By Jon Krakauer. I just heard about it last week and want to read it. Its a true story book about this guy who dropped everything in life, went into the Alaskan wilderness alone but ultimately died up there.
Anyone read that book "Into The Wild"
By Jon Krakauer. I just heard about it last week and want to read it. Its a true story book about this guy who dropped everything in life, went into the Alaskan wilderness alone but ultimately died up there.
I have read the book twice.
Good read.
I saw the movie and read a great many things about him. Moral of the story is don't do what he did. He was way out of his league once he got to Alaska, in my opinion.
There was a thread on this from about two weeks ago. Good book, the movie was not as good, IMO.
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ead.php?t=2299
Not all who wander are lost - Tolkien
I would have to agree with Aurelius. I wanted the movie to be good...it fell short. I also agree with Tahyo, that kid was out of his league...
Alex
I travel the roads of Nature until the hour when I shall lie down and be at rest; yielding back my last breath into the air from which I have drawn it daily, sinking down upon the earth...
...the earth from which for so many years has furnished my daily meat and drink, and, though so grievously abused, still suffers me to tread its surface.
~ Marcus Aurelius
Originally Posted by Aurelius95
I haven't seen the movie the movie either. I know Sean Penn directed it.
Up here in Alaska we think of the Idiot as an Idiot. He should have stayed on his psych meds.
I watched the movie on demand a while back with the wife. It was pretty good and drove home some pretty good points about life in general. I was a bit surprised actually, not bad at all.
-JRJ
Perhaps he made some of the choices he did because he stopped taking his medication. Someone with a mental health illness is no different than someone with a physical ailment. Only the symptoms are different. Labeling him an "idiot" because he had a mental health issue is a little old school in my book. Hopefully, we've progressed from the middle ages and recognize someone like that as an individual in need of help. Just MHO.
Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.
Well I finally got my hands on the book. Browsed thru and read about the time he was in Alaska. And like you guys were saying I think he was ill-prepared. Like why didn't he bring a topographical map? If he would've brought one of those, he probably would be alive today. He wouldn't of been trapped by that raging river of water. And if he had more knowledge of edible plants he wouldn't of been poisoned by the wild potatoe seeds which lead to his death.
The book was saying he didn't have any common sense.
People (Outdoorsmen, Like Charles Sheldon) were going into that exact country more than 100 years before him, and living there in a 6'X7' Walltent for years, year around. Eating well. And lived to write the masterpiece: "The Wilderness of Denali".
It has been debated a few times as to whether he ate something poison or whether he just plain starved to death.
One thing for certain is that from what I did read and if there is any true facts from the movie, he appeared to have the basics for some sort of survival. What he apparently lacked was the knowledge to use what he had or recognize 1.) available resources or 2.) Getting the hell out of there long before he did get to the point of no return.
"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
People (Almost Outdoorsmen) were going into that exact country more than 100 years before him, and living there in a 6'X7' Walltent for weeks, not quite year around. Starving. And died agonizing deaths.
Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.
Frank Grasser, aka "Alaska's Wolfman" lived for many years in the Upper headwaters of the Savage River Drainage for many years in the early 1900's. It is a good read.
good read, good movie, sad story.
The way of the canoe is the way of the wilderness and of a freedom almost forgotten- Sigurd Olson
Give me winter, give me dogs... you can keep the rest- Knud Rasmussen
Check out this pic of Chris - http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriso2...7603417003300/. This is the last pic he took before dying. He looks likes he's in pretty bad shape there.
I think "alone" is worse than dying, but that's just me.
Not all who wander are lost - Tolkien
The book and the movie made him out to be on some sort of spiritual or romantic jurney. The fact is he was Ill and should have stayed home. I take psych meds every day so I know what I'm taking about. The difference is that Ive had the best trainning and years of experience living and working in the wilderness. Nothing the book or the movie says can take away the fact that he was not prepared to do what he attempted to do. I have met several people that have come up here on some sort of pilgramige after reading the book or seeing the movie only to realize how misled they were. The real story is that if he would have walked a ways up or down stream he could have crossed the "raging river" (which is really only a creek) that is only knee deep almost everywhere except near that bus. How do you think the bus got there. This story is the worst kind of survival literature out there and should only be viewed as entertainment. If you find my word harsh, I'm sorry. I know what it takes to do what he attempted to do. I am not an armchair survivalist romantisized into thinking that he was some sort of hero.
Ok, now I'm done ranting on this subject. I imagine my comments will spark some serious feedback. So be it, my heart is exposed. Do with it as you will.
1. If it's in your kit and you don't know how to use it....It's useless.
2. If you can't reach your kit when you need it....Its useless.
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Klkak- I agree with your accessment that McCandless was in way over his head, and I agree that wrongly, he is made out as a modern day Muir or Thoreau, when in fact he was probably more of just another young man trying to work out his inner demons. I do not admire him for his survival skills (or lack there of)or his problem solving skills.
But, I do admire him.
I admire his courage to follow his dreams and intuition. I admire his doggedness and desire, and mostly I admire that he actually tried to live, learn and love and that he payed the ultimate sacrifice for his idealism. Sure, he was a fool. But, he died pursuing passion, which is better than living without out it.
Last edited by DOGMAN; 04-22-2008 at 02:25 AM. Reason: to make point clearer
The way of the canoe is the way of the wilderness and of a freedom almost forgotten- Sigurd Olson
Give me winter, give me dogs... you can keep the rest- Knud Rasmussen
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