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A26 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 20 June 2020
Deaths prompt Alaska officials to remove 'Into the Wild' bus

By MARK THIESSEN and to house employees by
BECKY BOHRER the Yutan Construction Co.
Associated Press when it built an access road
ANCHORAGE, Alaska about 25 miles west of the
(AP) — An abandoned Parks Highway, the main
bus in the Alaska wilder- thoroughfare between An-
ness where a young man chorage and Fairbanks.
documented his demise The National Guard named
over 114 days in 1992 has Thursday's bus lift "Opera-
been removed by officials, tion Yutan."
frustrated that the bus has The bus was abandoned
become a lure for danger- in 1961 and had become
ous, sometimes deadly pil- an emergency shelter for
grimages into treacherous those using the backcoun-
backcountry. try to recreate or hunt.
An Alaska National Guard "Seeing those photos of
Chinook helicopter flew Fairbanks 142 flying out of
the bus out of the woods the bush triggered a flood
just north of Denali National of complicated emotions
Park and Preserve on Thurs- for me," Krakauer said in an
day. email to the AP.
Christopher McCandless Krakauer said he respects
hiked to the bus located the decision to remove the
about 250 miles (402 kilo- In this photo released by the Alaska National Guard, Alaska Army National Guard soldiers use a bus, "but some powerful his-
CH-47 Chinook helicopter to removed an abandoned bus, popularized by the book and movie
meters) north of Anchor- "Into the Wild," out of its location in the Alaska backcountry Thursday, June 18, 2020, as part of a tory is attached to that old
age nearly three decades training mission. bus. A great many people
ago, and the 24-year-old Associated Press care deeply about what
Virginian died from starva- happens to it."
tion when he couldn't hike Candless from hiking out safely, and we understand and preserving state land. For now the bus is being
back out because of the also has caused problems the hold this bus has had "I was stunned when Com- kept in a secure, unnamed
swollen Teklanika River. He for people who came later on the popular imagina- missioner Feige informed location while the depart-
kept a journal of his plight, on pilgrimages. Two wom- tion," Department of Nat- me," Carine McCandless, ment decides what to do
discovered when his body en, one from Switzerland in ural Resources Commis- Christopher's sister, said in with it, Feige said. A release
was found. McCandless' 2010 and one from Belarus sioner Corri A. Feige said an email to The Associated from the Alaska National
story was first documented in 2019, drowned on such in a statement. "However, Press. "Though I am sad- Guard said the discussion
in Jon Krakauer's 1996 book pilgrimages. this is an abandoned and dened by the news, the includes "possible plans to
"Into the Wild," followed by State officials said there deteriorating vehicle that decision was made with display the bus for the pub-
Sean Penn's movie of the have been 15 other search- was requiring dangerous good intentions, and was lic to view at a safe loca-
same name in 2007. and-rescue operations and costly rescue efforts, certainly theirs to make. tion."
Over the years, the bus be- since 2009, including one but more importantly, was That bus didn't belong to The guard said its air crew
came a magnet for those involving five Italian tourists costing some visitors their Chris and it doesn't belong also is safekeeping a suit-
wishing to retrace McCand- last winter, one with severe lives." to his family." case that holds sentimental
less' steps to the bus to pay frostbite. In Alaska, the Department The 1940s-era bus, some- value to the McCandless
homage. But the Teklanika "We encourage people to of Natural Resources is re- times called "Bus 142" or family. Officials didn't detail
River that prevented Mc- enjoy Alaska's wild areas sponsible for protecting "The Magic Bus," was used what was in the suitcase. q

TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirus

and the traveling public. declined to comment. use of new gloves at any
The top TSA official in Kan- The TSA said in a statement time, Farbstein said. Eye
sas, Jay Brainard, says the Friday that it has followed protection has remained
TSA's actions amount to guidelines set by the Cen- optional for screeners.
"gross mismanagement." ters for Disease Control The agency added that
"TSA staff at airports both and Prevention in deciding plastic barriers have
became a significant car- protection standards for been installed at secu-
rier to spread the pandem- workers. rity checkpoints and areas
ic and were themselves Spokeswoman Lisa Farb- where checked bags are
improperly protected from stein said that at the start dropped off for screening.
the pandemic," Brainard's of the virus outbreak, TSA Brainard believes those
lawyer, Tom Devine, said in told employees that masks procedures still have gaps,
a complaint filed with the were optional, then made however, including no pro-
Office of Special Coun- them mandatory at air- cedure for how to handle
In this June 17, 2020 file photo, a TSA worker, right, checks a
passenger before entering a security screening at Orlando In- sel, which handles whistle- port checkpoints in the first travelers who appear to
ternational Airport in Orlando, Fla. blower complaints. week of May. be sick.
Associated Press The special counsel has or- Airport officers are required Brainard's complaint and
dered TSA's parent agen- to wear nitrile gloves when the special counsel's de-
By DAVID KOENIG ing to adequately protect cy, the Homeland Security they screen passengers. mand for an investigation
A Transportation Security airport screeners from the Department, to conduct They must change gloves were earlier reported by
Administration official is ac- new coronavirus, endan- an investigation. after every pat-down, and the Washington Post and
cusing the agency of fail- gering both the officers The special counsel's office travelers can request the National Public Radio.q