you are far enough south in the summertime, are fit enough, know how to find your own food and water and how to make a basic shelter, and arent in too extreme of an area surviving out there off the land wouldnt be impossible but in the winter you'd ideally want at least 10 years of experience of being in the bush all year round and to prepare for at least a year in advance.
@@user-xg8yy7yl1d I'll further add as someone who lives in a city in the flattest land in the south that it's common sense not to go to the wilderness without some prep. You guys aren't experts or anything, this guy was just extra stupid.
Spent my childhood growing up in the mountains in Victoria and also the Aussie outback. Wound up in my 20’s and 30’s doing many solo treks that were days or weeks long, including spending nearly a year living in the Himalayas. Never, ever, EVER underestimate a true wilderness. Prepare. Prepare for the worst possible scenarios. Listen to the locals that have lived there all their lives. I’m sorry, but I’ve read about this kid a lot (actually he was born one year before me) and honestly what he basically did was a complicated way of committing suicide. No map? Unbelievable…..~
Perplexing that such a brilliant guy made all these mistakes. Very sad indeed.
This is what I was thinking. While sad AF he did commit it to himself.
Yeah its the least you can do
@@unstoppablezone4980 he wasn't intelligent. he thought the books about the brutal wildnerness and how it will kill the unprepared were the way to live yet didn't learn how to survive there and what supplies you needed.
@@unstoppablezone4980 Perhaps if his father didn't spend all his time trying to balance 2 families he could have taught him survival in the wilderness. My father took me fishing and hunting and basic ways to survive in the wilderness. He never had that and it cost him his life.
Love how you use cartoons to help explain the story really works well for parts that you kind of had to fill in because there was no pictures right
20 years ago I was a high school English teacher, and this was one of the books we covered. I'd say that the class predominantly felt that Chris was foolish to do what he did without any preparation. However, the one book that always elicited the most passionate (and positive) response was "The Man Who Planted Trees," the true story of Eleazar Bouffiere.
One look at this bus I already knew.
Potatoes
Same
Alexander Supertramp
Same
Great movie
I have not read the book by Krakauer, but the film adaptation lets us believe that Chris finally came to the realization, just before he died, that "happiness is not real unless shared". I believe that no one is capable of living a life all by themselves. All humans crave love, friendship and "togetherness". I was deeply moved by the movie, and every time I watch it I notice something else...
Aren't you such a intelligent emotional human being great job...
@@cameron3991 ? Pathetic much
I could only watch it once.
No, not everyone craves to share. Many wish to live free without encumbrances with no one to answer to or for. He did not prepare adequately for his adventure. But to him he lived his life in his own way. Tragic for such a young man. He certainly did not have a good example of family. Why would he aspire to emulate flawed relationships. In time perhaps, but he needed the solitude he craved. RIP sir!!!
Not all humans, people are very horrible and annoying and destructive
That is a great story, well told. Thank you!
It just hit me. This guy and I were hitchhiking around the country at the same time, 89-92. I knew his story, I just didn't realize the timeline.
Whatever reason, whether ignorant to what he needed, or arrogant, I think he was brave af for even attempting. I pray he rests in peace, and I'm proud of him.
Thinking you are going to survive an Alaskan fall much less winter in a metal box on wheels, means you are a special kind of stupid, not brave.
I never heard of this guy until stumbling on this video, but MY sentiments exactly.
I'd recommend watching into the wild its a good movie if you haven't seen it.
I'd recommend the book into the wild as well. The movie is great but you get more detail into Chris in the book.
He was clearly mentally ill you retard. 😂
McCandless's story is definitely one worth learning about: it offers both inspiration and caution.
This is a beautiful and sad story. I’m in tears.
I Have Heard This Story multiple Times, But Your Video was Great!! It Gave a New Found Respect for this Man!!
There's a survival show called Alone. In one of the more recent seasons, one of the expert survivalists had to be emergency evacuated because he was nearly dead in the wilderness.
Not because of shelter, which he had made into a comfortable living space, or because of lack of food, he had enough to feed a small army. He nearly starved to death while eating like a king...because he wasn't getting enough fat. It was a shame to watch him go.
Watched one with a fella who camped out there in a tent with just the basics, rifle and a camera. He couldn't feed himself properly or sleep through fear of wolves and bears. Pulled the plug in less than a week exhausted and depressed. You need a tribe and generations of skills and knowledge.
Stupid people, so afraid of becoming overweight, always fail to realize how important fat is to the body’s biological functions. Stupid parents have killed their children because of the same fears. Protein can be converted into calories at the detriment of your kidneys but there is no replacement for fat.
That rabbit sickness is terrible 🐇
Makes sense. You live on rabbits you will slowly starve from a diet of pure protein. You _need_ fats and/or carbs in some form!
Rabbit starvation; terrible way to go and insidious because you often don't know it's happening until its too late.
May Christopher McCandless rest in peace. Also, thank you Arran for another informative video, which I always look forward to every week.
Well presented! I'm in tears.
Thanks for posting. Haven't heard this story this year yet.
His lack of survival skills and inability to find enough food is what killed Chris
I thought it was eating the wrong thing 🤔
@@ifell3 i guess in a way that would fall under lack of survival? but yea common consciences is he ate the wrong berry? forget been a while. something the nazis created.... slowly shuts down the body. cant eat. etc. horrible way to die. sad he was so close to a place that could have helped him too. if he knew of it. So yea im firm believer in the potato seeds. It is something the nazis studied had lots of subjects..... and the symptoms mirror what we see happened to Chris. he kept a very detailed journal that didnt get enough attention imo in this. maybe to keep it upbeat? but yea. after watching the movie i spent good week studying the death. him just starving out didnt make sense. just getting sick didnt make sense. had to be more to it.
@@ifell3 you are correct.
But the lack of survival skills is what led to him eating something he should not have.
He was wasting away towards his death, poisoning or not, he was fucked.
@@biikuajet Hard to survive a snowstorm without the proper clothing.
The bus was moved in 2020 after adventurers repeatedly got stranded/lost at the bus.
Thx for sharing this story
This is a well balanced, thoughtful and kind assessment of the Chris McCandless story. Thank you.
His story is both inspirational and a cautionary tale, it's okay live out in the wild like he did but at least be a hundred percent prepared for survival.
Impossible. There's always something. Far better prepared men have died in the wilderness less than a week into a journey...things happen. Not many who were less prepared lasted all that long however.
Quite often, survival is just a roll of the dice. In 2019, my year on the Pacific Crest trail, an unsuspecting hiker from Germany was killed by a tree falling. Daytime, not doing anything reckless, et cetera. Sometimes.
Hardly inspirational
And, share and interact with others. The whole film he was running from everyone..."happiness is only real when shared"
@@joshuagharis9017 Those words were a paraphase from a part of a novel he was reading. It's insulting to insinuate that he did a 180° reversal of how he lived when all the substantive evidence suggests that he was consistent and true to his views, not saying that others have to necessarily agree with them.
If one carefully reads the book by Jon Krakaur they can see the distinction. Krakaur is consistently very careful with his research and writing. Few are his equal. It's sad that poor readers, non-readers and spin artists twist around the meaning of his writing and research.
it is an inspiration to ONLY IDIOTS.
I need to debunk some myths for this story.
Chris never gave up his IDs, wallet, or cash he had in his wallet. One of the guys who found Chris's body, took his backpack that was in the bus. It was search while they were trying to identify him, but they missed the hidden pocket. In this pocket contained his wallet, IDs, library card, social security card, bike lock combo, and $300 dollars in cash. The documentary "The Call of The Wild (2007) shows his backpack, the man who found it, and the contents. One of the best documentaries on Chris, I suggest giving it a watch.
*Into the wild.
@@nuaru100 why did you type that?
Better name for the movie. OOPS.
The 2007 film is called Into the Wild. Call of the Wild is a 1903 novel by Jack London
@@_wanderingrocks_ that's true but I gues you didn't read my comment? I'm talking about the documentary by Ron. The call of the wild was actually filmed during the same time the movie into the wild was filmed. You get much much much more info from the documentary. The movie got lots of locations and facts very wrong.
Don’t let this man scare you from being self reliant. I’ve been in the north woods the last 3 months trapping beaver for my job, and about 2/3 of my food came from the wilderness, the 1/3 that didn’t was rice I bought at store and eggs I got from a local farmer. Spent less than $1 day feeding myself and I ate like a king off the land.
Beautiful video, thank you
Absolutely tear jerking! As a man who feels the crushing weight brought on by modern society I understand his need for true freedom more than most. It hits so close to home because I could see myself in his shoes following his steps and paying the ultimate price for freedom as he did. Excellent video thank you for sharing his story.
Should of listened to the locals…
It can still be done, howbeit in a safer way.
Hey buddy hope everything is fine with you
@@kennedybunga399 Fuck off did you just use "howbeit" unironically in 2022
DON'T read the book "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac....You might really get depressed about your life....Or you might just say after reading it... "Fuck it, I'm outta here!" ???🤣😭🤣😶
Cut yourself some slack man...It takes EXTREME idealism and/or balls to do what Chris McCandless did. I don't pity the guy...I'm mildly JEALOUS of him.
This man was unprepared but I have to admire his determination. The last picture of him brought tears to my mind. I truly hope he found peace.
A movie about this is called ( into the wild ), and although he did have a diary, most of the story we know about him or at least his final days was carved into the wooden table built into the bus, I have seen photos of the bus and developed photos that were found there. Crazy story but 100 percent true
What an awesome story, and what a remarcable channel. Just found it today, beeing watching these intresting stories for some decades now, and watched more than 4 stories that i've never heard before, like this one.
Keep it up the good work, subbed.
At the darkest time of my life I found his story and because of it, it's saved my life. I know other people that have said the same I wouldn't doubt there's thousands of people that owe their life to Chris and his story.
Me too
I saw the movie and read the book my senior year and it literally changed my perspective on life. Going out in the Alaskan bush unprepared isn’t the best idea but his ideals are something to keep in mind. I spent my 20’s working seasonally on horse ranches and campgrounds, odd jobs and just living. Wouldn’t change a minute of it.
There was another guy like this who vanished for 27 years and lived.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 who?
Great Video. Thank you!
This is a perfect example of what happened to a person that went out completely unprepared, a sad case none the less,,,blessings
The movie by Sean Penn called “Into The Wild” (2007) is a phenomenal dramatized adaptation of this story. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to see more of Chris’ story.
I agree. Incredible interpretation of the book. Really well directed movie. 👌
I lived in Alaska when this guy disappeared. There were private investigators and FBI all over the place questioning everybody because they thought he had been kidnapped or murdered.
Wow that was my favorite intro to a youtube ever! A one sentence, 4 word intro, and the story was started by the 2 second mark. Awesome!
Great video as usual sir! Sad but amazing story! RIP Chris!
This story always fascinated me.
I think it tells more than not being "foolish enough" to just go to Alaska unprepared. This man was suffering years before his final trip. He went too radical in rejecting the worst in the West society, and never understood how to get over the 'rejection phase' into actions that could make him find a sense in the world around.
He was a clueless knucklehead.
I live in Anchorage, Alaska and have lived here all of my life. I'm also half Indian from Chitina and the Copper River valley area which is about 250 miles outside of Anchorage. Actually Sean Penn showed up at our Ahtna annual meeting when he was filming "Into The Wild." . (He's about how you'd expect him to be..arrogant.) But Chris must have been crazy to think he could just travel hundreds of miles through Alaska with barely any supplies. No map. Small gun. Not enough to survive in Alaska, especially in winter. It's October 31st right now..Halloween and the temperature outside is 21 degrees. He's lucky a Brown bear didn't decide to make a meal out of him. There are also some other thing's in Alaska that my ancestors call "Bush Indians" or Kol'Eni and many other strange things in the Alaskan Bush that I wouldn't even believe in if I didn't have my own personal encounters with in the Chitina area. Over 2,000 people disappear from Alaska every single year which is a staggering number when compared with our 700,000 population. That means 1 in just every 300-350 vanish every year and are never found like Chris was. I feel bad for the guy in a way, but COME ON DUDE!! Wtf did you think was gonna happen going off into the deep woods of the most remote place in America with plenty of wolves, bears, and "Other" predators ?! I don't even go into my peoples area without a semi-automatic gas-fed 12 guage shotgun and 10 round magazine loaded with solid steel "Slugs" , a machete, bear mace, people mace, flashlights, an Ar-15 in my trunk, extra food, medical kit, etc and I have a big SUV with me. I'm just prepared to accidentally go off the road late at night and very limited exploring of my Ancestors burial grounds and walking just a little ways through the deep woods out by my village Chitina. If I was going deep into the woods I'd have triple as much including cooking supplies, map, tent, fishing pole, sat phone, arctic gear, and on and on. Chris was very silly to think he was above the Alaskan wilderness...And that was during the summer time.
So I googled the bush Indians but only found one very brief article and some books. Thinking about ordering one of the books as that sounds like a neat bit of obscure folklore, but could you please elaborate on what they are and share the experiences you’ve had?
Are you an Indigenous Alaskan?
educated idiot really but I'm thinking mentally something snapped and wrote his end.
I do agree with what you are saying, it's not a movie or a game you can respawn if you die and it's not like you can just go to the corner store etc. either. lol
I live in thy MATSU Valley... I don't go to Fred Meyer or Carrs without a .45!
We bought the movie bc my husband had memories of this story. At one point I just had to call it like it was: that kid was an idiot. Hubs said "don't you think that's cool?" Not really. He hadn't the first idea of how to survive on Colorado wilderness let alone Alaska wilderness. I told my kids " don't be like this idiot." Don't worry mom we wont
While he was unprepared, he did live the life he truly wanted.
Into the Wild... One of the best movies I've ever seen and one of the best movie soundtracks by Eddie Vedder