It’s impossible to pick a favorite story of 2024—this was a banner year for Alta Journal! But based on reader response, internet traffic, and a team consensus, these five articles represent our most popular work of the past 12 months.
“The Case of the Missing Chacmools,” by Geoffrey Gray (Issue 28)
Gray’s deeply reported look at the strange life and death of New Age author Carlos Castaneda resonated with readers curious about the cult Castaneda surrounded himself with and what happened to his fortune after his death.
“Tracing the Storied—and Tragic—Oregon Trail,” by Katie Hickman (Issue 29)
Readers curious about the 19th century tend to be fascinated by stories about the Oregon Trail, a dangerous and often tragic time in American history. Hickman tells the story of the killing of missionary Narcissa Whitman, the first white woman to complete the overland journey west.
“The Missing Mouseketeer,” by Ruby McConnell (Issue 26)
Readers were moved by McConnell’s beautifully written account of child actor Dennis Day, who was featured in The Mickey Mouse Club and went on to live a life far from Hollywood, eventually settling in rural Oregon, where he disappeared amid foul play.
“Smokey Bear: More Than an Icon,” by Joshua Wheeler (Issue 29)
For generations of Americans who grew up being told that only you can prevent forest fires, Wheeler’s story of the myth and reality of Smokey Bear proved irresistible.
“Wonderhussy to the Rescue,” by Meg Bernhard (Issue 28)
Readers could not get enough of Sarah Jane Woodall, better known to her fans as Wonderhussy, the YouTube star who explores the West in her own inimitable style. Bernhard brought the kind of intimate details Woodall’s viewers were dying to know.•
