|
Alaska officials on Thursday airlifted from a
remote trail outside Denali National Park the wrecked bus made
famous by the 1996 book and 2007 movie "Into the Wild," removing
an object that drew hundreds of fans and sightseers.
Too many people were putting themselves at risk trekking to the
site where adventurer Christopher McCandless died of starvation
in 1992, officials said.
"We encourage people to enjoy Alaska’s wild areas safely, and we
understand the hold this bus has had on the popular
imagination," Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige
said in a statement.
"However, this is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle that
was requiring dangerous and costly rescue efforts. More
importantly, it was costing some visitors their lives,” Feige
said.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources and Alaska Army
National Guard worked jointly to remove the 1940s-era bus.
Over the years, several people making pilgrimages to the bus
became injured or stranded. Two drowned in river crossings. In
April a stranded Brazilian tourist was evacuated, and in
February five Italian tourists were rescued.
The local mayor called the bus removal “a big relief.”
"For public safety, we know it’s the right thing,” Denali
Borough Mayor Clay Walker told Reuters. “At the same time, it is
part of our history and it does feel a little bittersweet to see
a piece of our history go down the road.”
The bus was hauled to the trail about 60 years ago by a road
crew, Walker said. ”It turned into a perilous attraction that
needed to be addressed,” he said.
The ultimate fate of the dilapidated bus is unknown. The
Department of Natural Resources statement said it is being kept
in a “secure location” pending a decision about its disposal.
(Reporting by Yereth Rosen; Editing by Leslie Adler)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
