Chris McCandless Pictures
69Chris McCandless Pictures
Chris Mcandless was a young man, who decided to give up his life savings and head off to travel throughout the US, and especially Alaska, to live off the land. He met many friends during his journey, some he shared a few hours time with, and some he spent a few days with. One of these people was a James Gallien, who drove him into Alaska. Gallien was concerned that Chris's gear seemed excessively trivial for the harsh conditions that he would face on the Alaskan trails. He said that there was "no talking" Chris out of plunging into the wilderness and that Chris couldn't wait to get started.
To some people McCandless might even seem a little spoiled as he had been raised in the comfortable, upper-middle-class town of Annandale, Virginia. His father, Walt, was an aerospace engineer ran a small and very prosperous consulting firm with his mother, Billie. There were eight children in the extended family: Chris; a younger sister, Carine, with whom Chris was extremely close; and six older half-siblings from his fathers first marriage.
Some of you know of him through the telling of his story in the Jon Krakauer bestseller "Into the Wild." His story will also soon be a feature film, directed by Sean Penn. After a long, philosophical journey from Virginia to Alaska, he died from starvation (or poisoning depending on who you talk to) in an old Fairbanks City Transit Bus about 25 miles off the Parks Highway just outside Healy, Alaska.
For those of you who don't know the name Christopher McCandless, a.k.a. Alexander Supertramp (a nickname Chris gave himself).
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Into the Wild
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ABC News Nightline "Into the Wild" Inspires Adventures/Paddington Bear A Sellout?
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The Ballad of Chris McCandless
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The Accidental Explorer
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Comments
Never a more true statement has been spoken
It is heart-breaking that the entire message of this story has been lost to both of you. I don't think anyone who ever properly considered this story really imagined that death is the ultimate universal tragedy. Death is inevitable. Wasted use of life is worse. Take another look, something more tragic is happening everyday, and something more beautiful is happening in this story.
i live in alaska, this guy is a nut job. in fairbanks is known to get in the -45 F temps in the winter but in the high 80s in the summer. good movie though i thought
I too lived in Alaska (Fairbanks) for several years so I have some experience on the matter.Forget for a moment the pain and suffering that this guy put his family through and think for a moment about the bigger picture.As I stated I lived in Alaska for several years and can tell you that the place is no more dangerous than anywhere else unless you engage in the kind of nonsense he did. I wonder about the father of three who may have been on a rescue team to go in and save that guy risking his life to do so. Or how about the pilot of the search aircraft who has a wife and parents at home, dying in a plane crash he would otherwise not have died in if McCandless had known what he was doing and could take care of himself. There is nothing wrong with the lifestyle he was leading but he should have taken the proper steps to learn what he was doing. Especially given his education, there is no excuse. For example, Dick Proenneke lived in the Alaskan bush for almost thirty-five years and did quite well (read the book "One Man's Wilderness). He was 51 years old when he went. Life brings enough unexpected turns that you are unprepared for. Why create more? Why create more that directly affect others? I hope some mother in Portland, Maine or San Francisco, California doesn't have to deal with the overwhelming grief of a phone call from the state police telling her that her 19 year old son is dead from similar circumstances because that kid idealized this guy and followed in his foot steps.In the end, what I despise most, is the selfish way in which he conducted himself. Apparently having no regard for anyone but himself. But that is the fantastic and tragic nature of our dualistic and often complex American culture. We have the freedom to do whatever we wan't regardless of the consequences. However, if we have learned anything from the scientific revolution that could and should be applied to everyday life it would be stated as thus "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should". If you went into the bush during that time of year with no experience, no provisions, no assistance, no map, little or no food, improper equipment / clothing, etc. I would indeed classify you or anyone else engaging in such folly as a certified "nut job".
I feel for the family, what he did was selfish indulgents, even if it wasnt a street drug, nature was a drug to him. the things he did that hurt his closest people, disapering for periods of time, but then again, I think the guy loved the kindness of strangers more than his mom and dad. I also feel that people should not share there nasty name calling shitty comments there making about chris. I personaly hope hes treking the forests in heaven. god bless his family.
This guy was an idiot. Quit trying to make a myth out of him. Sounds like beazelbud is in need of a little mental health treatment as well. Grow up and visit Alaska in the winter, then talk to me. Once you get some real experience on this matter you will quickly change your ill informed tune.
Chris's life had nothing to do with being a nut. He lived and died the way he wanted. We should all be so lucky!
If you read the story you would see that in fact he was fully prepared and did very well except for one mistake of keeping his food in a damp cool place he fully intended on living after this and did not die the way he wanted to though. He was a human who did what he believed and made one mistake that cost him his life.
Markum:
I have read the story. If you call going into the Alaskan Bush without proper clothing, proper tools, a proper caliber rifle, no woodsmanship skills, no map, etc etc, etc, then maybe you should aviod straying too far from downtown Miami or Dallas, or whatever suburb you grew up in. For someone like that Alaska is dangerous. Period. He made many more mistakes than food storage. He had no idea how to preserve food in the Bush. Which is why 99.9% of the Moose he killed became rotten. Tragic. One final note on this idiot and his preparation. Had he carried a simple road map (free in most states at welcome centers) he would have been able to walk out of there within a day or so. Who dies of starvation within a one day walk of a primary highway. A fool of course.
Okay, for one, have any of you douche bags attempted to say "fuck Big Brother" and live on your own...INDEPENDANT????? No, you haven't. You're all a bunch of inbred idiots who can't appreciate a man for doing what he wants. He knew that he may not make it out alive, and WAS educated on Alaska. Read the book "Michigan Mike" (Illinois Rocks!!!!) You idiots can sit here behind your computers and talk shit about Mccandless, but in reality, you're jealous of his accomplishments. He went through with the unimaginable, and he lived how he wanted. If you all want to hug each other and talk about how horrible this guy was, PLEASE, sit back and look at yourself.
Sincerely,
Brandon Artis
By the way "Michigan Mike", who are you? Are you one of these guys who go to Houghton once a year for a week and think that he is "roughing" it??? I know you are, it's okay. That's all I can imaging by looking at your screen name. Grow some fucking balls and respect a man whom, yes, was young, but still went for his dreams. The guy wasn't ill prepared, he ran into misfortune with the mold on his seeds and that's what did him in. Show respect.
markum,
You quite obviously have no balls. I'm sorry that I didn't notice this before, but I've been talking to you like a man. Go talk to the rulers that be, in your life.
I think maybe your missing the point here. Yes Chris was nieave and unprepared but he went in knowing this, that was the point. Chris was at a point in his life where he needed to understand himself work out what was driving him away from humanity. This is nothing new, all youthful idioligist go through this. The only real unfortunate thing about this entire incedent is that I feel Chris finally got it when he wrote Happiness is only Happiness when you share it. He figured it out, and faster than most people his age would have done through the normal maturing process. I dont idolize Chris by any means but I do respect that he had top do this his way.
I have read the book and the various comments posted here and on other websites. As a father of three living in corporate america I think that young adults should go out and see the world. However, as parents we try to teach our children to be prepared, I give Chris credit for going out on his adventure, I do however think he was careless and sometimes stubburn. R.I.P. Chris
Artisimus:
Don't Illinois me with that nonsense. I lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for many years which included a year on my own IN THE Bush near Stevens Village. If this idiot wanted to be reckless, suicidal, or whatever he was, fine. He needed to go jump off some cliff or eat his own gun, but when you involve others in your little "adventure" you are just plain selfish. Curiously enough, I am still here after my year out there. I was no expert.
Wait a minute, I took the time to learn the basics. I didn't hope I would make it. I knew I would. I guess midwestern suburbinites like yourself need heros so bad you are willing to create them yourself. Pure fantasy and self indulgence. What about all the guys that went out there and made it? That doesn't make for good copy because they wern't dumb enough to die in the process. I am just glad nobody died trying to rescue this idiot.
Chris was a man who did what he wanted to do. He did it on his own and doesn't owe anybody a damn thing. He could've cared less for our opinions, our praise or our condemnation.
This man wasn't a nutjob, a he was an innovator. Someone who tried to prove that man couldn't survive like our ancestors did. We rely to much on technology to live our lives. And Chris tried to veer away from this poisoned society and live how people lived in the past. if only he had a map...6 miles down stream from where he died were cabins filled with food, and a basket and cable to cross the sushana river. Regardless, Hes made me think.
I find myself somewhere between all the opinions stated...I think that any excursion into territory like that should be adequately prepared for, however, that's not what this kid was going for. I agree with the assessment (especially from the movie) that he was running away from something. But I also think that he did, in his own way, what we all do in one way or another, which is find himself. He attempted to figure out who HE really was, aside from all the outside influences in his life. Even if that was triggered by a bad homelife, even good homelives produce people who set out to find themselves. I think ultimately, what he realized, (which is evident through his encounters with others along the way) is that he DID have that altruistic, passionate , "go for it" spirit we all long to have but he had it (and who HE was) long before he reached Alaska. In the end, he realized what everyone else in his journey already knew, that happiness, and "being" comes from not only sharing your adventures with others, but sharing the bad stuff too, and making it through. Running away is not the answer, and neither is sitting their apathetic while your world falls down around you. We do need to be so bold as Mccandless to do such things, but we need to learn from his "heroistic boldness" that walking into the wild "of life" means being prepared for the consequences. Even when it means that we are close to help or rescue but choose to ignore it. I'm sure we've all been guilty of that. I don't necessarily praise the man for what he did, but I admire the passion inside him and agree with the conclusions he came to, many of us never experience that in all our years. And that is the true tragedy.
Hey douchebag mike. You are giving our state a bad name. Why did you come into a site displaying pictures of this nut job you can't stand so much. His story hits home with alot of people. The idea that maybe the life of having a career, wife, kids, structured lifestyle, hustle and bustle, soccer moms and suv's isn't the way god intended us to live. The greed of this country is insane. But the one treasure of our land is by far unappreciated. I think that was what Chris was about. I am of the opinion he could have at least contacted his family, but i see no other problem with what he did. The man was warm in that bus, he died of starvation. What proper Cabela's, Gander Mountain gear could he have brought along that would satisfy you MixMasterMike. You are a tool. If the story didn't resonate with you. THat's fine. But why go off about how stupid he is all that. Go live your life. Chris wouldn't give a shit what you think. And neither do any of the people who were touched by the story. People like you are the reason this man went to live in the woods. I think I'm done. Thank you very much.
Be it here that I say,,,, Alex Supertramp met I at the Range in Slab. He told of his travels and his journey he planned to the North. His battle with structure and society as it was headed for self destruction. He talked of survival off the land and how the Indians needed little more than Rocks and sticks to live. He talked of native people in Alaska that lived off whale fat in the winter. Alex was my friend and his name is forever on my skin. Come to the slab and meet me and others that can give you insight into why. God Loves You......DJ
Be it here that I say,,,, Alex Supertramp met I at the Range in Slab. He told of his travels and his journey he planned to the North. His battle with structure and society as it was headed for self destruction. He talked of survival off the land and how the Indians needed little more than Rocks and sticks to live. He talked of native people in Alaska that lived off whale fat in the winter. Alex was my friend and his name is forever on my skin. Come to the slab and meet me and others that can give you insight into why. God Loves You......DJ
Well put Michigan Steve...he wouldn't give a shit about ANY of these half-witted 'opinions' or what people thought of him and his exploits. All men are the way they are for a reason...whether they be wife-beaters OR spend their whole lives working towards the well-being of others...we turn out the way we do for a reason. He had his reasons for making the decisions he did (good or bad, it's not our place to judge)...we couldn't know unless we walked in his shoes, or knew him as intimately as his sister. I admire him in the way that he DID follow his dreams...he wasn't fully prepared (obviously). It's heart wrenching what his parents went through..but again...you didn't walk in his shoes or know what he lived through to make him the way he was...maybe his Dad abused him when he was a child...we only know what the books and media tell us..we weren't in Chris's head. And for those of you who insist on calling him 'stupid' or a 'nut job'...I feel sorry for you people, going through life so narrow minded and one dimensional just to face REAL judgement when your day comes. God Bless you Chris
I think everybody here is completely missing the point. Everybody is failing to look at it through the eyes of Chris, and instead are only thinking about what they would have done. He wasn't an idiot; he wasn't a nut case. He was a classic example of a brilliant person who is trying too hard to understand the world. And nobody has the right to say how God is going to judge you, mountainape. You aren't scaring people into thinking about it the way you do; you are only assuring that they become even more entrenched in their ways.
Michigan sux.
Well put Erin. In the film Wayne even tells him that he shouldn't dig too deep on these issues he was fighting with inside. But he did learn alot of important life lessons his college education obviously wasn't giving him. He intended to leave, but couldn't because the river had risen. I just hate it that people would watch the film or read Chris's story, come to the conclusion that he was a nutjob, and then take time out of their day to bash someone who is no longer here on earth. It is pointless. The man didn't know that there would be a book, film, news stories of his journey. He was a kid. He was a kid from a broken home with serious issues he was dealing with. I just wish he would have made it out. And Flea as someone who has lived in Michigan my whole life. It does suck.
I think the bottom line of the story, is that Chris found the peace he was looking for, and honestly, I do not believe he did so in vain. I think that it must serve his family some sort of solace seeing so many people inspired by the story. And that in itself is beautiful. As for namecalling and bashing others, Im not willing to get into that, but I will say that it shows immaturity and an inability to thrive in society...
It is so sad to see people use this shallow language. If you have an opinion, voice it but have respect for Chris, others and yourself. I think we can afford that much. I'm not sure what to think of Chris but I respect him.I do think he was careless and inexperienced to survive in the harsh environment of Alaska. Perhaps his heart was stronger than his head. Just my opinion. R.I.P Chris.
My apologies..I don't recall saying HOW God was going to judge him. Scaring people??!!...whatever..I think Erin is missing the POINT?! I agree he was intelligent...apparently in ways more than others..obviously he wasn't that intelligent when it came to preparation for his journey was he?...He wasn't that intelligent on figuring a way to get out of that place was he? He wasn't that intelligent on selecting the proper foods to survive on was he? If that's your idea of intelligence, it's no wonder you don't agree with anyone. You basically just said what I did but 'tried' to sound more 'intelligent' about it. I'm just trying to make a simple point here....no need to over-analyze things. I guess we're all entitled to our O-P-I-N-I-O-N-S....as long as everyone agrees with them, right? Jeez...get a job..or a hobby...something
Chris was not a nut. He was a man who lived life without the trappings of this cesspool of a society we have created. I could only hope to have the strength and vision to give up all the garbage of modern society. I make an attempt to do so a little more every yr. When I read chris's story it changed my life. I am a minimalist and strive to some day live off the land. granted he may of been a little unprepared, but he did live in the wild for 3 months with no problems! he is an inspiration to me and no one will ever convince me otherwise. the society we live in sucks and anyone who beleives slogging to a cubicle evry day adn driving a fancy car and wasting time on material pursuits is an idiot...period!
uumm..has NO-ONE read the book "Into The Wild"? Mountainape?
He didn't die because he was incompetent or unprepared.
He ate seeds that had a poisonous mold growing on them..and I'm pretty sure that no matter how prepared you are, or how much food you gather, that is something that could have happened to anyone. Not only that, but he tried to leave a month before that, but the creek he had crossed when he first started on his journey had swollen. He was just waiting to be able to leave when he died from poisonous mold he couldn't see.
And I do have hobbys, thanks very much. I go to school every day..come home..soccer..violin..piano..homework..read..work on becoming fluent in French.. and other various things.
I don't recall telling anyone that they aren't entitled to their opinions. If you want to sound like a child by telling people that they're narrow minded, be my guest. But insulting people isn't very diplomatic, I'm telling you..
Oh, and I know how to spell o-p-i-n-i-o-n-s but thanks for your concern over my schooling .
Erin---
The book was Krakauers opinion on what happened. The toxicology tests came back inconclusive on any type of poison.
Nobody really knows for sure what happened...its all pretty much speculation. That was a matter left between Chris and his Maker.
Thats what kills me the most about everyone arguing over him and his fate. The only thing anyone really has to go by, is what other people have to say, and what his journals had to say. So, the arguing is for the sake of just that...arguing. There is always something good that comes out of something tragic, and unfortunately the human condition chooses to focus on the negative and we forget all about looking at the bigger picture.
I think Chris' message had a lot to do with the bigger picture...and we still fail to recognize. Its unfortunate.
i had read the book several years ago and was a little cautious about seeing the movie. i didnt want the 2 to conflict. i have been reading so many different opinions about chris- about how insensitive he was or how irresponsible. it saddens me to think that someone who didn't know chris or what his family life was really like would judge him. just because you are raised in a wealthy family doesnt mean life is picture perfect. in fact it so often means that the money is a great cover-up to all the problems hidden under the surface. if you learn one lesson from anything that chris did, i think that in the end its all about forgiveness. yes he was gone for years without calling his family- in anyone's eyes that can be seen as irresponsible and cruel. but he could have gone a different route. one that so many people choose to take. so many people turn to drugs or addictions to mask the issues that they have in their life including the relationships with the people around them. in the end it never fixes anything and more often than not destroys not only the person but all the people around them. chris did what he did because he refused to live the life of his parents. and i think all of us as kids have vowed that at one time or another. he wanted life to be as pure and simple as possible. when you leave college so many of us are brainwashed into getting the 9-5 and wearing the shirt and tie. we close our minds off to anything illogical or dangerous and take the safe path of life. and i wonder how many of us in the end will wish we had done at least one thing different, exciting or just a little bit risky. chris took chances. he pushed himself. but i think he also ultimately became a man when he took that first step away from his car. he made so many friends and i am sure changed the lives of those he met. but in the end he learned his biggest lessons. to forgive. that love is only great when you can share it. so while it may have been too late to physically make peace with his family, when he died i have no doubt that he forgave his family and ultimately learned to love his parents.
Who cares?
I find it interesting that so many people cite not having known this guy as justification to say that doubters don't have a right to an opinion. Yet, of all the people writing here, I sincerly doubt anyone actually knew the guy. But positive comments do not appear to draw the same fire. You cannot have both ways people. Just as the folks citing negative comments have no real understanding so too the folks citing positive comments have no clue either. No one camp has the corner on the moral high ground. Lets not get misty about this.
Erin, you live in a happy dream land. Eating the wrong seeds is being unprepared. He didn't do his homework. Excuses, excuses, excuses. The book was marginal at best. Lets avoid making a myth out of him like he is Billy the Kid or some kind of folk hero.
RC
Whatever...thought I'd pop in here to share some of my own views and opinions on the way I see things...guess that's not allowed...only if it matches what 'Erin' thinks. I'll bow out gracefully and leave these BS forums to all you smart 'thinking' people (Erin). Doesn't matter what I say to people like Erin..it'll never be right...you have your views and I'm allowed to have mine (last time I checked it was a free country?) You keep giving yourself a BIG pat on the back for ALWAYS being right...you're the greatest. You should concentrate more on what the actual topic of this is about, instead of trying to make everyone else look inferior to you. You'd almost swear you knew this guy the way you talk of him...you have it ALL figured out don't you? Oh...I did read the book...and as for your definition of 'unprepared'?...would't it be considered unprepared to not be knowledgeable on the type of wild foods your eating?? Every post you place is full of contradictions and psycho-babble BS...WOW!! As for crossing the river..I have no Alaska training, but I have lived in the Territories and have EXTENSIVE wilderness camping under my belt, and I know FOR A FACT that I could have gotten across the river (he could've too)...he did pretty good kayaking the Grand Canyon Gorge...didn't he now?!...again, UNPREPARED!? I admire Chris for what he did...definitely....he's no hero...pity the people who need heroes as quoted by Galileo...doesn't stop one from admiring his dreams and his pursuit of them. I think Erin's biggest hero is Erin...you have fun and be kind to yourself.....I'm outta here...going to get ready to canoe the Maitland River tomorrow!! WOOHOO!! Peace out Erin...go bake some cookies or something...later
Rich Ct has it all right ... chris was a man who beleived in simplicity in the world... someone who rejected societies ideas on happyness and success.... maybe he wasnt an expert on outdoors... but he knew what made him happy in the end..
Flea A:
Jesus, learn how to spell man. Go get an education. I hate that "grunge" english.
I have read what all of you have to say about him and what he did . I believe that everyone has a right to there own opinion . But what it comes down to is that he went and tried to live in a place he didn't know or understand fully . No one has the right to judge someone for living there dream, even if in the end it is your dream that kills you !!! I think what he did was very dumb but admirable . I feel for his family and friends that never got to see him again . But he will be remembered for what he did and the guts it took to live in the wild !!! He in alot of ways touched my life and I never even met him. I just wish that more of us could have the courage to follow our dreams !!
I remember seeing an article in a magazine about 10-12 years ago, in a doctors office, it was a magazine like People or Macleans. It had a picture of him in a sleeping bag, and from what I can remember it looked like skin pulled tight over bones, and he had a can of something in his hand with a spoon sitting in it, it was very sobering. I am surprised that nobody has posted them.
Roger,
Why don't you post the pictures.
Thanx for that Mountainape. Just posting here to see if you were wondering what I was going to say back to you.
I've decided...nothing..because you sound like you are an adult..and since I'm still in high school, you must have a much more extensive knowledge of the way the world works.
hmm think I will bake some cookies. Want some as a peace offering?
btw, why aren't pictures posted?
Indeed why aren't pictures posted.
I don't care if Erin isin High School. He seems pretty sharp.
Mountainage seems pretty defensive and also quite sensitive.
who is the one they call t
Would loath every one of you for being so gullible and swallowing the bait of the writers and the movie producers hook line and sinker.
You've made the writer of the book and the movie producers richer and more famous, which Chris was against and you've made fools out of yourselves for buying into the hype.
You who are insulting or so selfish with your opinions of Chris... It was not YOUR life... You people are the ones he wanted nothing to do with... Some of you say "Well I live in Alaska and..." IT doesn't matter where you live or if you hunt or have a cabin 200 miles away from anything... You can still be an ignorant asshole and still be just as blind to the world that he saw... Just because you know how to live in -45 degree weather doesn't mean you know shit about LIFE... It only means you know how to live in the wilderness... It speaks nothing of your mentality or perceptions of life... How dare you call him stupid or a nut job for doing what HE CHOSE TO DO... He wasn't crazy... He didn't say that the sky was falling or that cows can speak French... Was he ill prepared? Yes, but it was HIS risk! I detest the ignorance of people such as yourself... It only goes to prove that YOU are the ones who have NEVER lived... In his dying days he wrote on a notecard, "I have lived a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!"... You COWARDS! You dare say anything about someone alone and dying that still took time to write such a thing? You have NO idea of his life and his intentions of how HE CHOSE to live his own life... You wouldn't understand. At the very least, just shut your fucking mouths and keep your insults to yourselves.
What makes this story a "story" is the ambivalence of it. Part of you says, "The guy was crazy; I would never do that; he deserved what he got." Another part of you says, "I admire the guy. I wish I had the cajones to do that." We are a society that enjoys living vicariously through others. And it all comes down to respect. We must respect Chris for his beliefs and choices (bad and otherwise). Yeah, there's a handful of people who think Chris was a whacko who deserved to suffer as he slowly starved to death; there are those who admire him, even without knowing why. There are those who want to admire what Chris did without some guy who may have spent some time in "the bush" getting on his self-righteous Jim Beam crate and telling us how he is Grizzly Adams incarnate. Let's respect the guy and tolerate the media hype (tv, magazine, book, film). In a way, aren't we all taking the same risk as Chris but in different realms of what we consider reality?
Jason: You idiot. You didn't know the guy. Calling him him "Chris" like you grew up together or something. You have no clue. And for you Troutbum, I would rather listen to somebody who has done it (and has the experience to back it up) than someone who hasn't.
Giving up everything to live like a tramp is the easy way out. Try dealing with this fucked up world everyday and meeting your responsibilities / dealing with all the stress and problems. That takes guts. This guy was a coward and took the easy way out. Anyone can run away.
Iron: What responsibilities did he have? He had NONE. What was he running from? NOTHING. I'm sorry I didn't give you some I-can-relate-to-Chris anecdote so you'd listen to me. I did some similar shit when I was younger, but not nearly to the extreme as Chris. Your tone is obviously dripping with negativity. You're one of the many who does not see the value in life and instead only sees what is not there. You're an inspiration. Did you know "iron" isn't flexible and rusts easily? Good name choice. Maybe you should read the book critically, assuming you read it all.
I read the book and thought it wasn't that great. As with many people posting here you missed the point. He didn't have any responsibilities because he chose not to accept them in the first place. That's the point. Negativity, no. Realism, yes. I just don't see what is so great about saying I won't work. I won't have contact with my family. I won't pay my fair share of the load such as taxes. How much money did it cost the Alaskan officials to remove his remains out of that remote area? Thousands. Did he pay for that? No. The people of the State of Alaska paid for it. Unless you live up here you people in the lower 48 just don't get it. But people like him live in a very neat little pay later society if they pay at all.
It seems like every year somebody like that comes up here and gets hurt or dies. You wan't to go on an adventure? Grow up and live life like the rest of us.
You know Iron....Hundreds to thousands of people flock to Bus 142 every year. Now all those people have to spend money in Alaska. I am sure that area is making a pretty penny off of Chris's excursion and death. So don't go playing the state tax card. It's a stupid argument. This story is very polarizing. I think everyone has conflicting views about it. One thing I still can't understand is why someone would take time out of their day to bash someone who took a chance and died. How much peace do you think his family gets if they read these posts calling their son a coward, nutjob, whacko etc...? The real cowardly thing to do is sit in front of a monitor sniping at someone who is no longer here to defend himself. I am sure that in all reality, parts of the story are wrong. And i am sure that we don't know nearly everything that led Chris into the woods. There are those who think he shouldn't be called a hero and he was a whacko.. Blah, blah...My hero might not be your hero, and yours may not be mine. No sense in the hate.
Hey Iron...Are you a supporter of the bush administration. The same people that say if you want healthcare in this country you should get a job. Let me clue you in you f@#$ing lamebrain. In 1776 our country signed a document called the Declaration of Independence. Freedom, get it. I know you and your president have forgotten about Freedom, unless you are using freedom as a way to send our young people into danger everyday. Chris didn't harm anyone. He intended to leave. He didn't go to denali state park to die. He wanted to leave. Get it!. I try to be tolerant. Did your mother have any children who lived?
Iron: Alaskan sanctimonious bullshit. You need to take some analytical reading lessons, because you totally missed my point. We all pay taxes for stupid shit... like the war we're in for instance. My point, if you even paid attention, was that the story makes one feel ambivalent about CM. That's it. I don't condone what he did; niether do I condemn what he did. It's just an interesting story. I have a wonderful family, job and hobbies that keep me more than happy. I pay my taxes, most of which I see flushed away, but I keep my chin up for the sake of my young son. I'm living the adventure already, and I don't have to sit at a computer and type negative shit to make my pathetic self feel better. "I think Chris McCandless was an idiot; I must be a redneck."
HEY MichiganSteve THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WAS NOT SIGNED IN 1776!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris McCandless died tragically. Of this, there is no doubt. The specific circumstances surrounding his death, including its true cause, will never be known. Conjecture is pointless. Subjectivity is an aimless waste of mental energy. One must focus on the objective data if one is to extrapolate from this saga a legitimate relation, whatever, to the enigma that was Chris McCandless.
Good call louisiana...my bad. you get the point though? Some say he was born out in texas, others say he was born up in maine. I just say he was a louisiana man, the leader of a steel driving chain gang, the leader of a steel drivin gang. Had to do it.
Chris's experience was an American existenial tragedy.It would be best not to romanticize his adventure or his beliefs,but rather to place his life in the context of self-exploration and an irresponsible and self-destructive search for truth.
The difficult thing is not finding the truth,it's having to find co-existence in our
society with it.
This man.. as he wish to be called.. Alex Supertramp, had more courage and will then most people can even fathom. Not only did he have a dream, but he conquered it, he over came all of his fears. Most people are to busy with everyday life. This is something we need to respect and learn from. NOt ridicule and romantisize. He should be thought of as a role model of the human race, he had all the characteristics and a truley loving human being. Love drove him, not the wild or freedom specifically, but his LOVE of those things, that most people take for granted and some, dont even know exist. Think as he would think, this man loved hard and strong. His death was a tradigity, but im sure, especially with the success of "Into the Wild" , that his dream has touched so many... and tought people how to love. I know that movie touched me, and now his story, his legacy, and has honestly tought me that life is valuable... not just being alive compared to being dead, but life, living, feeling, loving. And if his story has changed my outlook... its changed thousands.
His story is about love.
Nonsense, shallow hero worship, and silly self edification. Just because you have the freedom to do something doesn't mean you should. That is not negative but realistic.
Listen to how silly you folks sound with words like legacy, courage, inspirartion, etc. Sitting at home typing nothing but glowing reviews of this guy's life serves the same supposed purpose as typing what might be called negative. If it didn't make you people feel good about yourselves you wouldn't post it.
And for you Trout, I have no religion or political affiliation. Sorry to ruin your carefully crafted sterotype.
I guess nobody here can identify with making selfish decisions. I also guess nobody can identify with the power of change when a person realizes that the choices they had made were not so great. I can see the good and the bad in the story..... I draw hope and inspiration from it, and I also identify with the dark and selfish side of the story. I think the reason it touched me so much was because the story made me feel every emotion there is to feel. From complete anger, to hope, freedom to lonliness, joy to despair. CM was just as human as you and I. I think the power behind the entire story is just that.
I do not think it was love that drove him. I think it was fear and ego, disguising itself as love. We have all been driven to do some pretty stupid things wrapped up in some sweet sounding "save the world" type of motive. Its hard to believe that the root of his actions had to be love. Love forgives and faces thier problems, fear allows you to justify running away from them.
Let's see, the guy goes off into the Alaskan wilderness to live off the wild. However he lives in the only man made object for miles, an old bus. Does anyone else see the irony in that? This kid was no hero. I am not saying what he did was wrong, to each his own. But honestly, what did this guy do that makes him heroic. As far as I can see he went somewhere he knew nothing about, tried to lead a lifestyle he couldn't handle, and died in the process. The only thing that remotely wasn't selfish was him giving his money to a charitable organization. And in that event, even that money was just given to him. It wasn't his own hard earned money. Seems like a guy who never had to work for anything in his life and didn't know the meaning of a hard days work.
After watching the movie,I see a lot of my son who is autistic(hi functioning) and was missing for nearly two years living on the street even to this day by his own choice.If the actor who portrayed Chris in the movie expressed his behavior then theirs a chance that Chris was to.My son for example is very very smart,studied books on street survival etc.For me I see a lot of my son in Chris and have so much compassion for what their family went through.If they ever read this I would love to share the similarities.My son comes home ebery couple of weeks or so now,and I try to persuade him to stay....My heart goes out to anyone going through this.
It seems to me that everyone of us has been affected by this story, no matter what each of us feels about the situation. We all find ourselves feeling strong enough to write, google, and respond. I know that it is easy to have opinions using logic, and rational these tools offer an opinion of arrogance, ignorance, and childishness. If we tap into other parts of ourselves the parts the propell us to comment, then the feeling of ambition, freedom, and beauty take over. What I think is amazing about this young man is his ability to believe in himself enough to journey without fear, to ask life questions and demand a response. In hindsight everything is clear, easy, and logical, but in a moment it is simply courious wonder. His journey was one about the spirit, not only about the land. The land was a tool, one he did not completely understand yet, does anyoone really??? What is unfortunate is his realization came with tragedy. I agree with most of you who say that his was ill "prepared" but I also know that we all journey without preperation in life!!! That I guess that was the point how many of burn money and denounce our possessions??, but to journey without anyone to share it with, was the lesson. I guess what I'm trying to get to is that we all can take something out of this.....whatever you have learned whatever advice you'll give or take in, the point is that his story made you feel something. His death has not fallen into grey as most of us will perish. His journey has left us with colour even though it may be red in anger, or blue with tears or white with wonderment. He makes us feel and that IS truly a blessing. Thank you for being.
Rest in Peace Chris!!!!
EyeRon Sighs: "If it didn't make you people feel good about yourselves you wouldn't post it." A little irony there, don't you think?
No one said you were affiliated with anything. Nothing was "carefully crafted." Your kind sticks out like... like... like a Fairbanks bus stuck in the wilderness.
I saw some pic a guy took of his sitting in front of the bus while he camped there. I agree, stuff like that is whacked. The guy who sold shit on ebay from the bus. That is whacked. It's just natural selection Iron. Let the chips fall where they may. I was just raised to respect the idiots as well as the... non-idiots.
Peace.
inittowinit.......you are not very perceptive.....i urge you to peruse the comment in which you stated that chris "didn't know what hard work was." surely you jest...
Both sides are right in this discussion.
McCandless was both an idealist trying to connect with nature, understand the world a little better, and find a place for himself in or out of society, as well as an unprepared and naive aspiring outdoorsman.
That he broke off ties with his family is not for us to judge, he may have had his reasons or just needed some space.
That he formed but the most ephemeral relationships with people he met on the road may have been a function of his personality, a desire not to get too tied down, or the realization it would be wrong to become entangled with people and raise their expectations as he did not intend to stick around. It says something about Chris that to a person, everyone he met in transit was left with a powerful and positive impression of this spirited young man.
To live in nature you must respect it, and either McCandless didn't realize how deadly the Alaskan outback could be or did and wanted to face it with the most minimal assets and know-how. Either way, he is responsible for what happened out there.
One thing puzzles me- I grew up in New York, and upstate, we have some wide, hard flowing rivers. At my youngest age, I learned if you can't ford a river at one location, follow it up or downstream and there's a good chance you can find a more convenient passage. I gather Chris did not perform this most basic exercise when he reached the swollen Teklanika.
Finally, it's clear to me Chris's journey brought him spiritual contentment, though it ended most unfortunately.
How many of us can say we achieved the kind of happiness that McCandless apparently did?
alexander supertramp lived an awesome life. it doesn't matter why, and i don't care how it ended. when he was alive, he was ALIVE and that is most admirable. some assholes want to think they are somehow 'better' at being alive, but death isn't necesarily a bad ending. dying doing what you love, even if you die because of your own ignorance is MUCH more honorable than dying because you drank too much beer your whole life and got cancer and took it out on your kids or women or some shit. i love the guy and i wandered around for about 10 years myself. i did stupid things and thank something i'm still here to do more. it's REALLY hard to get an ID when you don't have a birth certificate or social security card. good job buddy! i honor your big spirit! may it soar in freedom!
Elston_Gunn - Surely you jest. Are you saying that because he gave up his money (that he didn't earn) and lived a life where he had no real responsibilities, he knew the value of hard work? If he really wanted to help people, why didn't he focus his attention on trying to solve many of the world's problems? Yes, he gave his money to help people, however, why didn't he invest that money in himself so that he could have provided greater returns and benefits in the future for more people. Instead, he perished young, and who knows what his potential was. I think a lot of people look for some greater meaning in this rather than just accepting he was a kid who was angry and his parents and the system for whatever reason and died trying to rebel. If it means something to you, then fine, you are obviously trying to find meaning in a story that has none. I hope you find it and it brings you happiness. Just accept I am on the other side of the fence and see nothing heroic about him. I will accept your view as contrary to mine.
inittowinit.....there are many flaws in your thinking. the money that chris donated to charity does not speak, whatever, about his work ethic. chris's work ethic was highlighted, unmistakably, in the work he performed for wayne westerberg. chris chose for himself the most disgusting and painstakingly tedious chores on wayne's farm. chris loved to do menial tasks that all of his fellow workers avoided. you claimed a relationship between chris's work ethic and his generosity...your thinking is quite flawed in this regard.
The interesting thing about all of these comments is how much Chris McCandless has affected so many peoples lives even nearly 16 years after his death. Clearly, Chris is a firm part of American folklore and may very well live on as a legend in American history as so many others from the past have. His demise is almost martyrdom for many who share the same disdain for ordinary, conventional life in a western nation such as ours. Perhaps what is most astonishing about Chris McCandless is the fact that he had all of the ingredients for the recipe for success as we Americans have come to believe yet he threw it all away to pursue something more basic and unconventional. Perhaps he felt he was unworthy of all he had available to him and simply wanted to experience the raw essence of living with no possessions whatsoever. This quest is, in my opinion, admirable. I only wish he had survived as I believe he could have been a great contributor to the society that he shunned. Perhaps his death is not as tragic as the loss of what many could have gained, yet never will, from his future life that ended so early.
Elston_Gunn - I don't see how anyone's opinion can be so flawed. That would be why it's an opinion. I am sure if he had to work hard for that money he might not have been so willing to part with it. I am not saying it wasnt generous and a good cause. I am pretty sure the family that gave him that money did not do so thinking it would be given away. That was given to him for his education which would have been a long hard road, not to be given to a charity. The family could have done that on their own. Regardless, I do not think he knew what hard work was just because he worked on a farm for a few months. The family that gave him that money worked hard for it and valued Chris enough to part with it so he could have a bright future and go on to bigger and better things. Instead he gave it away, and killed himself in the process. Either way you look at it, going into alaska with no knowledge, no equipment, no map, is nothing short of committing suicide. I think he dodged responsibility and the people that loved him and killed himself in the process. What kind of hero is that? A fireman, a police officer, even a lifeguard is more of a hero than this kid. Sure people are still talking about it, but simply because so many people believe he is some sort of hero. I think people that are missing something in their own lives see something in Chris that they think is heroic. As in he went on some legendary search for something but he and others don't know what. I live a full and complete life with everything I could ever want and give back more than what I take. I have no regrets and pitty that Chris could not find the same with what he had. You also say there are many flaws in my thinking. I am curious, you only speak of one??
Why not make a movie about Jay Hammond, Bob Reeve, or Joe Reddington. How hard is it to walk into the damn woods...or "into the wild and die?" This was a total suicide mission. Good movie, fun story, interesting dude but not worthy of the misconception that he is some kind of damn hero or crusader. Fire away hippies.
I agree Yukon Jack. Let me say here that--save Jack and a few select others--the rest of you are enormous douche bags. If you want to get in touch with nature, go outside your split level homes and take a long piss into the cool night air--or better yet, drop a log and wipe your ass with leaves. Grow up dummies. This guy, though interesting, wanted to die--and there is no honor in that. Who the hell smiles as they are starving (i.e., final photo)? Are you missing the reality of his mindset? There is no gray area. His story teaches us that although idealism should never die in us, we should not throw our lives away because of it. Now go get your Pearl Jam tickets and smoke your skunk weed while roasting weenies at the local KOA.
Reality Check: You are a welcome voice of reason. There is no honor in pissing away your life. Grow up people.
MM
Finally, a few people that actually agree that this kid did nothing honorable or heroic.
The truth is none of us will ever really know what Chris's true intentions really were. That is what makes this journey so fascinating and puzzling. It ended with no true closer.
He lived life the way he wanted and he did it to the fullest. But he did all for himself. He put his parents through hell. his parents may not have been the best out there I realy dont know but the love of a mother for her son is unbreakable . I can only imagin the pain he put his mother through. No child has the right to do that to a mother.
wow you have a point there hjon
It is good to see the kinds of discussion that this story has brough out.
Fascinating story as related in the book, less so the movie as it idealizes McCandless and doesn't provide full context to some of the events (e.g. trip down the Colorado River led to a dead end, not the ocean; ditching a Datsun that was still in working order; lack of planning for the area of Alaska that he headed into and could have walked out of). I see McCandless as a lightning rod because he exemplifies great strengths (vitality for living, intellect) and significant deficiencies (stubbornness, repeated refusal to really dialogue with people because his mind was "made up", risk-taking behaviour) that by turns appeal to and repulse readers of his story. What stands out for me is how he fragmented his relationships with people. He tended to make a positive impact on people when he came into their lives, and then before relationships could get to the stage of emotional or spiritual intimacy, he would just up and leave. Worst of all was how he didn't contact his sister after he left home after university. The one person that he was closest to. His treatment of the relationships in his life seems to reflect a lack of emotional development in his upbringing. All in all, I see his life as a warning, not an inspiration.
Thanks MM. I also should mention that inittowinit's priot comments (two posts ago) are dead on and should be read with intent. All you teens out there that hate your parents--even thought hey provided you with the best life they could--should take part in these voices of reason. It could always be worse. Let us all not use the shitty parts of out lives as a excuse to "escape" to freakin Alaska. Man up and face the fact that sometimes we all draw a shitty hand. Make the best out of it. Then you can be an unsung hero.
Damn, think I had enough typos in the last message? LOL.
Priceisright, you bring up some good points. Regarding Chris's sudden ending of relationships before they became to intimate, I know where he's coming from on this. I've had a lot of experience in blue water cruising and have known many cruisers over the years. In order for one to sail away to the next location and adventure, the cruising sailor must keep relationships at bay or else they can prevent him from ever leaving. At this point in a sailor's life, too much intimacy can be a ball and chain, imprisoning him to an environment of familiarity and comfort. Later in life, once the wanderlust subsides, intimacy becomes an anchor to build a foundation for a productive life. McCandless clearly saw relationships as a ball and chain during most of his wanderings. Sadly, when he realized that they can also be an anchor, it was too late for him.
I watched this movie without any prior knowledge of the controversy surrounding it so I had no preconceived notions of what my opinion on it would be.
Here's what I saw -- I saw a young man who apparently came from childhood that left him very unstable as an adult. If what was depicted in the movie was true, I'd say that McCandless grew up in a household that was one thing on the inside and did a good job of putting on the good face and fooling folks on the outside.
Given that McC was a stellar student, I think he followed in the footsteps of his parents by putting up the good front but when it was all said and done, he didn't know what to do with himself. At some point, he learns that his parents aren't really married and he and his sister are a product of that closely held dark secret. I'm sure this did a real number on his psyche.
Because the guy was good-looking and likeable and at his core, a very good-hearted person (from what we see is depicted), he gets along just fine in life. This works for him for a long time and he fools himself with that. In his mind, everything will work itself out because it always had for him. Probably a little something that the security of an affluent, albeit f'd up family life provided him -- a false sense of security.
The guy was not comfortable in the 'real world' and looked upon what other people considered as success with disdain. I know people like this. There is a part of me that is like this. None of us are truly just one kind of person. We have our 'dress up and behave' side when we go to public functions. We have our 'I wanna be a slob and do nothing' sides and we have our 'OK, now I gotta suck it up and make a buck' sides. The list goes on. Bottom line, we can't be just one of those people at all times -- we have to learn to juggle all those sides and make peace with that.
I've not read his journals or the book but I'd venture to say that McC could not make peace with the fact that he couldn't choose just one way to be. And to him, being that one person probably meant being what would make his parents proud and unfortunately, that wasn't 'him'.
Best I can tell, the guy spent four months out there in Alaska and quite frankly, I think the guy was beginning to starve the day he moved into that bus. Unless I am wrong, while we see him preparing for the trip by hiking and running everyday until his Burger King paycheck came in, we don't see him doing any target practice. He gets a book on plant life -- the easiest thing to catch that provides the least amount of protein, yet we didn't see any huge preparation on hunting and catching game. And why rice instead of say, beans, which provides more protein? And how is it that you live in one place for four months with absolutely nothing to do but hunt for food and you don't go down the river a piece and happen upon a hand-tram? And how do you survive so poorly right alongside a water source where I assume fish swim and wildlife come to drink? Much less from a bus which you could get on top of and get a pretty damn good view of any larger game headed your way?
Personally, I think the guy was horribly uncomfortable in mainstream society and then, when we goes to hang out with Mother Earth, realizes she can be quite the bitch too and realized that there was no inbetween for himself to go. I'm sure getting your ass kicked by Mother Nature has to be the most sobering feeling to a person who romanticized it for several months.
Something was definitely, definitely wrong with this guy because of how he completely checked out on everyone and did his best to not leave much of a trail. To never have contacted his sister during that time is just amazing. No cell, no map, no freeze dried rations -- quite frankly, I'm curious what the guy would have done had there been no bus at all. Something tells me the little pilgrimage would have been cut quite a bit shorter.
Another thing I found quite amusing was his disdain for the comforts brought on by money yet he stopped long enough to earn it to make his way in normal society. Actually, in normal society, especially a few of the places he worked (the grain elevator, for instance), you can get along quite nicely with much less. There are plenty of people that will flat out give you money, let you work for food, shelter is easily found. The same just does not translate in the wild. Sure, the guy knew this but I don't think he fully comprehended this.
In short (and yes, I know this was painfully long), I think while the guy was sweet and generous he was most definitely off-kilter mentally and he was terribly, terribly naive and while I don't think he meant it to be this way, he was very, very selfish to torment loved ones with his disappearance.
My Take: Good post! Nice frank discussion. It's worth reading the book as it fills in more of the back story about what McC did while at the bus. Early on, he apparently did leave the bus and headed off North/NorthWest, but found the going hard so he returned to the bus. He found out through experience what has been know for ages: much easier to travel across Alaska in Winter when it's frozen than try to slog through the muck and melting permafrost. And you're right, if there had been no "Magic Bus" his trip might have been that much shorter. Might have saved his life too - if he had decided to come back from "The Wild" soon after going out because he had no hardened shelter, he might still be living the rubber tramp life somewhere. OK, enough time spent pondering what he was or was not about. Back to living here in the urban jungle. Call your Mom and tell her you love her! Regards one and all!
The more I read about what McC did and how absent proper planning was from his grand adventure, the more I shake my head.
Who uses the term douche bag? Michigan Mike, wow congrats on living in alaska for "many years",what did you go to college there,so that makes you a 'real' alaskan?. And just because you lived outside a rural village, it doesnt mean you lived off seeds in a brokedown bus. Most of Alaskans live in rural areas, and yes Ive lived there too,and since im sure weve both own a pair of Xtra toughs, then we both know that it takes alot of balls to live out in the Denali wilderness ,something im sure youve never done,because Id be reading a book about you.Besides somebody you spends so much time on this blog behind their little computer in their mom's basement ,critizing how someone lived their life, wouldnt survive out in the wild of Alaska. And besides, do any of you actually think this guy went out into the wild to have people make a fucking hollywood movie about it,or better yet, write a blog about him? He did it for himself .Thats it .theres nothing to talk about.There are alot more things to discuss in this world. Anyway michigan mike, get a life
life is what you make it so go where the attraction takes you
Good post from "my take says." Now I'll give my take not on Chris McCandless but what was said about Chris McCandless in the movie. I would have to talk to Chris McCandless myself or his family myself to give a true take on Chris.
The movie, however, makes all kinds of statements. There are all kinds of lessons to be learned from the movie. Who knows if it really represents Chris' thoughts or the family's thoughts.
Nonetheless, I wanted to cast my .02 cents about what the movie portrayed because there are people out there who are doing these things every single day even though they may not be doing it in Alaska in a broken down city bus.
My sister has done it from the comfort of her home for years. What she and so many others do is to allow the bad parts of their lives to control all aspects of their lives. A life lived well will be a life lived with balance. In this life good things happen and in this life bad things happen. If you allow the bad things to control your life you will be bitter and fail to really live. If you allow the good things to control all aspects of your life you will never be able to face reality and handle adversity.
A superb acting job was done in this movie by Hal Holbrook who played the old man Ron. In the scene where McCandless is talking to him on the hillside the old man says, "I'm gonna miss you when you go." McCandless replies, "I'll miss you, too, Ron. But you're wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from human relationships. God's placed it all around us. It's in everything. It's in anything we can experience. People just need to change the way they look at those things."To me...if McCandless really did believe this....this is his error. He is wrong in that joy in this life comes principally from human relationships. God matters first and then people matter. Everything else is secondary to those two things. At least initially it seems, McCandless was trying to escape his trauma by isolating himself. He allowed the bad things to take away his balance. He did not attempt to overcome evil with good, rather, he allowed himself to be overcome by evil. There is a proverb of God that says, "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;He rages against all wise judgment." This was his error. He became unbalanced. That's why the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. McCandless failed to realize that the way to overcome his grief and his horrible experiences was through love. I know I've got some guys going....."aw crap get off of the cheesy lovey religious junk man!" Too bad for you. What I say is tried and true and it never fails. Love never fails. That's what he missed and why he died a young death.He showed great selfishness by not contacting the ones who loved him. Great selfishness. Personally, I believe he wanted to get out of there but became so weak he could not get out. Perhaps I'm wrong. Whatever the case....all may not be lost. The letters he left hint that he may have finally seen the error of his ways before dying. Two things make me say he may have "got it" in the end. In the movie they show him write a note as he was withering away which read, "happiness only real when shared." The other is the cardboard note he left which read, "I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Good Bye and may God Bless All!" So he shows two things with these writings. Firstly, he realized the importance of needing people in his life to share happiness with, and, secondly, He acknowledged the blessings of the Lord. My personal hope is to get to talk to him about all of this one day in the future because he trusted in the gift of eternal life that's offered through Jesus who is the Christ.If you don't know...Jesus has made you the same offer that he made Christopher Johnson McCandless. If you trust in his gift to atone for your sins you will live with Him forever. If you don't need his gift then you are free to pay the penalty on your own. I hope you and I....and Christopher take Him up on his offer. Because it is the true definition of LOVE.Most of you guys are missing the point. It's not about doing research and planning a trip. It's about giving up our crap way of life today and living like humans were intneded to live. In case you guys didn't know cave men didn't have internet or books to do research before they traveled.
Sam, you're right. Shedding all materialism and moving around without a plan or a map was exactly the freedom that Chris sought and indeed found.
MAN THIS DUDE WAS RETARTED HE DIDNT KNOW WHAT HE WAS GETT'N INTO WHAT IF THAT BUS WASNT THERE??? THERE WOULD BE NO MOVIE NO BOOK NO NOTHIN, BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE DIED ALOT FASTER OR HE WOULD HAVE TO IN TO CONSIDERATION THAT HE WAS BEAT AND WOULD HAVE WENT THE HECK HOME. THE BUS MADE THIS WHOLE THING POSSIBLE! NOT CHRIS.
The fact that he went into the bush with only a 10 pound bag of riceBut was willing to kill a 1000 pound animal only to go to wast tells me alot of hisstate of mind. Respect the "wilderness" or it will kill you.I love a Good Adventure"My guess is" he found out that bus was there. Chris did what he wanted to do.Free to wander Free to Roam The End
Just to let you know K2deano he wasn't "willing" to kill the moose he killed it for food and It just so happened that he didnt have enough time.
I think that Alex ir Chris did what he wanted to do even if it lead to his death.
And people who call him crazy and a nutcase How many things have you done that you said you would have done? Are you living the life you ALWAYS wanted??
Well think about it because that is what Chris did.
Calico City Girl:
Read the book and avoid the movie. He wasted the moose because he had no idea how to preserve it. Time had nothing to do with it. He could have had an eternity, and he still would have died. He had no idea what he was doing.
VF
VF,
You're are right; read the book. While not a bad effort, the movie pales in comparison to the book. Actually, he knew exactly what he was doing. In fact he did remarkably well for more than 2 months. It was the Tek that scared him and eventually led to his demise. I doubt that there are many people (including Alaskans) who could survive for that long with only a bag of rice and a rifle. Give the kid some credit.
Michigan Mike shut up;; that movie was realy boering to me at first because im only 14 but,i thought about it and it was realy touching,and he is my heroe because honestley i wish we didnt have all the things we have now,it would be a lot easier if we didnt, not saying that i would go out and do that , but i realy do think he proved a point,to me and im only 14 ,and i think if he were to be alive ide want to thank him,
petra mariee:
I have socks that are older than you. Grow up and get some life experience and then come back and post in, oh say, twenty or thirty years.
VF
I still haven't read the book and just watched the movie for the first time tonight. I was profoundly affected by it; and can sympathize with both popular opinions here. I'm 29, and although I've never undertaken an adventure so challenging, I have found myself taking risks just to challenge myself. Sometimes as a right of passage; sometimes as an escape; sometimes a response to something that raised deep internal questions. I will say that each time I took an unnecessary risk, I felt both proud and foolish to have accomplished it. I've certainly had my share of near death experiences (near-falls, almost drownings, animal encounters, etc.) Most often I escape to "the wild" b/c I need some time to myself. The movie allowed me to reflect on two very important things: the first is that I've taken advantage of opportunities for adventure; the second is that I'm lucky that my carelessness in a majority of situations has not taken away the chance to tell the story. I'm mostly bummed that although we have a book and now a movie, we really don't get a chance to hear Chris tell the story, b/c maybe there was some insight that he had that will never be interpreted.
Kevin, Read the book. It is much more revealing about Chris' life and his backround. You'll have a much better understanding of why he chose the path that he did. Plus, Jon Krakauer is a compelling author. I read it the first time straight through and have re-read it a couple of times since. Movies NEVER can compare to what's in print and this is a prime example of that. Trust me on this one.
You are all idiots.
Experience something
I am reminded of the wild human spirit we all have within us. His story is indeed a tragedy.
This story is not about his intelligence.
It's about his happiness. It's how he made is life worth living, and how he found happiness in everyday things.
If he was illprepared, for a 24 year old, I think he would know.
He most likely made this decision, and I honselty respect it. I don't think he's anything but true.
Chris was a true warrior and will forever live on in my heart!
The only problem I have is if he loved his sister so much, why would he put her through this pain? And after I read the book and realized what a baby he was about his parents relationship and the scandal of it, who knows what he would've done if life got any tougher for him like it has for the billions of other people out there that get dealt hands much worse than he could ever imagine in his little world. It's cool that he went out and travelled the world on his own, I think a lot of us would love to try that life for awhile and thats admirable, but his ideals get a little too whiny for me after awhile. And if he thinks no one should push money and being successful on him, then why is he always pushing his style of life on others and telling them they need to be more free and let go of material needs. Strange guy, sad.
I think Chris was an inspiring person. I think you guys should stop judging him. Does it matter what we think of him? No, not really. Leave him alone. He was always complaining about society and now you guys all swarm about him like a pack of vultures. So maybe he was a little unprepared. He died doing what he loved which is more than a lot of people get. He was a brave person who stood up for his ideals. I think we could all take some lessons from him. It's people like him that we need in today's society. People who are ready to make a change and who care for the environment. Just because you live in Alaska doesn't mean a thing. Anybody could have died out there. I admit he was unprepared but I still think that he was an amazing person.
Did you ever think that maybe he was ready to die and didn't care if he did or not? Let the man die in peace. He saw more than most do and felt like the world was a waste of time. So he died alone, in peace, away from people who come on a message board and call people who died braindead idiots. To me, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea.
Do you guys remember the part where there was a hand-crank tram 1/4 mile from where he fell in the river?
This guy didn't even have a compass.
Now THAT, is not smart. And I don't think he was "ready" to die, did you read the note he wrote and left posted to his door? SOS, it said...Please God Remain. Why would he want hikers/hunters to wait for him if he was so ready to die? This guy was no hero. He didn't give a shit about people, until he needed them. And then he realized his fatal mistake. People need People. Now excuse me, I am going to go listen to Barbra Streisand.
oh, and celticmoon, by "he died doing what he loved" are you referring to starving to death?
Michigan Mike ...it sounds like you need some serious therapy or detox.
It's not about what he did. It's about the mental journey. He needed to deal with the demons within himself so he could forgive and understand. He did this by doing the only thing that made sense to him. He shed everything from his life and set out to find his own. It doesn't matter where he went to do this or how he felt it was right to get there. I don't think he is a hero or that he did anything wrong. His journey to himself was just more extreme than most people's and that's what made it one that people wanted to read. I had to take the same mental journey, only mine didn't include living off the land for 112 days in Alaska or tramping across the country. Everyone's trail to enlightenment is different. It doesn't make it wrong. I hope he found what he was looking for before he died.
tkin, you obviously "get it". Thanks for your comments.
Stop wondering why people are Crazy!!! Wonder why they aren't!!!
I don't know much about Chris McCandless, but I did see the movie and I am going to read the book. I have read much about how people think he was ill or even skitsophrenic, but I believe that's a stretch. He may have had very different opinions about how to live and appreciate nature, but you have to accept that he did live his life exactly how he wanted. He ventured into other people's lives, and had the most amazing experiances. Not very many people are that motivated to travel all over and live life a free man. Chris McCandless had to have been a very motivated and gifted person to be able to make the decision to leave everything he knew behind and live among the wild.
I read Krakauer's masterpiece on the life and times of McCandless and I have a mixed view. He did run away from many responsibilities but he lived on his own tired, hungry, and underprovisioned almost constantly. His family wasn't so dysfunctional, they were a pretty typical upper-class American family. However, it shows what McCandless resented was not his family but their capitolistic lifestyle.
I read Krakauer's masterpiece on the life and times of McCandless and I have a mixed view. He did run away from many responsibilities but he lived on his own tired, hungry, and underprovisioned almost constantly. His family wasn't so dysfunctional, they were a pretty typical upper-class American family. However, it shows what McCandless resented was not his family but their capitolistic lifestyle.
I read Krakauer's masterpiece on the life and times of McCandless and I have a mixed view. He did run away from many responsibilities but he lived on his own tired, hungry, and underprovisioned almost constantly. His family wasn't so dysfunctional, they were a pretty typical upper-class American family. However, it shows what McCandless resented was not his family but their capitolistic lifestyle.
It is interesting to see the varied and critical opinions being bantered about and posted on Chris's life and his intensions, as if we all knew what was in his head and heart. What chris left behind were glimpses into his own soul searching journey that we all, thanks to how it ended, are privy to.
Just got this book from my son. As a parent, I would be concerned that some kid not as bright and industrious as Chris might use this account as a model to fashion their own escape from whatever there is to run from. It is my belief that had Chris not been as resourceful as he was and had he not so readily embraced whatever situation came his way, he would have died sooner from something much less poetic. Or he might have given up sooner. But most people aren't as driven with conviction as he was. Certainly many kids his age harbor the fantasies of kissing off conventional relationships with society but very few would have the guiles (aka balls) to actually attempt to make a reality out of it. And that is as it should be. It would be nothing short of insanity for someone to read the accounting of McCandless's life/death or to see the movie and decide that running away from one's problems is the ideal way to face them head-on.
I think
McCandless went into the wild unpreapred. that was the sole purpose of his journey. to see whether he could live off the land the way he pictured it. In my mind he was a true hero who met his unfortunate death by keeping seeds in a wet bag, If any of you who doubt him or call him an idiot i'd like to see you go in the bush with his supplies and see what happens. he experienced alaskan wilderness by the very lack of his preparation. But this was his intent to test himself to the fullest. i just finished the book and i really think he intended to come out alive but just made one little mistake that unfortunately cost him his life. he is a true hero and will live in in the hearts of his family and the hearys of the readers of his biography
Nick, you "get it". Thanks for your comments
I sit back and read all the above and for all those expressing thier thoughts and opinions. Yet, I find that every one who has stated thier case is in fact directing such responses towards the wrong man and or person. Who they should be talking about is the author of the book and the people who created the movie.
For these are the people who are the cause for all the commotion regarding Chris
McCandless demise. Chris did what he believed and felt was his goal and destiny.
He is no different than the young men who challenge themselves as to seek out thier full potential as a man in life. Have you all forgotten as a young man the choice you had made in order to define such challenges. Where do we have the right to criticise one..when the fault lays to those who profit from it. And I have always said ...if you were not there...you have nothing to say. Allow Chris to rest in peace. And learn from what he has given us.
Krakauer and Penn are the story tellers, the messengers if you will. Chris McCandless is the message. Those who opine on this blog are interested in the message, not the messenger(s).
I respect and understand how Chris wanted the adventure he went on. But I do feel as if he could have made a little more preparation before entering such an environment. But on the other side of the spectrum, there are important items that can be taken from this story. The main things I took and hopefully will practice more often is to live life more freely and relaxed and make friends along the way more so than I do presently. I do hate that his great Alaskan Odyssey ended as it did. I pray that others going on there long awaited journeys will always remain safe and be able to tell others of their wonderful experiences.
THIS YOUNG MAN DID WHAT MANY OF YOU JUDGEMENTAL PRUDES WOULD NEVER DARE TO DO. HE MAY OF CHOSEN A DIFFERENT PATH THAT CAUSED HIS DEATH, BUT ULTAMITLY HE DID UNLIKE MANY OF US AND FOLLOWED HIS HEART. HOW DARE ANY OF YOU JUDGE!! "WALK IN MY SHOES BEFORE YOU JUDGE ME" REMEMBER THAT! HE LIVED A LIFE HE HIMSELF CHOSE, SO THOSE OF YOU THAT CRITIZE HIM ARE SIMPLY THE COWARDS THAT HIDE BEHIND WHATS EASY. SAFETY, SECURITY, AND WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW. I FEEL PITTY FOR YOU. TRUELY! PARISH GAINOUS
the man lived as he wished, he indulged in his parents wishes for as long as he could stand it, and then decided to live life on his own accord. there are many people who have done this throughout history, they don't want to live in the confines of this horrible world we live in, and yes it is a horrible world. if you could stop bitching and complaining for two seconds and not see this as an ignorant lunatic and instead as someone who took ahold of the reigns in his OWN life for once...that's worth admiration.
I can appreciate the desire to want a completely different life than the one you were raised in & yes any of us have the free will to do with our lives as we want but as we are exchanging opinions here mine is that he was selfish & careless with the gifts he was given. He sounded like a spoiled teenager. He could have lived his life so that he would have been able to make a difference perhaps, given his connections, education, wealth, passion, etc. perhaps a big difference in the world for 75 years or so – instead a handful of people will read the book/ see the film & think what – isolate yourself, be kind to strangers & unkind to your family – there’s a message –
I have a few things to say. Some times famalies are not all they are cracked up to be. No one has the idlyic life and he felt frusturated from things in his life. I for one have at times throught my life wanted to just take off as have all people in one point or another.
I am not going to say one way or another how he was I did not know him first hand, and I think people should not judge others it's not alright we are all individuals, and no one wants to be told to live there lifes by the way society says we all should be.
We all live varied lifes from the way we are raised and what we are exposed to and he chose what was right for him. It was tragic he died on his journey but at least he did live and was part of the world and did make the world a better place in his life.
No one knows how long they will live a person could get hit by a car etc.
I am very sure he wanted to live and think of the fear when he realized he couldn't leave Alaska.
I really don't enjoy people being critical and judemental when all people have made mistakes and basically no one has the right to slap someone verbally in the face.
I think looking at the various comments some are critcal, mean and have no place here and many of them are running purely on emotion which isn't good by any standard.
He will always be in the minds of all people and like other people who died for various reasons most people will not be recalled unless it's by close friends or family.
Jewel sometimes strangers become your friends like in jobs, or school etc. I think that people who are sometimes only children are very good at keeping themselfs happy and do not need to be around people all the time to feel comfortable.
It is a good thing if you can be comfortable at times by yourself and not need constant contact with others it's a very admirable trait and I for one have it.
I ask for those of you who sound critical, judgemtental, mean, and jealous what have you done with your life that is brilliant?
i have to agree with parish your all missing the bigger picture. do you think he didnt realize he was ill prepared . he was college graduate. he wasnt an idiot. the reasons for doing this kinda thing are deeper than most realize
It is not uncommon for some book smart or young or someone who hasn’t really had to struggle in life, to think they are invincible. He wasted his life. He could have had an adventure in the Peace Corps for example & lived simply & helped people. We have free will.
all of you people read into the movie and book way too much like wayne would have said its a mistake to think about this stuff too much. Fact of the matter is that it is a tragedy that a young well to do man perished all alone but it is what he wanted to do it was his right to do whathe did, and wether he was an idiot or not which i do not believe he was rather than misguided and obsessed it doesnt matter . We will never know exactly what he did or thought or beleived and that is the greatness of the storys by which i mean the book and the movie. At the end of the day no matter any of are opinions he did what he did which i think is a fantastic and moving story and the movie was intended for exactly that, to be a great STORY yes it was based on true facts but it is still an interesting and cool STORY , RIP christopher mccandless you have my respect not because of what you did but for making it possible for a great story to be written which is exactly what he loved so much and probably drove him to go on this quest. A great STORY
Well, among the living it is good/ interesting to talk/ exchange passionate ideas & be open to others thoughts ~ Chris gave us that.
But yeah, after awhile it’s time to move on to a new subject ~ back to grad work & writing my own stories ~
Chris MacCandless was a bigger man than all of us are.Its easy to talk the talk but how many of us have the guts to do what he did.Dont post things about someone you'll never have the brains to understand.
Some of you guys really piss me off. Chris intentionally went into the bush with nothing but half a back pack. It was his CHOICE to be intentionally bring less than he needed. He went into the wild to escape society and everything involved with it, so why the hell would he bring a four seasons tent, electric tooth brush, and a years supply of rations? It was his choice to do this. Who ever is bashing him is just being apart of the cruel broken society that he was trying to get away from. He is one of the few people that lived in the way he felt, he did what he wanted and didnt care what people think. But at the same time he was a great person. He donated $24,000 to charity, and feed the homeless of the east coast. He cared about people he didnt even know. I think it made Chris sick of how mean people were and he couldnt handle it anymore. YOU nay-sayers make me sick, what do you know? Your cowards and scum.
And how dare you call him selfish after he donates everything he has to charity and goes and spends all the money he has in high school on feeding and talking with less fortunate people on the streets. In fact I think he is so UN selfish that he ultimately got so caught up in the cruelness of the world that he put his family on the back burner.
What is funny about all the comments about what the book says, the movie says, bullcrap! There is another source which I just ordered that puts it all into the proper prospective and the cause of his death was starvation, not nuts or berry or seeds.
well i watched the movie and at some points it did feel as though he was quite stupid in the sense that he was unprepared and inexperienced....
but i think the whole point of why chris is being idolized is not because he tried to live in the bush on his own. it's more importantly because he was attempting to escape from this animal like materialistc life that we lead.
take a look at yourselves guys...chris's fans and his detractors....how many days can we think that we have behaved as humans? what makes us humans and not animals? we have evolved from animals after all haven't we? so what makes us special?
even animals eat, drink, sleep and have sex as a part of their lives. is that all we are doing? are we simply working our asses off in a cubicle to eat,sleep,drink and mate? i think chris stands for just this feeling. he took the path that was, well let's just say plain stupid, but he took it to escape from this society. i think maybe the point of the whole thing, is that if we have to live like animals then we might as well literally live like animals rather than pretending to be a civilised, cultured race.
none of us can really know what chris was thinking when we went "into the wild" but one thing is certain, there is a lot we can learn from his story. and that is one of the things that makes us humans. the ability to learn from someone else's story.
so please, stop the bouquets and the brickbats about whether he was stupid or unlucky in the wild. chris wouldn't care for them. because he doesn't stand for people who want to try and live alone in the wild. he stands for people who want to be more human in the way they live.
i hope we can all at least agree on that...that's what he stands for guys....not some hero who can live in the wild but a guy who wants to be more human....
I think that although he wasn't smart to do this, he deserves some credit. He was a studious person who was fed up with the world like many people are today. He just expressed it in a different way. He thought that by going to uninhabited places, he could escape the world. Many people WANT to do that, but Chris McCandless actually did that. He didn't know that he was going to die. When he was going to die, he knew it. He wrote a note with his real name. He died bravely.
i think that all of you guys are idiots. he does deserve credit, you say that it's selfish of him to leave his family like that but i completely get what he was doing.yeah so he had no map, but that was the whole point. he knew where he was going, he made it til spring but ate that fucking plant according to the movie. but from what i hear the movie makes him look like a bratty guy that just got out of college.
BUT REALLY
none of you know him.
Chris was not a nut he thought that the world is messed up and IT IS i don't blame him.If u read the book and watched the movie.. it explains alot of stuff that important....Hes pretty much a legend to alot of people i cryed when i watched the movie.HE WAS NOT A NUT he was a legend,people who think hes a nut go DO the same thing he went through and then you'll see about life and How he had to do it go to virginia and WALK to alaska and do what he did to get there
We're studying Into the Wild in my English class, and I gotta admit that while this guy was cool for trying to reconnect with himself and nature, he was a completly selfish asshole to his family and stupid about going into the wild so unprepared. FOR GOD SAKE ALASKA IS NOT FLORIDA!! Why would you ever go into Alaska with nothing but a toy gun (because the novel says at best his rifle could only make the big game angry). And how mean he was to his family. Sure, his parents weren't perfect. But who is? Why would he be so willing to forgive strangers but not his own father? Charity begins at home, Chris. He wasn't transcendental or a romantic hero; he was a disillusioned idealistic teenager who was never set into the real world. While his death was tragic, it was avoidable, and people like him kinda had what was coming to him.
Hey, don't be so romantic, there's nothing romantic about dying, especially by starvation. IMO eventually Chris realized the value or perhaps the sense of his life, but could not return and died. Weak, cold, alone, afraid, maybe with his thoughts obscured by starvation. I don't believe he wanted to end his life that way.
Many young men feel disappointed or disgusted by the world, society, parents, etc. That's pretty normal and majority of these men manage to stay alive long enough to understand that the world is not black and white, there is no "truth" that can be obtained, there's much more to life than their thoughts and beliefs. Chris didn't make it and that's a tragedy.
A little bit of philosophy: IMO what he was looking for was all the time there, it was inside him. There was no need to travel that far and starve to death to achieve reconciliation with oneself and find peace.
He died at the age of 24yrs old. I did dumber things then he did and more much less noble reasons (in fact no nobleness at all). I am just lucky to have survived them. I grew up and look back at them as juvenile adventures now. I can definately clearly see the foolishness of them now and am grateul to be alive. There are times I put my parents through hell as well. Who doesn't?
He lived his life on his own terms, with passion and faults. Poetically tragic and inspirational all at once. As only life ever could be. Things to learn from, things to inspire, things to find noble, things to reconize as foolishness.
Every mans life story will have it's good, bad, noble, foolishness... No one is perfect. No one should idolize anyone. Life is about balance. Reconize and learn from the good and the bad.
You're right, no one is perfect, but at the same time it doesn't take a genius to understand the dangers he was walking into in Alaska. Yes, it's a shame that he died. But still, even if he didn't intend to die that way, or to die at all, he was basically lining up all his ducks in a row. He went into the wild unprepared, with to many expections, and without the drive to continue to look for civilization after he decided to leave the wilderness. I'm a Boy Scout, and from our perspective the way he went about his trip was completly stupid.
I just don't think he fully understood the gravity of his actions. I think he looked at death like a loose, fun woman. He loved the chase for her, but didn't realize the dangers she posessed until it was too late. And I think what makes it even worse is that he was 24 when he died. By 24 most of the people his age have already discovered certain things about life: that it's not perfect, that even though sometimes it may suck you can't just run away from it. The fact that he didn't realize these truths until right before he died is the ultimate tragedy of his story. His actions and concerns for the poor and underprivliged were indeed heroic, but I think that he was blind to the reality of their conditions; he lamblasted his family for their wealth, but I have a feeling that had he been born into poverty, he would have longed to climb the social ladder that his parents worked so very hard to conquer.
Ok I'm sorry but I can't read all the arguments anymore without saying something. He didn't go on the adventure for any of us to argue about. He went because thats what he wanted to do. He wasn't being selfish how many of us really keep in contact with our family? I haven't talked to my family in 6 months. The fact of the matter is he survived for 2 years in the outdoors. Everybody forgets about that and just focuses on the fact that he died. I just don't understand how everyone can talk bad about him for doing what he wanted. Every young man has at some point in they're life planned a trip like his. He is one of the few that actually did it.
this was a good story and i enjoyed it very much and we read the book in class and we watched the movie it was so good
I too lived in Alaska (Fairbanks) for several years so I have some experience on the matter.Forget for a moment the pain and suffering that this guy put his family through and think for a moment about the bigger picture.As I stated I lived in Alaska for several years and can tell you that the place is no more dangerous than anywhere else unless you engage in the kind of nonsense he did. I wonder about the father of three who may have been on a rescue team to go in and save that guy risking his life to do so. Or how about the pilot of the search aircraft who has a wife and parents at home, dying in a plane crash he would otherwise not have died in if McCandless had known what he was doing and could take care of himself. There is nothing wrong with the lifestyle he was leading but he should have taken the proper steps to learn what he was doing. Especially given his education, there is no excuse. For example, Dick Proenneke lived in the Alaskan bush for almost thirty-five years and did quite well (read the book "One Man's Wilderness). He was 51 years old when he went. Life brings enough unexpected turns that you are unprepared for. Why create more? Why create more that directly affect others? I hope some mother in Portland, Maine or San Francisco, California doesn't have to deal with the overwhelming grief of a phone call from the state police telling her that her 19 year old son is dead from similar circumstances because that kid idealized this guy and followed in his foot steps.In the end, what I despise most, is the selfish way in which he conducted himself. Apparently having no regard for anyone but himself. But that is the fantastic and tragic nature of our dualistic and often complex American culture. We have the freedom to do whatever we wan't regardless of the consequences. However, if we have learned anything from the scientific revolution that could and should be applied to everyday life it would be stated as thus "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should". If you went into the bush during that time of year with no experience, no provisions, no assistance, no map, little or no food, improper equipment / clothing, etc. I would indeed classify you or anyone else engaging in such folly as a certified "nut job
By the way "Michigan Mike", who are you? Are you one of these guys who go to Houghton once a year for a week and think that he is "roughing" it??? I know you are, it's okay. That's all I can imaging by looking at your screen name. Grow some fucking balls and respect a man whom, yes, was young, but still went for his dreams. The guy wasn't ill prepared, he ran into misfortune with the mold on his seeds and that's what did him in. Show respect.
Ok I'm sorry but I can't read all the arguments anymore without saying something. He didn't go on the adventure for any of us to argue about. He went because thats what he wanted to do. He wasn't being selfish how many of us really keep in contact with our family? I haven't talked to my family in 6 months. The fact of the matter is he survived for 2 years in the outdoors. Everybody forgets about that and just focuses on the fact that he died. I just don't understand how everyone can talk bad about him for doing what he wanted. Every young man has at some point in they're life planned a trip like his. He is one of the few that actually did it.
just don't think he fully understood the gravity of his actions. I think he looked at death like a loose, fun woman. He loved the chase for her, but didn't realize the dangers she posessed until it was too late. And I think what makes it even worse is that he was 24 when he died. By 24 most of the people his age have already discovered certain things about life: that it's not perfect, that even though sometimes it may suck you can't just run away from it. The fact that he didn't realize these truths until right before he died is the ultimate tragedy of his story. His actions and concerns for the poor and underprivliged were indeed heroic, but I think that he was blind to the reality of their conditions; he lamblasted his family for their wealth, but I have a feeling that had he been born into poverty, he would have longed to climb the social ladder that his parents worked so very hard to conquer.
You see, it is all of this that likely inspired Chris to get away. Who doesn't want to escape the cruelty of the world for a life more meaningful and beautiful? Society is not open-minded. Should everyone feel compelled to go to school, get a job, start a family and make money to survive until the inescapable end comes? Is that the only possible way of achieving happiness? Who can define another's happiness? Must we all be expected to follow these "guidelines" or otherwise expect to be shunned by the rest of the world? Chris stepped out against the current to uncover the beauty in nature, often gone unnoticed beneath the busyness of the world. I just wonder if it is possible to live amongst people without judging them. Perhaps, among other things, this is what Chris wanted to find.
Respectfully,
Monika
MichiganSteve, you hit it right on the head. I don't know if you even check this topic anymore, but what you have said about Chris properly and rationally examines the philosophy of the person and his story. Anyone who says that Chris was an idiot, truly misses the complexity of the situation and is arogent as well as ignorant. People who do this are also fallacious in the way that the automatically jump to the conclusion that he was stupid. They are missing the point of this story. As many others have stated, Chris would not care about our opinions anyway. Its all of our bickering and opinions that he was attempting to escape.
People, its not about him being prepared, your missing the whole point of the story. Kinda like how people get the point of Jesus wrong.
The man went on spiritual quest. He was prepared to spend 3-4 months in the wild, and had adequate food for that. Jesus went to the wilderness for 40 days, you think his parents liked how that turned out. But its not about the parents, its about one persons quest to attain wisdom and learn some truth about themself and the world. Native Americans take vision quests with no food, in hopes of acquiring some power or knowledge that they can bring back to help their people. Thats all Chris was doing
He did have his revelation too, that, Hapiness is only real when shared, and that he could live a simple life with family and friends. He was ready to return to his family but when he was hiking out the river was too high and than he ate something posionous. If not for that Im sure he could have survived another month or whatever. In the movie it said moose hunters found him 2 weeks after his death, so he probably would have been saved that way.
You people that just focus on him being stupid or ill prepared can't see the big picture. Just like you can't see what Jesus was teaching. No one wants to worship chirs or make him a hero, thats not what he wanted, that not what jesus wanted. They would say, go find your own path and truth and bring that wisdom back to share with those you love and those willing to listen.
Its that simple. I don't mean to get political but I bet most of you people who think he is a nut job are republicans. If people don't conform to what you think, they are nut jobs, hippies,liberals,democrats,etc...Its sad when people get to westernized, modernized and propagandized to understand. But thats just my humble opinion, Jim any comments im at jw7114@yahoo.com Good luck to all that are seaking a higher truth, ho, mitakuye oyasin
None of us knew him and we have no right to judge him. God bless anyone who has the guts to do what they want.
Jwindenver, seeing you brought up a political tone to this I wanted to put in my two cents worth. You may be surprised to know that most conservatives, not necessarily Republicans, admire independence and self reliance. Sadly, it is the new left, or liberals, who want the government to be more heavily invovled in our lives through big progams which make us dependent on them and empower politicians. You may be surprised to know that Chris McCandless was president of the Republican club at Emory University. His free spirit and self reliance is what most conservatives identify with in America.
In the 60s and 70s the youth in this country were filled with idealism and hope. Many perished along the roads, in communes, in cities in the ongoing struggle to understand how man has lived so long, come so far and retained such cruelty. What happened since is more of the same and evidence that we humans are still seeking. What Christopher's experience has offered us is another passionate story into the psyche and developement of human consciousness. He lived in our time of materialism,gang violence and greed... the world still allows slavery. We are blundering along and every now and then a spirit takes flight. It is the journey we learn from (in our warm houses) we who choose to tackle the evolution of our own consciousness in our own ways. We feel the stirrings when we relate to those that soar. His journey ended but touched ours.
SD, than it might surprise you that most liberals/progressives, what ever it is now, also admire indepence and self reliance. Sadly you spout the same talking point that conservatives have used since the 50's about dems wanting to expand government, big programs, etc... blah, blah, blah. I just want effective government where its needed and don't mind paying taxes to keep my country and its people strong. Liberals go by the motto, your only as strong as your weakest link so if someone needs help you help them. So please don't broadbrush all us progressives and I will not broad brush all you conservatives. Although, conservatives would probably want to drill for oil at the magic bus whereas dems would want to preserve it, and than be called anti american enviromental wackos by the right. Chris was so far above politics though Im sorry I brought it up.
respect !!!
Actualy he was made him self. I am about knowledge in redemption and love that includes in serving to people. My Respect!
Christopher McCandless made alot of mistakes, he was a little illprepared, but who are you to say if he is a nut or not. He went out and did what about .05% of people do...he lived the life he wanted. You can tell me all you want about how he failed, how he was selfish and i will listen, but he didn't care if he died or not, he was not afraid of when his life ended he was afraid that his life wouldn't begin.
As you sit on your computers and trash talk about how this guy was crazy, please look inside yourself and ask am i happy? Do you like working at the same job everyday. What is the one dream you want but know deep down inside you will not get? And instead of taking out the anger of not being able to achieve your biggest dreams, appreciate this man for achieving his. Try to model your life and maybe instead of taking a wilderness adventure...do what you want to do.
Nut job? No. How about brave and intelligent? He had the capacity to actually remove himself from a safe, comfortable society. It's not an easy thing to do. Because he was very well educated, he saw the true emptiness that a consumer society like North America has to offer... and had the BALLS to leave it behind and live in what he believed was a more fundametal and fulfilling reality. It's easy to say he's a 'nut job' if you're brainwashed by society or don't take the time to try and understand what possibly could've been going through his head.
He did not give up a life savings.. He gave away money that was given to him by others.. I can relate to his desire for freedom and solitude...And like him I have gotten myself in trouble seeking it.. I have just been lucky or blessed that it hasnt cost me my life..
Actually that I felt understand someone pain and the conditions that gave him relief is not a easy job.In the terms of normal man he is mentally sick. But if I look on the other side of the coin I bellive his soul is pure and all other people are basically sick. We can choose the way of our life by our own and I believe he choose that path he like and I salute that man.
All of you people who are fighting over someone who is dead. He is gone and we cant bring him back but fighting about if he was a nut or a hero is just pointless and disrespectful. You are dumb. Give this guy the respect of a human being and shutup about yourselves you selfish pigs. He was a normal guy who wanted to be away from the materialistic society that we live in and you have to understand that. He did what he wanted in life...Are you? I dont think arguing about some man is what you had in mind. And MICHIGAN MIKE IS A MORON!!! He gives Michigan a BAD name. I have been on this site for ten minutes and cant even belive it. Peace out....
Amused at all your comments. Just seen the film and loved it. There are people here who live in abject poverty with little food and nowhere to live. They have no choice, but Chris did. It appears to me that he chose to experiment without the material things in life, but sadly, in the end he failed. But at least he tried. Is life about the material things?
I have read most everyone's comments here & I must say some of u people have no true value on life. The movie was great!!! McCandless did have a decent life. He had an education,car,home,$...everything 2 survive n society but what about the emotional things he went thru? He made a choice on how he wanted 2 live n that meant not being a part of society. As long as he was happy then why should ANYONE judge the choices this MAN made? Not saying I idolize him or anything but come on here people it doesn't matter where he went, hot or cold; HE WAS HAPPY!!!! We all should b so lucky 2 live n die the way we want. Life is short so Y not make the best of it & 4 1 time n your life do what u want n have things ur way instead of everyone elses?!. It wasn't like he completely shut himself out he met strangers that become friends...so obviously he wasn't that bad of a person. In my opinion his parents were lucky 2 b apart of his life!!! From what I see they were all about the material things n life n what other people thought of them. How can u truely b happy when you're always wondering what other people think of u? Well McCandless didn't care n 4 that I shake my hand 2 the sky n say "R.I.P. Chris u started on an adventure & u ended an adventure. May god keep u in heaven 4 all eternity"
by reading all of the comments here.I am actually disgusted by some of you people and what you've said.yes we've all read the story and saw the movie.we know he's not crazy or suicidal.he found what made him happy, and some of you need to find what makes you happy whether it be living off the land or in society.I havn't grown up with money but i'm happy the way my life is because i've got people that cared about me, and so did he.Even when he knew he was going to die he knew his family and friends loved him no matter what.Everyone of you that has made a negative comment about him i want you to look in the mirror and ask yourself if your any better than him in any way.
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You are all way to opinionated but hell we all are so here is my take. Chris McCandless lived a life of purpose- he strayed away from becoming yet another slave to societies’ labor (though he did indeed work during his travels, it was only to gain the necessary money to get by.) He found something he loved and went for it, full throttle putting his intended life aside; breaking the mold of what everyone else was heading for almost like cattle having to be herded to a fenced area (please excuse my poor metaphor). He redirected a new way of life where the words of authors pushed his passion, not money or greed. Which is I'm sure much more than most of you can say for any part of your life. Yes, I believe there is a little bit of Chris in some of us, the few wanting to escape the so called normality of life and venture out upon the virgin untamed land that we have been so blessed with from God. I would love to do what Mr. McCandless did not just because I too enjoy the outdoors and would like to see so many new places and faces, but because I can relate much to Chris’s life in more ways than anybody would know. So let his soul rest and stop all the drama and bitterness. It was his life, a life a purpose, selflessness, faith and love. A life I envy. Who knows, I'm just an ignorant college student. But how old do you have to be to obtain a certain outlook on life that very few people are able to grasp or see. Rest in peace Chris.
Chris should have been born 200 hundred years earlier. He likely would have made a major discovery.
Chris is forever my hero. A brave soul to be admired.
I am so astonished how there are 2 different groups of viewers that emerge from watching this movie: one who thinks Chris was a "nutjob" who was selfish, ill-prepared and deserved to die and one who thinks Chris was embarking on a soul-searching mission to discover truths about humanity and life most of us are not philosophically or morally proficient enough to understand. I understand what Chris was doing, I understand it PERFECTLY. The real meaning of life is shrouded by stupid rituals, human concocted barriers and "21st century inventions" like a career that some people are forced to acquire though they do not want them, and I think that we were all placed here (or happened here, whatever your credence) and thus should be free to do whatever we want with this life of ours. I believe I understand so well because of my location at a competitive university, like Chris, and the people I am surrounded by. As a 19 year old girl in a sorority, more often than not I feel like our day-to-day rituals are masking truths about life, and I have no idea why this has occured, but it has. Chris knew it. This is where I connect with Chris in theory but don't have the courage, selflessness or ability to be completely independent of the human connection (nor do I think it is healthy for MOST people) as Chris. In the book, for me the most fascinating segment was Chris's younger life, his passion for helping others less well-off and interest in impoverished parts of the world - he knew that, to paraphrase, humans treat other so terrible all the time but he did not know why, and I don't either. While I sit around and wonder about it, Chris got out. If i didn't make it clear already, I don't believe it is healthy for everyone to "get out", Thoreau did it, a few others mentioned in Krakkeur's book, but not everyone can do it - only those who have been blessed with/cursed with an extremely high code of morality and passion to find the truth.
On that note, I believe that God (or whomever) bestowed each of us with different levels of understanding life and human interaction. There is even a famous psychological development theory (Kohlberg's theory of moral development) that addresses this and I think it is clear Chris was way on the fringe as far as moral development, he could not possibly fit in with the world around him until he addressed and discovered the nature of his morality, which he was able to do via going into the wild. The most tragic part of the story is not Chris's ill-equipped journey, because what you all seem to forget is he did survive for 4 months without "more supplies", its the fact that he discovered through his own adventure into the deepest crevices of the wild (and also the deepest crevices of the human spirit) that "happiness is only real when shared". I do not believe Chris's realization came out of loneliness or desperation, as he was doing quite well when he decided to leave, I believe he finally found the answer he was looking for for SO long, and had to die knowing he could not fulfill it. It's tragic, however, intriguing. Would it have been better for Chris to have gone to Harvard Law, marry a woman he didnt love, have children he didn't really care about, and end up being depressed to the point of suicide? I know that is an extreme way to think, but it is definitely a plausible situation that could have happened if he stayed. Chris was heroic, i think, and though I would never contemplate his wild lifestyle, I will surely not condemn it either - it was his life, and he touched so many people, it is unquestionable he made a difference to their lives - and given my feelings after reading this book, it is unquestionable he was able to touch many, many more lives through Krakkeur's words.
So, if you did not view Chris's life/story the way I, his sister Carine and many others did - than I do not blame you, as I do not think you can morally understand or accept his mission. While "what he did to his family" (do you people forget what his parents did to HIM his whole life?) is sad, especially Carine, it was necessary for his spiritual mission and none of us can judge that, it was not our choice, it was his. Lastly, I believe his family has changed for the better also, especially his parents. I guess that is all, sorry if any of you don't agree with me, as I am sure there are many of you, but this is what I think and feel and hope I shed some light to others.
Peace
Nicely put Kay.
It doesn't matter what we think. You all live in a society that says "this is how you should live" and you do it. You all follow what everyone thinks to be right. He did what he wanted without harming anyone.I admire someone who can stand out and do what they think is right, regaurdless of what other people thinks. That is what made all the deciples in the bible who they are today. As far as i am concerned, Chris is a hero, trying to escape all the bad in this world to better understand himself. Who are we to say this guy was a nuttcase? I think those who judge him are just jealous because they don't have the balls to venture out and experience the world as Chris did on his own. God bless you Chris, i hope we meet one day above, i would love to hear about your travels!
This guy wasn't Hitler, he was a lost man that made his own ending on his own. Do you people really think all this would happen because he wanted to? He made his choice to do this. Read a little of his words maybe you would understand him more. This guy knew exactly what he was getting into, he knew he would die. Maybe he just didn't like the fact the world was becoming so corrupt and dirty. Maybe he didn't want anyone's opinion, including mine. Maybe will meet one day and I'll find out what kinda guy he was. But to the rest of you judgemental people, your still here you don't make a difference to him. Love and peace
A few chapters into the book "Into the Wild" and while he obviously made some poor choices and was ill prepared, how many of us will be able to say we died doing exactly what we wanted to do?
People are evil. This man is dead and people are calling him nuts and mental. He did something he obviously thought he needed to do. Was it you that went out there and went through all that? No.So why are you so mad? Sure, he didnt need to do that, but in his last letter he wrote that he was happy. Leave him alone. Go read the book into the wild by,Jon Krakauer. There is letters from him, and from people who met him along the way and they describe him as a great person. He seemed like maybe he was a lost soul who thought that getting to alaska would make him happy, It is all tragic and so very sad. So calling this dead man an idiot and this and that, is just cold, no matter what he did.Look at yourselfs before you judge others.
To donate $25k and give everything up in pursuit of what you really believe in is truly inspirational. To say he was a 'nut' is just so narrow minded.
Godspeed Christopher, you're a hero of mine.
This person (Michigan Mike) and others bashing Chris are obviously shallow. Chris deserves a little commendation for having the courage and ambition to leave his comfortable life and vain worldly possessions. Most people are over stimulated with today’s technological rat race and just can’t or don’t want to see through the smoke. Chris was on the right track to personal fulfillment but made a costly mistake. He didn’t want to die. How many people that die today will know they made a similar mistake until it is too late! Piss on you Michigan Mike!
In the first chapter of Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer offers his reasoning into the motives of Chris: that young men are often overconfident, wreckless, and take risks that older men would not. This attribute of boys in their late teens and early twenties is why they are perfect soldier-warriors...they believe they are invincible..they have so many years ahead, they never dream about their end of life. Sure he took careless risks, but it was in his DNA and bone marrow to do so.
If you are basing anything you are posting here off the Sean (I hate America) Penn movie, please STFU. Read the book then do some research, the kid was a moron, he was couragous but stupid.
I don't know whether the guy was a hero or a moron, running from a life he hated, or embracing a life he craved, he may have hated the idea of living what his parents perceived to be "A life" but he saw as nothing more than, the corporate rat race, one thing I do know, should I ever have the nerve to go for what I truly want, I hope I have the strength to grab it with both hands and be damned with what others think or say
The ironic thing is, should he have lived and returned to civilisation in one piece and all the wiser for finding himself, no one would ever know who is was, after all, can everybody name someone who went into the wilderness and came out the other side unscathed, then had a public forum started about them which went on for 2 years, my thinking is, and it is only my thinking, I think the last thing he wanted to do was die there, he probably imagined himself living that kind of life, for most of his life, when he realised that, that bus was going to be his final resting place, I'll bet he was terrified out of his mind and would have done or given anything to change his situation, he probably went through the five stages of grieving, the final note 'thanking the lord for his life' being acceptance that he was going to die.
Was he brave?, most certainly, was he foolish?, I think, at some point while stuck in that bus, he would agree with that, but ultimately, he spent the last two years of his life, doing what he wanted to do, so he must have been happy in his heart about that and I'm willing to bet, there's a hell of a lot of people in the world who wont be able to say that when they are on their death bed
I must say the movie had a profound affect on me and my husband. Coming from a somewhat affluent family, my father had always placed material wealth as the only means of being considered "successful". Everyone with that mentality should either see the movie or read the book. Success should not be measured by the position you hold, the size of your home, or the size of your bank account. In the end, no one remembers the posessions you held, but the way in which you touched every soul you came in contact with...."what you do in life echos in eternity"....and that's the legacy Chris left behind. May he be resting atop a remote mountain smiling down on this twisted society
I just read the book and I am reading Walden by Thoreau and I think he was on the right track just the wrong turn.
He had the right idea in this world. As a person out of work for two years thanks to the stinking immigrants taking our jobs, I wish I had the balls to do half of what he did.
Chris is the man, great story...tragedy. He will be missed by all
i think he was stupid. end of.
but that does not mean that is was not a great book/movie, that it is any less of a loss that chris mccandless died, or that the message behind him going into the wild was any less meaningful.
His entire trip was a mistake in the end, he knew it and now the world does...why? Because he said it and penned it himself, he ran away to the wilderness to figure out himself, but in the end, he realized "happiness only real when shared"...so he ran away on his journey of self discovery, to be alone and figure it all out, only in the end to realize that without others to share with, being alone isn't where it's at. While it may be inspirational to many, it's an epic fail.
Very sad story. I feel sadness for his family and all the people he met along his journey who lost someone they cared about. I, however, do not think that Chris was a hero. Was he brave? Yes absolutely. But, he was selfish and hurt many people on his journey to of self discovery. What is heroic about that? What is there to idolize? Bravery? We see that daily and never even know it. I feel so sad for those he hurt, I feel so sad that he thought he had to hurt so many to be "free". Not worth the pain he gave so easily without regard for others. One word...sad.
He's dead that is all, learn from his mistakes......
Every single person that commented to this review is missing the point. The reason why Chris traveled out into Alaska is because He wantes to find himself. The purpose of him going traveling was to escape everything that had to do with civilization, not walk back into it. He knew he was going to die but the resistless fascination he had for the beauty lured him in. He was not a "nut job." He purposly died. At least he was there in peace and found what he has been looking for.
you can't deny a man his right too live or die he did make wrong decisions but he knew the inevitable. chris, did the imaginable with his life he lived more than a handful of people ever have and he was free. he was free from decision and expression with no fear he conquered and lived his life too the fullest thats why he died he had no more to accomplish.......
I too read the book and it was about an adventure of a man's spirit to live free of the confines of modern day binds that most people find themselves in, mortgage, credit cards, fast paced life. I say to each his own, live the way you want to live. My father did similar things to Chris, he left home after he graduated school but he joined the Air Force and saw the world, he was attached to SAC in the 1950's so he had to be prepared for anything situation that he was thrown into, from the desert to the bitter cold of Alaska. He never called or wrote home for 10 years, his mother, father nor siblings knew where he was. He met my mother and they had me, it was time for him to come back home to Kentucky. My Grandmother and Grandfather was just glad he was back home. He's training prepared him for adventures in the desert as he hiked across America from California to New York.
I have traveled out West myself and there is a call of the West that I have heard people speak of before, a thirst for a big adventure. Take a trip to South Dakota, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana and I'm sure you will feel it too. My wife and I drove to Montana, via Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri in a 1994 Jeep Wrangler, no air just the open windows and a breeze in your face it was great. Then a couple times we flew into Vegas and headed out east to the Grand Canyon then West to Los Angeles across the desert taking every back road we could find, then stopping an hiking some amazing trails.
When I read "Into the Wild" it brought me into this life of the SuperTramp which was adventurous and carefree. But it also showed his troubles he had at home, with his education he could have became involved in the American dream of money, house and family but he was about more than just possession. He was about the great adventurous spirit that we all have read about in books through history, The man that climbed Mt Everest, the man who went to Antarctica. the men and women who have travelled the globe searching for the great adventure. If you look back through history most adventurers were called crazy, idiots, nut balls. But Chris lived his adventure, I just wish he only got to tell it in his own words. I will say it for him "Live your own Adventure and share it with someone".
So he died from eating a poisonous seed.. yeah maybe he didnt read all about the seed before eating it.. but he was fucking starving! i'd probably make the same mistake too if i was that hungry! Chris was a wonderful man who followed his dreams. If he was such an idiot and a nut job.. then how did he survive 2 years in the wild without money and a map and everything? He made it 2 years! and he had the time of his life! thats all that matters.
overwhelmed! it´s a sad history about someone that awkwardely tried to find his essential and the ultimate contact with nature. Well, he could be alive now, poor guy and poor family. I have just read the book and it took just 3 days. I recommend it.
- Chris Mcandless Pictures
Chris Mcandless Pictures
Michigan Mike says:
2 years ago
This guy was no hero he was an ill prepared nut job who met his end like you would expect one to die in such circumstances. The real tragedy here is you can be sure someone else will idolize this idiot and go off to do the same thing.
If this guy had done ten minutes of research on Alaska he would have never taken one step in the bush as unprepared as he was.
This guy will forever be in the company of mentally imbalanced fruit cakes like Timothy Treadwell.
Chares Darwin is again vindicated.