Woman, 24, dies trying to reach famous ‘Into the Wild’ bus

Woman, 24, dies trying to reach famous ‘Into the Wild’ bus
By Christian Fleetwood


A woman has died crossing a river in Alaska after attempting to reach a bus made famous by the novel and film Into the Wild. 

Veramika Maikamava, 24, was swept under the water of the Teklanika River after attempting to cross to reach the bus where the subject of Into the Wild, hiker Christopher McCandless, died in 1992.

Maikamava was travelling with her husband Pitor Markielau, 24, who called state troopers in Fairbanks, Alaska to report her death.

He pulled her from the river a short distance downstream from where she entered and was swept underwater. Authorities have said Maikamava’s body has been recovered.

State troopers told the Associated Press she had died by the time Markielau pulled her from the river, which was reportedly fast-flowing as a result of recent rain.

Fairbanks Bus 142, also known as “The Magic Bus”, has figured as a dangerous pilgrimage for hikers since it was made famous by Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild (1996) and Sean Penn’s 2007 film of the same name, which starred Emile Hirsch.

Many who have attempted to reach it have required rescue by emergency authorities.

Into the Wild chronicles the life and death of McCandless – a wealthy graduate, top student and athlete – who rids himself of his possessions to journey into the Alaskan wilderness.

Featured image credit: Flickr/Erik Halfacre

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