Woman dies while trying to reach ‘Into the Wild’ bus in Alaska

Reuters ^ | July 26, 2019 | Yereth Rosen

[vetvetdoug]

Chest waders, wading stick and a fly rod. This is my environment.

[Alas Babylon!]

Up river it looks like someone’s already in the water. I see a dark, round head and shoulders...

[freeandfreezing]

That river is way to rough for an easy crossing - even at that depth.

The bus, if it didn't have such a sad history would be a great candidate for removal and restoration.

[freeandfreezing]

Even still, 65 degree water is lethal in minutes. People sailing off the coast of New England have to exercise care since falling overboard can kill you from hypothermia before the sailboat can circle back to get you, even if you are a strong swimmer.

Cold whitewater is very dangerous.

[freeandfreezing]

And if they are like most rocks in a river, slipperier than wet ice.

[SamAdams76]

I don't think nature "tries" to kill you. Nature is simply indifferent to the fate of all living things, man, beast or fowl.

Our modern life has built a "cocoon of safety" around us and has given many of us a false sense of security. Even the strongest and fittest among us would not last more than a few hours if suddenly thrust into cold seawater or exposed on a cold night with no clothes or shelter.

I had two "reality of nature" experiences in my life. In the early 1980s, I was a young Marine stationed at the 29 Palms base in the high desert of California. One particular morning when I had a weekend to myself, I decided to walk across the desert to a mountain range that looked like it couldn't be more than a few miles away. After a couple hours of walking, I realized I was getting nowhere close and turned back. Temperature was rapidly rising through the 80s, 90s and close to 100 degrees (a normal thing there). When I finally stumbled into town, I spent the next few hours drinking one Gatorade after another. Would surely have died out there if I wasn't in such good shape or decided to keep walking into the desert until I (unknowingly) reached the point of no return.

20 years later, I had a similar experience while hiking. This time I was up in the woods of New Hampshire and unwisely undertook a long hike knowing that a snowstorm was on the way for that afternoon. Well the snow hit quicker and I lost the trail on the way back due to the wet snow covering all the trail markers. Fortunately I had presence of mind (and a compass) to head due east knowing there was a north-south road there (where my car was parked) and that I would stumble across it eventually. I did and then had to guess whether my car was north or south of that point. Fortunately I picked the right direction but it was another close call. I was at the point of exhaustion when I reached my car (and then had to shovel it out).

But both those cases exposed for me the unforgiving element that is called nature.

[Tucker39]

Just a dumb question? Was the woman trying to reach into a bus, or into the bush in the Alaska wilderness? I realize “the bush” is an Aussie term, beyond any locker room connotation, but the world has shrunk in recent decades.

[sparklite2]

But both those cases exposed for me the unforgiving element that is called nature.

---

Heh. They also exposed something else.

[Chad N. Freud]

I saw that human silhouette, too, on the enlarged version.

Gotta be a blob on the print, I told myself.

[wardaddy]

Plus one....finally

[wardaddy]

On a similar note I visited Lincoln New Mexico two weeks ago on a western trip....my boys loved it....the whole town is well presented.....fascinating

[wardaddy]

If you walked the entire Natchez Trace you started where I grew up and the deep trodden path went right through my grandpas property and now near the northern terminus you would have passed very close to where I live

[caww]

.....”This is a low water pic.”....

I would not have crossed there let alone when it’s waist deep! either a bridge crossing or I don’t go. Water can easily fool!

[bert]

Drove....... in our van

We started near Nashville at a places that specializes in country ham......yumm

[wardaddy]

Loveless Cafe and Events center on Hwy 100

[Lurker]

“Is that really how you look at people who are employed to assist you in enjoyment?”

Pretty much. I give them a big pile of cash. In return they anticipate needs and desires. In the vernacular, *** kissing. It leads to sizable tips in our case.

Enjoy your day.

L

[Pelham]

[CJ Wolf]

That tree might get you yet. Be careful.

[CJ Wolf]

Any interior pics of your van? Got a bed?

[dp0622]

lol

I CANT BELIEVE how many responses I got to that post.

Though the years I’ve said some controversial things, some thugs people have agreed with strongly, some thing people have disagreed with strongly and some outright insane things :)

And I have never gotten this many responses to a single post that the little one I made here :)

A lot of witty and fun ones with great stories.

Would be ironic if there’s one tree for half a block and it fell on me and ended me :)