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Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Harrowing final diary entries of off-grid man who starved to death in the wild
In 1992, Chris McCandless ventured into the Alaskan wilderness, where he tragically died five months later, his emaciated body found wrapped in a sleeping bag inside an abandoned bus April 1992 saw Chris McCandless, a young man driven by wanderlust, embark on a treacherous trek into the unforgiving Alaskan wilds. Regrettably, just five months later, his life came to a grim end at just 24 years old. His body was discovered in a decrepit bus, curled up in a sleeping bag and weighing just 30kg (4st 7lbs) – starvation cited as the cause. Known to some as Alexander Supertramp, McCandless documented his diminishing plight in a diary, detailing his reliance on what he could hunt and forage – from critters to roots and seeds. Jon Krakauer captured his poignant tale in 'Into The Wild', which also inspired a hit movie. Back in Fairfax, Virginia, where he grew up, Chris was remembered as a gifted student and runner, with his high school mentors noting his originality, once remarking he "marched to the beat of a different drummer", as reported by The Daily Star. After bagging a history and anthropology degree from Emory University in 1990, he donated $24,000 to charity OXFAM and spent the following couple of years toggling between jobs and hiking escapades, reports the Mirror US. In 1992, loaded with only the essentials and after ditching most of his personal items, he caught a lift towards Fairbanks, Alaska's gateway, before stepping foot into its relentless wilderness. His diaries, peppered with snapshots, show his journey across the snowy Stampede Trail and how he stumbled upon an obsolete bus near Denali National Park – his final dwelling place. He eked out an existence on small game such as squirrels, birds, and rabbits, alongside foraged roots and seeds, fully embracing his time in the wild. However, McCandless's bushcraft stumbled when he poached a moose in June, but unfortunately failed at preserving its meat, leading to rapid spoilage. His misfortunes worsened in July as he tried to leave the wilderness but he was thwarted by the impassable Teklanika River which had swollen considerably, compelling him to retreat to the relative security of his refuge - the bus. Anxious about his survival, McCandless left a desperate plea for help outside the vehicle: "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." Yet, fatefully, no one responded to his urgent plea. McCandless's poignant tale documents 113 days cut off from the world, with his penultimate note on day 107 exulting "BEAUTIFUL BLUE BERRIES." In the subsequent days, his calendar was ominously marked by slashes until the 113th day, which stood out for its eerie emptiness. The enigmatic details only deepen the mystery that surrounds this young explorer's demise. Among his last actions, he took a self-portrait holding up a message which read: "I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!". Moose hunters came upon his remains and personal notes on September 6. The harrowing tale of Chris McCandless has long been shrouded in mystery. The intrepid explorer's tragic demise in the Alaskan wilderness has puzzled many, with the cause of his death a topic of ongoing debate. McCandless, an experienced adventurer, had been living off the land for several months before his death, with his diary entries revealing a daily struggle to hunt and forage for food. Yet, despite his evident resourcefulness, McCandless's body was discovered weighing a mere 67 pounds, sparking intense speculation about the circumstances surrounding his passing. Renowned author Jon Krakauer has dedicated considerable time to unravelling the enigma of McCandless's death. Krakauer's book, 'Into the Wild', chronicled McCandless's journey and probed the possible reasons behind his tragic end. Krakauer initially posited that wild potato seeds, which McCandless had consumed in large quantities, were the primary cause of his death. Krakauer hypothesised a toxic alkaloid within the seeds had severely debilitated McCandless, rendering him incapable of sustaining himself through hunting and gathering. However, this theory was later disputed when laboratory tests failed to detect the presence of any toxic compounds in the seeds. Undeterred, Krakauer continued to investigate, and his persistence has led to a new theory. Researcher Ronald Hamilton has proposed that the wild potato seeds did, in fact, contribute to McCandless's demise, albeit not due to toxic alkaloids. Hamilton's research revealed that McCandless's meagre diet and malnutrition had left him vulnerable to a rare but debilitating condition known as "lathyrism". This condition, often found in malnourished young men, gradually paralyses its victims, rendering them incapable of carrying out even the most basic tasks. Krakauer is now a proponent of Hamilton's theory, which provides a plausible explanation for McCandless's tragic demise. The case serves as a poignant reminder of the unforgiving nature of the wilderness and the devastating consequences of malnutrition. Despite the progress made in understanding McCandless's death, the incident remains a sobering reminder of the perils faced by adventurers who venture into the unknown. As the allure of the wilderness continues to captivate explorers worldwide, the story of Chris McCandless serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the importance of meticulous planning, preparation, and respect for the unforgiving power of nature. Lathyrism is triggered by an amino acid found in certain legumes, a devastating discovery originally linked to wild grass pea seeds. When Krakauer sent off the wild potato seeds to a chemist, it was confirmed they harboured the harmful amino acid responsible for lathyrism. After his passing, the converted bus that served as Christopher McCandless's last abode turned into a legendary spot for adventurers. Now known as "The Magic Bus", it bears a plaque commemorating McCandless, lovingly installed by his father, Walt. In a significant move in September 2020, the bus found a new home at the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, receiving restoration and its own dedicated exhibit. Emile Hirsch took on the role of McCandless in 2007's cinematic homage 'Into The Wild', enduring mountain climbs, braving frigid river waters in the nude, and coming face-to-face with a towering grizzly bear. Director Sean Penn felt compelled to bring the story to life on-screen after devouring Krakauer's book. "I ended up reading it cover to cover, nonstop, twice - the first time realising it was a movie and the second time affirming it," he admitted. Penn sought out Krakauer, who facilitated a meeting with McCandless' family - parents Walt and Billie, alongside sister Carine. His family approached the idea of a film with caution, wary of reawakening their grief, but over a decade later, they embraced the film adaptation. While McCandless has been celebrated by some for his audacious pursuit of adventure, others have condemned his ventures as reckless and negligent. Park Ranger Peter Christian delivered a biting critique: "When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn't even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate." He highlighted the lack of survival skills displayed by McCandless: "First off, he spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild. He arrived at the Stampede Trail without even a map of the area. If he had a good map he could have walked out of his predicament." Christian was blunt about the tragedy that ensued: "Essentially, Chris McCandless committed suicide." In contrast, ranger Ken Ilgunas gave an alternate view in The McCandless Mecca: "McCandless, of course, did not commit suicide. He starved to death, accidentally poisoned himself, or a combination of the two." Jon Krakauer, author of the renowned story, came to McCandless' defence stating: "In 1992, however, there were no more blank spots on the map - not in Alaska, not anywhere." Krakauer relayed McCandless' unconventional thinking: "But Chris, with his idiosyncratic logic, came up with an elegant solution to this dilemma: He simply got rid of the map. In his own mind, if nowhere else, the terra would thereby remain incognita."
Irish Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Chilling final days of man who staved to death in bus paralysed by seeds
In April 1992, Chris McCandless, a self-proclaimed adventurer embarked on a dangerous odyssey into the wilds of Alaska. Sadly, five months on, the 24-year-old was discovered dead, his body in a sleeping bag in an empty bus. His emaciated frame weighed just 30kg (67 lbs), with starvation cited as the cause of death. Known to some as Alexander Supertramp, McCandless detailed his dying days in a diary, noting subsistence on hunted game, plant roots, and seeds. His poignant tale was captured for posterity by Jon Krakauer in the celebrated book 'Into The Wild', which subsequently inspired a hit movie. Back in Fairfax, Virginia, McCandless was not only academic and athletic but also known for his nonconformity - his high school teachers noted he "marched to the beat of a different drummer", as reported by The Daily Star. Graduating from Emory University in 1990 with honours in history and anthropology, he donated $24,000 to OXFAM and over the next two years switched between work and adventure treks, reports the Mirror US. By 1992, divesting himself of nearly all his belongings and equipped with meagre provisions, he hitched northwards to Fairbanks, Alaska, beginning his fateful march into the wild. His diaries, peppered with photos, document his passage down the snowy Stampede Trail until he happened upon a deserted bus close to Denali National Park, which became his makeshift home. He survived on small game such as squirrels, birds, and rabbits while also foraging for roots and seeds, seemingly embracing his wild adventure. However, McCandless's survival know-how took a knock when in June he illegally hunted a moose and failed to adequately preserve its meat, leading to it spoiling. In a tragic twist by July, as he tried venturing back to civilisation, the swollen Teklanika River blocked his path, forcing him to retreat to the relative safety of his bus. Under dire circumstances, he scrawled an SOS message outside the bus: "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, his plea went unheard. McCandless's journey spanned 113 days alone, with his penultimate entry on day 107 jubilantly noting "BEAUTIFUL BLUE BERRIES." The following day entries were marked with foreboding slashes until the chilling emptiness of day 113. The enigma deepens regarding the young explorer's untimely demise. Capturing one of his final moments, McCandless took a self-portrait holding a note reading: "I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!". His remains and diary entries were eventually found by moose hunters on September 6. In a poignant twist, McCandless, lacking a detailed map, was oblivious to a nearby abandoned cable car system that could have facilitated his river crossing, a point where he had previously turned back. The mystery surrounding his demise deepened, as it remained unclear why this physically capable explorer succumbed to starvation, despite his daily endeavors to hunt and forage for sustenance. Jon Krakauer, author of a book on McCandless, proposed an alternative explanation for his death, suggesting it was not starvation, but rather the consumption of wild potato seeds that proved fatal. According to Krakauer, McCandless's journals revealed that he had eaten a substantial quantity of these seeds, leading him to surmise that toxic alkaloids present within them had incapacitated McCandless to the point of being unable to sustain himself. However, this hypothesis encountered a hurdle, as most guidebooks categorize wild potatoes as non-toxic. Undeterred, Krakauer submitted the seeds for analysis by a scientist, but no toxic alkaloids were found. Krakauer now supports a medical paper authored by researcher Ronald Hamilton, which posits that the wild potato seeds did, in fact, contribute to McCandless's demise, albeit not due to toxic alkaloids. Hamilton's findings indicate that McCandless's meagre diet and malnutrition had rendered him susceptible to a rare yet debilitating condition prevalent among malnourished young men, known as "lathyrism", which progressively paralyses its victims. Lathyrism is triggered by ingesting an amino acid first found in the seeds of wild grass peas. Krakauer dispatched some wild potato seeds to a chemist, who verified that the seeds contained the amino acid responsible for lathyrism. After his demise, the converted bus where McCandless spent his last moments became an iconic destination for trekkers. Known as "The Magic Bus", it sports a commemorative plaque from McCandless's father, Walt. In September 2020, the bus was moved to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, where it underwent restoration and became part of an exhibit. In the 2007 cinematic rendition, Into The Wild, Emile Hirsch steps into the shoes of McCandless. For the role, Hirsch undertook mountain climbing, braved a dip in frigid 35-degree river water, and came within a hair's breadth of an 8ft grizzly bear. Director Sean Penn felt compelled to bring the film to life immediately after devouring Krakauer's book. "I ended up reading it cover to cover, nonstop, twice - the first time realising it was a movie and the second time affirming it," he confessed. Penn reached out to Krakauer, who introduced him to McCandless' parents, Walt and Billie, and his sister Carine. Initially reluctant, the family did not wish to reopen old wounds with a film about McCandless' heartrending story, but they eventually consented nearly ten years later, allowing the film to proceed. While some laud McCandless for his adventurous spirit, there are those who deem his actions reckless and negligent. Park Ranger Peter Christian didn't hold back in his critique: "When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn't even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate." He pointed out McCandless' glaring oversight: "First off, he spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild. He arrived at the Stampede Trail without even a map of the area. If he had a good map he could have walked out of his predicament." Christian starkly concluded: "Essentially, Chris McCandless committed suicide." Contrastingly, another ranger Ken Ilgunas gives an alternate viewpoint in The McCandless Mecca: "McCandless, of course, did not commit suicide. He starved to death, accidentally poisoned himself, or a combination of the two." The author behind the famous narrative, Jon Krakauer defends McCandless' actions: "In 1992, however, there were no more blank spots on the map - not in Alaska, not anywhere." Krakauer shares insight into McCandless' thought process: "But Chris, with his idiosyncratic logic, came up with an elegant solution to this dilemma: He simply got rid of the map. In his own mind, if nowhere else, the terra would thereby remain incognita."
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Daily Record
Horrifying last days of off-grid man paralysed by seeds as he starved to death
In April 1992, Chris McCandless set out on a perilous journey into Alaska's harsh wilderness, but just five months later the 24-year-old was found dead, wrapped in a sleeping bag inside an abandoned bus In April 1992, Chris McCandless embarked on what became a fateful adventure into the wilds of Alaska, driven by his love for exploration. His story turned to tragedy when, five months later, he was discovered lifeless at age 24, his frail body weighing just 30kg (4st 7lbs), wrapped in a sleeping bag inside a derelict bus - death by starvation being the grim verdict. Famously known as Alexander Supertramp, McCandless documented his struggle for survival through journal entries that spoke of subsisting on game, local flora, and seeds. His poignant tale of determination and hardship was later immortalised in Jon Krakauer's novel 'Into The Wild', which subsequently inspired a renowned feature film. Back home in Fairfax, Virginia, McCandless had been an exceptional student and athlete; his high school teachers remembered his individuality, observing how he "marched to the beat of a different drummer", as noted by The Daily Star. Following his graduation from Emory University with honours in history and anthropology in 1990, he donated $24,000 to OXFAM, embracing two years filled with intermittent employment and passionate hiking odysseys, reports the Mirror US. McCandless's final journey began in 1992 with only essential supplies after giving away most of his personal belongings. He hitchhiked to Fairbanks, Alaska, before heading off into the wilderness. His journals featured snapshots of his experiences trekking through the snowy Stampede Trail and detailed his discovery of an isolated bus near Denali National Park, which became his base. He subsisted on small game such as squirrels, birds, and rabbits, in addition to foraged roots and seeds, seemingly embracing his wilderness adventure. However, in June, McCandless's ability to survive took a hit when he illegally hunted a moose but was unable to preserve the meat, leading it to spoil. In a devastating turn of events, come July, when McCandless tried to return to civilisation, he found himself blocked by the swollen Teklanika River, which forced him to retreat back to the security of his bus shelter. In desperation and fearing for his life, he erected an SOS sign outside the bus: "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." Unfortunately, his plea for help remained unanswered. McCandless's poignant tale details 113 days of solitary existence, with his last written entry on day 107 noting the joy of "BEAUTIFUL BLUE BERRIES." The subsequent days were disturbingly recorded with just slashes until day 113, which chillingly ended without any mark. As new information surfaces, the enigma surrounding the tragic conclusion of this young explorer grows. One of his final gestures was taking a self-portrait with a message declaring: "I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!". His body, alongside his personal diaries, was eventually found by moose hunters on September 6. In a tragic twist of fate, McCandless, who did not possess an intricate map, was oblivious to a nearby abandoned cable car system that could have helped him cross the river where he had previously turned back. This added another layer of mystery to why this physically fit adventurer died from starvation despite his daily attempts to hunt and gather. Author Jon Krakauer postulated in his book that McCandless's death was not due to starvation but rather the consumption of wild potato seeds. McCandless's journals showed he ate a considerable amount of these seeds, which led Krakauer to suspect that a toxic alkaloid within them weakened him so severely that he could no longer fend for himself by hunting and foraging. Yet, this theory encountered a problem as most guidebooks classify wild potatoes as non-toxic. Undeterred, Krakauer had the seeds tested by a scientist, but they found no toxic alkaloids. Krakauer, still seeking answers, now endorses a medical paper by researcher Ronald Hamilton, which posits that the wild potato seeds were indeed the cause of McCandless's death, but not through any toxic alkaloids. Hamilton's study uncovered that McCandless's scant diet and malnutrition made him susceptible to a rare but severe condition often seen in undernourished young men, known as "lathyrism", which slowly paralyses its sufferers. Lathyrism is a condition triggered by the ingestion of an amino acid first identified in the seeds of wild grass peas. Krakauer sent some wild potato seeds to a chemist, who verified that they contained the lathyrism-inducing amino acid. After McCandless's demise, the converted bus where he spent his last days became a famous destination for trekkers. Known as "The Magic Bus", it bears a commemorative plaque from McCandless's father, Walt. In September 2020, the bus was moved to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, where it underwent restoration and an exhibition was set up. In the 2007 film adaptation, Into The Wild, actor Emile Hirsch took on the role of McCandless. During the shoot, Hirsch undertook daring feats such as scaling mountains, floating naked in a river with a temperature of 35 degrees, and standing mere inches away from an 8ft grizzly bear. Director Sean Penn felt compelled to create the film after reading Krakauer's book. "I ended up reading it cover to cover, nonstop, twice - the first time realising it was a movie and the second time affirming it," he said. Penn reached out to Krakauer, who introduced him to McCandless' parents, Walt and Billie, and his younger sister Carine. Initially, the family was reluctant to approve a film adaptation of McCandless' tragic story, not wishing to reopen old wounds so soon after his passing. However, about 10 years later, they gave their consent and the project proceeded. While some admire McCandless for his adventurous spirit, others criticise his actions as reckless and thoughtless. Peter Christian, a park ranger, offered a scathing appraisal, saying: "When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn't even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate." Christian stressed McCandless' lack of preparation, saying: "First off, he spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild. He arrived at the Stampede Trail without even a map of the area. If he had a good map he could have walked out of his predicament." Christian's verdict was unequivocal: "Essentially, Chris McCandless committed suicide." However, Ken Ilgunas, another ranger, presented a contrasting view in The McCandless Mecca: "McCandless, of course, did not commit suicide. He starved to death, accidentally poisoned himself, or a combination of the two." Jon Krakauer, the author of the well-known account, came to McCandless' defence, arguing: "In 1992, however, there were no more blank spots on the map - not in Alaska, not anywhere." Krakauer shed light on McCandless' unconventional thinking: "But Chris, with his idiosyncratic logic, came up with an elegant solution to this dilemma: He simply got rid of the map. In his own mind, if nowhere else, the terra would thereby remain incognita."
