Talk:Chris McCandless

I changed the word "Hiker" to "Adventurer" as McCandless did not go on his journey to conquer a trail, he did it to discover something, whether that be in the world or in himself. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Barretton (talk • contribs) 16:06, 30 April 2021 (UTC)

Just read an article about the bus being removed, deaths and rescues being the motivators for the decision:

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Into-the-Wild-bus-removed-from-Stampede-Trail-by-State-of-Alaska-571357901.html

Might be worth waiting on what they decide to do with the bus. — Preceding unsigned comment added by InceptedNoggin (talk • contribs) 04:52, 19 June 2020 (UTC)

Here are various sources for the story on the removal of the bus:

* Alaska Public Media: Helicopter removes ‘Into the Wild’ bus that lured Alaska travelers to their deaths

* Alaska's News Source: 'Into the Wild' bus removed from Stampede Trail by State of Alaska

* BBC News: 'Into The Wild' bus removed from Alaska wilderness

* KTVA: Nearly 30 years after 'Into the Wild' hiker's death, infamous bus removed from Alaska wilderness

* NewsColony: 'Into the Wild' bus, known as a deadly tourist lure, has been removed by air

* New York Times (AP): 'Into the Wild' Bus Removed From Alaska Backcountry

* Smithsonian Magazine: 'Into the Wild; Bus Airlifted Out of the Wilderness

* Star Tribune (AP): 'Into the Wild' bus removed from Alaska backcountry

* Washington Post: 'Into the Wild’ author torn over removal of iconic bus: ‘I wrote the book that ruined it'

Fabrickator (talk) 23:37, 5 September 2020 (UTC)

The location of El Golfo de Santa Clara is given in degrees with fifteen decimal places. That is a precision of about 0.1 nanometers, or the average width of a single atom. Three decimal places, a precision of about 111 meters or 365 feet would be sufficient for the location of a city.

Cook Navigation (talk) 17:59, 2 December 2021 (UTC)

@Cook Navigation: Done! This made me chuckle, thanks for picking up on it :) AviationFreak💬 19:11, 2 December 2021 (UTC)

I'd like to know which atom. And what was it an atom of? Oxygen? Nitrogen? Maybe silicon! People could make pilgrimmages to stand on that particular atom, after all feet must have trillions of atoms, some are bound to touch it. Hope nobody breathes it in by accident and takes it anywhere.

84.65.94.92 (talk) 06:14, 31 January 2022 (UTC)

knowing our luck it's gone already! man, if only i were there when the measurement was taken, i would be one of the lucky ones huh

i agree with the previous writer, that the type of atom should be specified, for precision's sake. tungsten and bismuth are much bigger than silicon or carbon. this is important for future generations to know Acetoe (talk) 02:10, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

The redirect Russell Fritz has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 May 8 § Russell Fritz until a consensus is reached. AngusW🐶🐶F (bark • sniff) 22:10, 8 May 2023 (UTC)

Very extensively based on Jon Krakauer authored articles. Looking at very extensive IP editing and this, there maybe Krakauer related COI happening in this article. Graywalls (talk) 02:38, 1 April 2025 (UTC)

What is the conflict of interest exactly? Andrew Z. Colvin • Talk 16:43, 12 May 2025 (UTC)

@Graywalls Yeah, I get where you're coming from, but Krakauer's articles, books, and the film based on the book (which receives similar views to the actual article on McCandless) are really the major reason he's (McCandless) notable. Krauker's book, especially, is very well known today (which is impressive, for a non-fiction book). Any article on McCandless is naturally going to rely on Krakauer's work (either directly or indirectly). Agree with the tag noting that we rely too much on it- it does have some accuracy issues, and I think there's better sources now which we could source his views to. But it's very unlikely to be COI, just a lot of people citing a very well known book. I'll remove the tag. GreenLipstickLesbian💌🦋 07:51, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

@GreenLipstickLesbian and Azcolvin429:, when you look at the edit history and pattern as well as the grandiose contents, it appears promotional editing has occurred. Not necessity of the McCandless, but excessive WP:TMI in a way that overemphasizes contents from Krakauer book. See what I've trimmed out. Krakauer has something to gain from building interest in his book and it would be to his advantage when articles causes book purchase to occur. Graywalls (talk) 18:54, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

No, pretty sure it's just WP:FANCRUFT. @Graywalls, how familiar are you with the subject of McCandless?

And I've taken a look at some of the stuff you've trimmed. Some stuff needed to go, obviously, but I really disagree with taking out any mention of Krakauer's book and the film from the lead. Looking at the highest quality sources on McCandless (published in journals, by academic presses, and newspapers), and most of them either introduce him as the guy from Into the Wild or mention/discuss Krauker's work extensively, especially as it relates to McCandless's legacy. Now, I live in ALaska and have my whole life, so I can't state my exact opinion on Krakauer without getting OS-ed and blocked for violating BLP, but even I have to admit that at least some of his theories need to be discussed here, and the book/film are absolutely lead worthy material.

Also, as a reminder to myself - Driving with Strangers is better and more up to date than most of the sources currently in the article, and it's available through TWL on Project Muse. GreenLipstickLesbian💌🦋 08:15, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

I believe that's placed in popular culture section, then not nearly as much details in lede per MOS:LEDE Graywalls (talk) 17:24, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

Yeah, but a paragraph briefly summarizing his legacy (which will naturally be covered in much more depth in the article proper) needs to go in the lead, given how much the sources discuss Into the Wild in relation to McCandless. Might add a mention of the deaths and the movement of the bus too, but those make no sense without the context of the film/book. GreenLipstickLesbian💌🦋 19:44, 23 June 2025 (UTC)