The Stampede Trail is a remnant of the Yutan Construction Company’s attempt to build a road in the wild, but construction halted before connecting bridges could be built. As the place where Chris’s journey ends, as well, the trail represents premature conclusions and failed attempts.
The Stampede Trail Quotes in Into the Wild
The Into the Wild quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Stampede Trail. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 18
Quotes
HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED.
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EXTREMELY WEAK, FAULT OF POT. SEED. MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. STARVING. GREAT JEOPARDY.
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The Stampede Trail Symbol Timeline in Into the Wild
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Stampede Trail appears in Into the Wild. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1 - The Alaska Interior
...Gallien his “crude map” of the national park, pointing out his intended hiking route: the Stampede Trail .
(full context)
Gallien drops “Alex” off on the edge of The Stampede Trail . Chris attempts to give Gallien his watch and loose change, but Gallien implores “Alex”...
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Chapter 2 - The Stampede Trail
...1992, six people in three separate parties happen upon a refurbished city bus off the Stampede Trail in Denali National Park. Moose hunters, Ken Thompson, Gordon Samel and Ferdie Swanson ford the...
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Chapter 16 - The Alaska Interior
On the Stampede Trail , McCandless crosses the unseasonably low Teklanika River waters and discovers the bus, where he...
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Epilogue
...a helicopter to the site of Chris’ death. They originally intend to travel overland on The Stampede Trail , but the Teklanika’s waters are too high for safe crossing.
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