Marble Canyon AZ, USA

 
The film INTO THE WILD is based on the true story of Chris McCandless. After completing his studies in history and anthropology in 1990, he decided to cut ties with his family. Dissatisfied with the materialistic life he had grown up in, McCandless gave his savings to charity and embarked on a journey across the United States.

Into the Wild, 0:51:55

After wandering through among others California, Arizona, South Dakota, Colorado, and Mexico, McCandless went to Alaska to venture into the wilderness. On 6 September 1992, a hunter discovered his lifeless body in an abandoned bus, used as a shelter by hunters and rangers. The cause of death was probably malnutrition combined with eating the roots of a poisonous plant.

Chris McCandless' life story is described in Jon Krakauer's 1996 book “Into the Wild”. He based it amongst others on journal entries and conversations with people Chris McCandless had met during his travels.

Balanced Rock, Marble Canyon, 9 July 2023 

The book was adapted into a movie, which was filmed between 24 April and 4 November 2006 in eight states: Oregon, Arizona, Alaska, California, South Dakota, Nevada, Washington, Georgia and in Mexico. I previously blogged about the places Fairbanks and Healy in Alaska. During our trip across America in 2023, we visited Marble Canyon in Arizona where a short scene was filmed.

After working on a farm in South Dakota for almost a year, Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) decides to travel by kayak down the Colorado River to Mexico. A popular place to start a boat trip is Lees Ferry in Marble Canyon. This campsite is not featured in the film but it is suggested that McCandless starts his boat trip here when he passes Balanced Rock. This rock is six kilometers (2.4 miles) from Lees Ferry and has its own page on the National Park Service website.

Into the Wild, 0:54:04

Marble Canyon, 9 July 2023

Into the Wild, 0:54:12

Balanced Rock, Marble Canyon, 9 July 2023

Not seen in the film but noteworthy: Marble Canyon is home to the California condor, an endangered species. We saw this bird sitting near the Navajo Bridge. The California Condor Conservation Project, a breeding programme in zoos is trying to increase the population. All birds have a number on the wing. Number T5 was born in captivity and released in the spring of 2018 at Vermillion Cliffs, not far from Marble Canyon.

Californian condor, Marble Canyon, 9 July 2023

Screenshots © Paramount Vantage/River Road Entertainment

Healy AK, USA

    
An old city bus plays an important part in the film INTO THE WILD. Once left behind by miners after the axle broke, this Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142 from 1946 was used as a shelter by hunters and rangers. It became world famous after Chris McCandless stayed here for four months.

The film tells the true story of the last two years of his life, during which Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) wondered all over the United States and finally chose the lonely life in Alaska. He died in August 1992 and was found dead two weeks later in what he had called the “Magic Bus”. Starvation, in combination with eating a toxic plant or fungus, may have been the cause of his death.

Into the Wild, 2:16:23

Out of respect for the McCandless family and because the bus is so remote - it can only be reached by the difficult and sometimes very dangerous Stampede Trail - a replica was made by putting parts of two busses from the 1940s together. This made it also easier to film inside the bus, for instance by taking the back door out. Filming was done near the small village of Cantwell.

During our visit to Alaska we passed Cantwell but because it was raining heavily that day we did not try to find filming locations. About 40 miles north of Cantwell is Healy. The Stampede Rd, that leads to the Stampede Trail, starts here. The road sign can be seen in the movie but it differs from the sign that we saw. Perhaps it has been replaced since filming in 2006, more likely is that another sign along the same road was filmed.

Into the Wild, 0:02:53

Stampede Rd, Healy, 14 July 2015

'Magic Bus', Healy, 14 July 2015

After the Alaska shoot was finished, the movie bus was bought by Jason Motyka, owner of 49th State Brewing Company, a restaurant that specializes in beer. Located on the George Parks Hwy, it can be found near mile 284.4. The bus is left of the entrance and admission is free. Inside the bus is a small exhibition on Christ McCandles, including postcards he sent, notes from his diary and photographs that were found on his camera. Also note the signpost, indicating 35 miles to the 'real' magic bus.

Into the Wild, 2:00:07

'Magic Bus', 49th State Brewing Company, Healy, 14 July 2015

Into the Wild, 0:11:59

'Magic Bus', 49th State Brewing Company, Healy, 14 July 2015

Into the Wild, 1:44:01

'Magic Bus', 49th State Brewing Company, Healy, 14 July 2015

The photo of Chris McCandless sitting in front of the bus is also part of the movie. Director Sean Penn recreated the scene and wanted to end his film with this photo. He was granted permission by the family.

Into the Wild, 2:16:49 (self portrait Chris McCandless)

Into the Wild, 1:43:27

'Magic Bus', 49th State Brewing Company, Healy, 14 July 2015

Healy is located near the Denali National Park and Preserve, a beautiful nature reserve that for the main part can only be visited by bus. It is very likely that you will see wildlife. During our visit we saw, amongst others, bears, moose, caribous, squirrels, and birds of prey. The national park is named after Denali, the highest mountain of North America. The mountain can be glimpsed in the movie for a moment when McCandless is attempting to return to the civilized world.

Into the Wild, 1:44:33

Denali National Park, 15 July 2015

The movie features a lot images from Alaska's nature, for instance a bumblebee on a fireweed. In the summertime, Alaska turns lilac when this plant is flourishing everywhere, partly due to the fact that it does not get dark at night. It was quite easy to photograph a fireweed with a bumblebee. After a forest fire this plant will grow first on the burnt site, hence the name fireweed. Also found everywhere and seen in the film is foxtail barley, a grass species.

Into the Wild, 1:42:59

Fireweed with bumblebee, Denali National Park, 15 July 2015

Into the Wild, 1:21:37

Foxtail barley, Denali Borough, 16 July 2015

Screenshots © Paramount Vantage/River Road Entertainment

Fairbanks AK, USA

       
The short but intense life of Chris McCandless is the subject of the film INTO THE WILD. The true story is based on the book by the same name of Jon Krakauer who describes how, after two years of travelling across North America, McCandless died in Alaska at the age of 24. Disappointed in society he had decided to drastically change his life after graduating.

Into the Wild, 1:43:10

Without notifying his family and friends he left his conventional life and set out for a long journey that would end in Alaska. In the Denali Borough, far away from the civilized world, he found an old city bus used by hunters to spend the night. He stayed here for several months but would not survive. He died most probably of starvation, perhaps in combination with eating a toxic plant.

Filming all over the United States was done between 24 April and 4 November 2006. Alaska was visited several times. The movie opens with Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) arriving in Fairbanks, the third largest city of Alaska. His image is not seen, only lines from a postcard he sent to Wayne Westerberg (Vince Vaughn), his employer for a short time. While Eddie Vedder’s “Guaranteed” is playing, one of the 11 songs composed specially for the film, various images of the Fairbanks area are shown.

The Chena River runs through the city. From the Barnette St Bridge the power plant is visible on the left and on the right is the Elks Lodge #1551, a community building with settlements all over the United States. An elk is a deer which explains the deer on top of the building. The address is 1003 Pioneer Rd. The official name of the power plant is Aurora Energy Coal Power Plant and District Heat System and is shown a second time. The building is located at 1206 1st Ave.

Into the Wild, 0:01:43

View from Barnette St Bridge, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

Into the Wild, 0:01:47

Aurora Energy Coal Power Plant, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

Near the Barnette St Bridge is The Big-I, the oldest bar in Fairbanks and one of the city’s best known places. This Irish pub can be found at 122 N Turner St. During filming the full name, The Big International, was on the facade.

Into the Wild, 0:01:45

The Big-I, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

2nd Ave is within walking distance of Barnette St on the other side of the river. On the left is supermarket Co-op at number 535 and Soapy Smith’s Pioneer Restaurant is at number 543. The buildings have hardly changed, the banner of the restaurant is still the same but has visible traces of bad weather.

Into the Wild, 0:01:50

2nd Ave, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

Just down the road, near the river, is the Masonic Temple at 809 1st Ave. As is seen above the name, this historic building dates from 1906. It has had several owners, during our visit it was empty. Although listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is falling into disrepair.

Into the Wild, 0:01:50

Masonic Temple, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

Outside the city is Gold Hill, a liquor store on the Parks Highway, connecting Fairbanks with Denali National Park. The number is 3040 but from the road the yellow building, now renewed, is easy to spot.

Into the Wild, 0:02:27

Gold Hill, Fairbanks, 16 July 2015

On the other side of the city Alaskan Prospectors is located, a store specialized in “Alaska Gold prospecting equipment and information” as is stated on their website. It is has been in business for more than 40 years. The address is 504 College Road.

Into the Wild, 0:02:30

Alaskan Prospectors, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

Into the Wild, 0:02:31

Alaskan Prospectors, Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

The Down Under Guns shop was closed in 2007. The address we found online, 318 Driveaway St, is an abandoned lot. The building has completely dissolved.

Into the Wild, 0:02:35

Fairbanks, 18 July 2015

Screenshots © Paramount Vantage/River Road Entertainment