Hey Everybody,
This page is a collection of resources and information that will help you learn about and plan a hiking trip to Bus 142 on the Stampede Trail in Alaska. I (Erik Halfacre) created this site, along with much of it's content, because of the lack of information I was able to find online previous to my hike to the bus in June of 2009. Here you will find helpful information, links to maps, videos, photos, explanations of the challenges involved and more. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or anything you'd like to add. I'm always looking for more, and more current, photos, videos, blogs, etc that have to do with hiking the stampede trail.
VIDEO ABOUT THE HIKE
I did this video as a project for my Digital Story Telling class in college. It contains a lot of good information about the hike as well as interviews with several hikers who have made the hike out the Stampede Trail to the bus. If you haven't already seen this I would suggest you start here.
FINDING YOUR WAY THERE AND (MORE IMPORTANTLY) BACK
The first thing you need to know is how to find the start of the trail. Driving north on the Parks Highway from the town of Healy, you'll soon reach the Stampede Road. Turn left, and drive from there to Eight Mile Lake. There is no sign but the road turns from rough gravel, to rutted mud after that point and it's pretty obvious when that happens. Also, Eight Mile Lake is easily visible from the road and it will come up on your right hand side (north of the road.)
From Eight Mile Lake, it's roughly twenty miles along the stampede trail, heading west, before you reach the 'magic bus' itself. If you use Google Earth you can download this .kmz file of the trail itself. I have a hand drawn map here that you could use to kind of get an idea. If you have a GPS you can download a GPX file for it here or here.There's also a map on the Healy Chamber of Commerce's site. Before you go though, get yourself a good USGS map. That's definately going to be the most accurate.
Coordinates of
Bus 142
AS THEY SAY, " BE PREPARED"
The Alaskan backcountry can be exceptionally unforgiving. Even minor mistakes can quickly turn into life threatening crises for the unprepared. Pack extra food and water. Bring a compass even if you have a GPS. Hike with a friend; it's more fun that way anyhow! Pack a first aid kit, a good map, warm clothes, etc. Expect to get very wet. Line your pack with a dry bag or trash bag. Put electronics into ziplock bags or use other methods of completely waterproofing them. The Teklanika is very powerful and can take your legs out from under you quicker than you might think.
Crossing the Teklanika River can be a big challenge. Cross in a group and link arms if possible. If you are unable to find someone else to go on the hike with you I would strongly suggest reconcidering. You can try and find someone to go with you using our forum. Unbuckle the waist-strap of your pack in case you are taken off your feet. Use a large sturdy stick to help you keep balance, planting it upstream (not downstream) as you go. Take your time, and remember: at certain points of the year, it can just be too high to cross. There's nothing in that bus worth your life. Try to avoid going in the heat of the summer when the glaciers are melting the most. It is possible to drown in this river so be very careful.
Check out this article about fording rivers or this one.
Bears are another big concern. Setting up a bear bag to keep your food up may not be possible on many parts of the trail. On my trek, I was able to find some spruce trees overleaning the Teklanika River itself that were high enough I was able to string one up. Another method would be to keep your food in a bear-proof container. Since you're not actually in Denali National Park, you don't have to have one (whereas you do have to by law in the park) but it's still a good idea. Carry either a bear gun, or bear spray while you're out there. You'll definately want more than your walking stick in the unlikely event that you're getting charged by a grizz.
The trail is 40 miles round trip. Much of it is flooded, actually runs right up creek beds, or is covered by beaver ponds. It's a long, long hike and I can personally guarantee that short of wearing hip waders for 40 miles, your feet will get wet. Bring a huge abundance of socks with you. I brought a pair of Teva Sandals that I wore for most of the crossings just to keep my boots dry. Eventually though my plan failed and my hikers were full of water too. I'd still bring some sandals, so you have something to walk around camp in while your boots dry out. Prepare yourself for the distance by doing shorter hikes. Don't come to AK and set out for the magic bus without making some attempt to build a little bit of trail endurance. Do a few hikes ramping up from around five miles to around ten or more miles in a day. Hike with a pack on. Just make sure you're going to be able to hike twenty miles in, and make it twenty miles out with all of your gear. Remember to 'leave no trace.'
The Mosquitoes out there are vicious. They are likely to pick you up and carry you away if you don't bring some serious bug dope. I have personally found that DEET is the only effective weapon against the hoards of mosquitoes in places like this. That's my opinion though, you're welcome to try whatever works for you, just dont go without anything during the summer months.
Communication will be difficult once you get out on the trail. If something happens, you are well outside of cellphone range for most of the trip. Give a trip plan to someone you trust, and have them call authorities if you are overdue. Be aware though that you may be charged for a rescue by State Troopers. Make every effort to be prepared for anything that might occur on the trail. The idea of removing the bus, or relocating it to a position nearer the highway, and safer to hike to has been discussed in the past. In order to prevent that from happening, we need to make every effort to stay safe, and stay out of the newspaper. If State Troopers are having to go out there and rescue underprepared hikers from peril of their own making, on a regular basis, you can bet that removing the bus will be discussed again.
PLEASE RESPECT THE BUS
Regardless of your opinion of Christopher McCandless, Bus 142 was where a man spent his final days and where his story ended. Have the respect due such a place. Don't take anything, and leave things in as good or better condition then you found them please. The bus, and the story that go with it, mean an aweful lot to a lot of people and it's a shame when people behave destructively and without regard.