A 24-year-old man had one final message to the world after hiking into the wilderness, never to be seen alive again.
Chris McCandless, also known as “Alexander Supertramp”, was an avid adventurer who sought a nomadic lifestyle.
Following his graduation from Emory University in 1990, McCandless donated his entire $24,000 savings and worldly possessions to Oxfam charity so he could live largely as an outdoorsman.
Two years later, the wanderer, from Fairfax, Virginia, embarked on a strenuous hitchhiking journey to Alaska – inspired by his favorite book, The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
Sadly, his story had a tragic ending.
Before McCandless’ journey in April 1992, he was driven up to the head of a trail by an electrician named Jim Gallien, who was the last person to see him alive.
The man reportedly expressed concern with the graduate’s lack of survival skills and equipment, and even allegedly asked him to delay the expedition.
However, the 24-year-old ultimately refused and headed into the woods with minimal supplies such as books, a rifle, and some rice.
It’s been reported that McCandless hiked along the snow-covered Stampede Trail and found an abandoned 1940s-era Fairbanks city bus near Denali National Park, according to Daily Star.
The man survived for 113 days in the remote region, living off hunted animals such as squirrels, birds, and rabbits. He also consumed foraged roots and seeds.
He thrived in the wilderness until July, which was when he realized that he needed to return to civilization.
Unfortunately, his efforts were blocked by the impassable Teklanika River, which left him with no choice but to return to his rusty bus.
Fearing for his life, the graduate left a message on the bus that 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,” he added, according to The New Yorker.
No one saw or came.
McCandless kept a journal that documented his 113 days in the remote region.
Per Daily Star, his last written message was on day 107 and it read: “BEAUTIFUL BLUE BERRIES.” Days 108 to 112 were labeled only with slashes, and day 113 was blank.
One of his final acts was a picture he took of himself holding a heartbreaking message note which read: “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!”
Check out the picture below:
The exact date McCandless passed away is unclear, however, his decomposed body was found by moose hunters on September 6, 1992.
From the diary discovered among his possessions, it is believed that he had been dead for nineteen days. A driver’s license administered eight months before he passed suggested that he was 24 and weighed 140 pounds.
McCandless’ body was flown out of the woods, and an autopsy was carried out. It revealed that he weighed 67lbs.
According to the coroner’s report, his probable cause of death was starvation or poisoning from wild vegetation he’d consumed.
McCandless’ heartwrenching story will live forever as it became a non-fiction book called Into the Wild, written by John Krakauer. This was then made into a feature film of the same name in 2007.