In September 1992, Chris McCandless’ body was discovered in an abandoned city bus located in Denali National Park, Alaska.
McCandless was a passionate explorer who, in 1990, donated all his life savings to Oxfam and chose a life of backpacking and living as a nomad across North America.
In April 1992, McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska and was last seen by an electrician who gave him a ride to the beginning of a trail.
Jim Gallien, the electrician, was concerned for McCandless – who introduced himself as Alex – because he had only a light pack, minimal equipment, and seemingly little real survival experience.
Despite these concerns, McCandless ventured into the wilderness with books, a rifle, and some food. He found an abandoned city bus near Denali National Park and lived there for 113 days, subsisting on hunted animals and foraged vegetation like berries, roots, and seeds.
After several months, McCandless decided to return but faced a significant obstacle when he realized he couldn’t cross the Teklanika River.
When he initially crossed in April, the river was much lower. However, summer run-off from the Cantwell Glacier had significantly raised the water level.
Returning to the bus, he wrote a note to leave on the window while he went foraging for food.
The note 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 remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August.”
Sadly, no one saw the note, and tragically, McCandless died before anyone could find his call for help.
He also took a photograph of himself holding a sign that said: “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!”
The exact date of McCandless’ death is unclear, but reports suggest his last written note on day 107 read: “Beautiful blue berries.”
The subsequent days were marked with slashes, with day 113 left blank.
It is believed that McCandless’ body was found around 19 days after his death. Following his discovery, his body was flown out of the remote area, and an autopsy was conducted.
The autopsy concluded that he died of starvation, although there are theories that other factors, such as poisoning, may have contributed to his death.
McCandless’ story was memorialized in a non-fiction book titled “Into the Wild,” written by John Krakauer.
This book was later adapted into a feature film of the same name, directed by Sean Penn and starring Emile Hirsch as McCandless.