What are your feelings about Christopher McCandless’ adventure into Alaska?
If you don’t know who that is please see the following link. If nothing else it is an interesting story to read! (He was who the movie “Into the Wild” was based on):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless
Like AK said, it came back that there was absolutely no evidence that proved the poisoning theory. By most accounts it was just a suggestion which Hollywood and his fans ran blew up because it offers a more romantic edge than him just curling up in a ball and dieing.
Growing up in the wilderness I am shocked that he was not able to survive so close to help. Between the towns and the road system and the ranger cabin I have to believe that even A LITTLE bit of preparation would have saved his life.
One important scenario left out by the biased accounts is that the reason that the (poached) moose meat perished was because he wanted to not let any part of the animal be “wasted”. He spent so much time TRYING to boil the intestines and other internal organs into a palatable soup that it wasted precious time that should have gone towards preparing the actual meat correctly, which most said he didn’t know how to do either.
I am not here to judge someones life choice. After reading your answers and looking into things myself a little more I just feel that what he did to his family and friends was purely selfish.
The death of a loved one, especially an avoidable death, is the most painful thing one can go through…he could have lived a solitary existance and one that didn’t obey the normal rules of society without dieing and making his family and friends hurt so bad by not being so stubborn and actually accepting advice and education.
I am really glad I asked this question though. It has brought a lot more insight to the situation and to help me be a little more aware of the world around me.
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
By the sounds of it, he was just a disullusioned young man who bit off more than he could chew and ended up dead because of it.
on Nov 28th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Personally, I think he was an idiot, and potentially set a very bad example.
on Nov 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
-Just my opinion-
McCandless was a textbook schizophrenic who died, possibly committed suicide, starving to death in one of the most plentiful environments on earth (it has been proven that he was not poisoned as the book and film depict).
The story written by Krakauer (a great writer), is mostly fabricated and based on loose assumptions. The story is heavily romanticized and really is autobiographical, using McCandless as a vehicle.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the book, but it is definitely a work of fiction based on the misadventure of McCandless.
People and Sean Penn often criticize Alaskans because of our wide-spread opinions about McCandless, but that is because many of us encounter people like McCandless on a regular basis. The story is always the same, and almost identical to Christopher’s. Most of the time these people live, and unfortunately, sometimes they die. Its because of this that we do not find him unique, inspiring, or heroic. He’s just another unfortunate soul who got in over his head.
on Dec 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Alaska does seem to attrack more than its fair share of fools. What was that other nut case’s name? The one that tried to hang out with the Brown Bears until one ate him and his girl friend.
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 4:16 am
I don’t see why he died. He seemed to “know it all”. He ignored advice and help from people with intimate knowledge of the area. I am actually surprised he lasted as long as he did.
He was not an idol. He did nothing to idolize.
He was not a martyr. What cause did he die for?
A pioneer usually is better equipped and tries to find out all the information that he can about where he is going. This kid seem to ignore any help or information. The fact that he would go into the Alaskan bush with only a .22 rifle tells me he wasn’t even close to being properly equipped.
He was either an idiot or had mental problems.
on Dec 6th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
i think people are missing the point to his journey… either that or im equally as foolish for admiring an ‘idiot.’
he lived life the way he felt it should be lived - that in itself is something to respect him for.
wether or not you considered his journey stupid is besides the point, its the fact he still went through with it which is the part to be admired.
his story is not being told so you can do the same. it can be fit to anything you wish to accomplish
..and if thats not to rid yourself of materialism, then fine. i doubt he would care.
my plans for my life, i admit, are merely ideas and hopes because i havent strived to achieve them the way he had.
you definately cant call him a coward for breaking through.
on Dec 8th, 2008 at 5:17 am
He was a well intentioned young man who simply made too many mistakes in a land that doesn’t know how to forgive.
on Dec 8th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I think he didn’t exercise the best judgment in the world, in a place where that can be fatal. He reminds me of Timothy Treadwell, the guy who lived with bears, and ended up becoming bear scat.
on Dec 10th, 2008 at 10:53 am
First, AKpilot, where did you hear he didn’t have the digestive problem from the berries?
Next, I read this book on the flight home from Alaska in 1997, it is such a wonderful book.
You have to understand while he may have had some psychological imbalances, he lived his life the way HE wanted it.
He didn’t have to rely on anyone else. It is simply an example of what CAN happen in the wilderness. He went in, a little unprepared, he should have had more of a staple of dry foods. And maybe something more than the .22(Remington Nylon 66 in the movie, but I thought it was more of a camp/survival gun in the book).
Alexander Supertramp died the same way as countless thousands have before, whether they were the pioneers crossing the prairies, or explorers in new areas.
Alaska does indeed have an inane ability to attract those earthy-tree hugger types( nut jobs). I had never seen an earthy person before traveling to Alaska, but they are up there in droves! Kinda like Hawaii is overrun by the Japs, Alaska has been infiltrated by the nuts!
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Oh brother that guy! Well some here like AKpilot said it well; he was over his head. But the guy was warned by several people. He didn’t bring a map and could have walked out at any time.
So here again a fool is made a hero and now thanks to the books popularity we have lots of fools coming here to relive this morons way.
Alaska’s wilderness is NOT for the foolhardy! I have had to help look for missing campers and hikers here over the years. Do those wanta-be “explorers” consider how I felt finding their remains? By the time the scavengers , ravens, and animals are done their isn’t much left and its quite disturbing! Chris didn’t consider that one damn bit! Also our state spends millions looking for such morons every year.
I am afraid because of the Book about Chris more will needlessly die in our outdoors.
If anyone reads this who is thinking about following Chris’s example, please do it in a local state park near you and NOT here.
NOTE;
After some thought here is some advice for peps who want to do the chris thing.
First a Q. Would you want to be dropped in the sea if you cant swim or fly a plane with out training?
You need survival training and need to apply that in the woods for a few days at a time over some years FIRST! Then when you can spend 2 weeks out there with nothing but basic survival tools you MAY be ready. And then you need to buy the right equipment and study the area and talk to rangers and locals and heed their advice. You must bring a map, compass, emergency food rations, a high-powered rifle and a .22 for small game, and all the rest of the gear an intelligent survivalist would take with them. And even then traveling alone in Alaska’s wilderness is stupid! Go with a friend and let people know where you are going (so they can find the corpse) and when you will be back (so they might rescue you).
P.S; Tredwell was bear bait and a bear was shot for the mans foolishness. He was another fool. Some kinda bear expert LMAO!
on Dec 12th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
NONE of the things you mentioned.* ” Judge ye not less ye be Judged”.*
on Dec 13th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Ben Franklin was claimed to have said that 9 of ten mens death was a slow suicide. So with this young man’s death.
Possibly he was way too idealistic or had a death wish. I am not sure. Possibly he thought man was the master of his fate in the wilds. Also not true. Sad ending and if he was better prepared and older ( not so idealistic about survival) he may have had a very good career.
I believe he was totally unprepared to do what he did on a lark and idealistic whim. Same as the young couple that wanted to live with Grizzlies. Both were eaten alive. This is what happens when you forgo all the eons of life experience from our very ancient ancestors with no practicality in mind