I read Into the Wild last year, and it had a profound impact on me. I really admire Chris McCandless, and since reading this book, I have made it one of my goals in life to get to Fairbanks 142. I went on an Alaskan cruise last month and spent 2 days in Anchorage afterwards. My family and I went to Denali for a day trip, and I was really excited about the possibility of getting to see the bus. Unfortunately, my mom found an article about it in a guidebook and found out that it is a 12-hour hike to reach the bus. Since I was the only one who knew anything about it or had any interest, we didn’t end up going to see the bus. I was within 15 miles of it, which makes it pretty disappointing that I didn’t get to actually go see it. But I definitely plan to go back someday, since I loved Alaska in general, and I want to find a few friends who share my interest in visiting bus 142 and make the trip out there to see it and maybe camp in it for a night.
I have heard that they are considering removing the bus to stop “crazy people” like us from going out to see it. I really hope that doesn’t happen. The bus should be allowed to remain there, both to continue serving its original purpose and for admirers of Chris McCandless and Into the Wild to visit.
