Searchers find overdue hiker looking for “Into the Wild” bus

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska – A 45-year-old man from Mexico was located unharmed Monday after failing to return on time from a hiking trip to an abandoned city bus in the Alaska wilderness made famous by the popular book and movie, both titled “Into the Wild.”

Denali National Park officials say the search for Carlos Castrejon was called off after he was found in good condition.

He was last seen Wednesday when he set off to find the abandoned Fairbanks city bus near the national park. He intended to be back Saturday.

Officials say Denali’s backcountry staff had warned him before he left that he hadn’t planned enough time for his hike, which was a 30-mile (48.28-kilometre) roundtrip over rugged terrain.

Both the 1996 book and the 2007 movie chronicled the life and death of 24-year-old Chris McCandless, who hiked into the Alaska wilderness in April 1992 with little food and equipment. He was found starved to death in the bus almost four months later.

The bus has long been a destination for those seeking to retrace his steps.