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The reveal of Chris McCandless's death in the beginning chapter got me on edge about finding out how, when, why, and what he did or any instances that occurred as he stayed in Alaska. There were times throughout the book when I felt a sense of happiness, which was when Chris made a number of friends throughout his journey. Chris made a huge impact on some of the people that he met. Ronald Franz, as an example, from the day that Ron met Chris, his perspective on life and himself completely changed. How after Chris left Carthage after meeting Ron. Ron decided to take his adventure and leave his life behind to start a new one, even as an elderly. The other 2 people that Chris had impacted would be Wayne Westerberg, Jan Burres, and Bob. They were appreciative and grateful for getting the chance to get to know Chris. Jan acted like a mother figure to Chris because she saw Chris as her son. Wayne was grateful that he had met Chris because he became good friends with him, and they had an amazing relationship with Chris. Wayne giving Chris the opportunity to work and take care of Chris made their friendship stronger.

There were other occasions where Chris wasn't such a great person. The part where he decided to abandon his family and to go on his own. Yes, his personality type is very independent and introverted, but the burden that he had put on his family was tremendous. He and his sister, Carine McCandless, were close due to their parents, Walt and Billie, not having such a strong relationship together. The strong connection that he and his sister built, was wasted. Chris never told Carine where he was going, so she was worried. Years later, hearing about his death, his sister was in despair. Near the end of the chapter, there was a part where Billie was looking through the photos of Chris, she asks herself why he would do such a thing. The grief that Billie went through was saddening.

#memorieswillforeverlast #goodfiends #alifechanger

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!!!MY PHOTO WOULD NOT UPLOAD FOR SOME REASON!!!

Growing up, I was always outside playing and exploring. I was never the kid who likes to play on his Ipad or computer. Even when I was in Vietnam, I always found something to do. Whether it was to create my own game or run around the neighborhood, I was always outside playing. When I was about 15 years old, I got into skateboarding and biking. I would skate for MILES. To different places that I had never been to. Seeing different areas of Orange County, going to places that I never had been before. Occasionally I would visit the beach a lot. Just biking down Brookhurst, Beach, or Goldenwest. I spent a lot of my time at the beach. Eventually, I got into surfing. My sponsor was a surfer, and he and I would visit Newport Beach every Saturday morning surfing. My family was never wealthy, we grew up with financial issues, so I never asked for anything expensive. Because of that, I found the enjoyment to travel and explore new places. To be able to do that, I decided to join the Navy. To get the opportunity to travel to different countries and explore new places outside of the U.S. After that graduation walk, I am leaving California and getting on that ship to sail away to find the wonders of the world. I want to explore the cultures of other countries. Different foods that each country or state is most famous for. I want to educate myself by exploring the places around the world. To understand and enlighten me. And that is My Future Odyssey.

#GetOut&Explore #Travel #ADIÓS!!!

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Almost 23 years later, after Chris McCandless' death, Jon Krakauer has been pondering(3) the question of Chris's death. How Jon had figured out his death was through McCandless' diary(3). Krakauer kept circling(3) around the words, "Extremely weak. Fault of potato seeds." So, Krakauer dug deeper into finding the true meaning and reason behind the potato seed. He decided to test(6) the seeds for a neurotoxin called beta-ODAP. He had taken a crash course class, along with hiring/teaming(9) with chemists and a company to analyze(6) the seed. The results came to as the seed contains a lethal concentration of the compound(beta-ODAP), which causes gradual weakening and paralysis in famine victims relying on a certain pea. Krakauer didn't feel assured, so he sent back the seeds to the Michigan lab, for a thorough test. The results came to a toxin called an amino acid, L-canavanine. Which is a toxin that makes the cells in the body think that it's good for them, but in reality, it messes up the body's ability to metabolize, essentially starve. The potato seed is called the Eskimo potato, a.k.a alpine sweetvetch, or Hedysarum alpinum. It's grown across Alaska and northern Canada.

Analysis: It's interesting how deep Krakauer had gone into the study of Chris McCandless's death. It seemed like he was invested in it, and if he didn't exactly figure out the real seed, he wouldn't have been satisfied. After ~$20,000 and dedication, Krakauer figured it out.

#amino-acid #desperateforfood #potatoseed

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Summary: 10 months after the McCandless family heard about Chris's death, the family and Jori Krakauer travel on a helicopter to visit Chris's death place, Bus 142. When they arrived, Walt and Billie stood 10 yards away from the bus. Staring at the bus silently, Billie spoke up as she was observing the surroundings of the location. Billie explains how there were things that reminded her of the things that she did as she grew up, and how much Chris must've loved this place. Walt responds by saying how he doesn't enjoy being in Alaska. Billie first enters the bus to observe and Walt, coming back from the stream, sees her sitting on the mattress(202) where Chris died. Billie observes the surroundings of the interior of the bus. Seeing carvings and the belongings(202) that Chris had left. When Billie went outside of the bus, she saw a pair of Chris's patched, ragged jeans(202). Taking those pairs and pressing(202) them against her face. Her imagination and the smell of the ragged pair of pants still reminded(202) her of Chris. Walt later installs a memorial(202) inside the door with a bouquet of fireweed, monkshood, yarrow, and spruce boughs. Billie leaves a suitcase filled with a first aid kit and supplies with a note saying "call your parents as soon as possible".

Analysis: Billie and Walt, Chris's parents, visit his death place. Their remembrance of Chris all struck them at once. They explored the location, observing the area and taking in the imagination of Chris's living style. Their hearts were broken but still warm. They said how visiting the place had given them a sense of understanding of why Chris loved the place and how he must've loved living there. It's heartbreaking to know that their son died before they did. To lose someone that is their own blood, and seeing the place had given them a chance to accept the fact that Chris had died.

#FindingAnswers #TheEndisHere #ForeverLoveCJM

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Summary: After realizing that Chris couldn't cross the river, he went back to the bus on July 8. During that time, the wilderness was filled with plants and animal life, and Chris's food supply was adequate(188). Chris had killed(188) 35 squirrels, 4 spruce grouse, 5 jays and woodpeckers, and 2 frogs, all of which he had with potatoes and berries around the area. As he spends his time on the bus alone, he realizes that happiness is only real when shared(189). On July 30, he wrote in his journal that he is extremely weak(189), that he is starving greatly. After that, on August 19, Chris McCandless was dead(189). Before Chris's journey into Alaska, he purchased potato seeds to plant. The author states that he didn't see any traces of the plants growing and that Chris was in desperate need, so he ate those seeds which poisoned him (190). The chapter further explains the differences between the seeds and their toxins. According to one explanation, Chris ate some mildly hazardous potato seeds, according to the author, John. However, the author came to the conclusion that he mistook the wild potato plant he ate, H. Alpinum, for H. Mackenzii. H. Mackenzii was a close relative of the wild potato species he'd been surviving on for the past few months, and distinguishing between the two was difficult. H. Mackenzii was extremely poisonous. However, the author is unconvinced by this explanation, as John doubts Chris would have mixed up the two. He was perplexed. So, after years of investigation, John discovered that Chris had consumed R. Leguminicola-infected seeds. R. Leguminicola was a fairly rare species. On August 12th, Chris wrote a note asking for help, the same one that we read about in the first few chapters. Krakauer concludes that Chris died on August 18, 112 days after he went into the wilderness. And on one of his last days, Chris took a photo of himself smiling.

Analysis: The end of the book concludes with the deeper reason for Chris's death. He had starved to death due to eating poisonous seeds that caused him to starve. It was a sad chapter to read about Chris's last time on Earth. To read deeper and understand the mistake that Chris had made that had led to his cause of death was a sense that mistakes can sometimes be the end.

#Desperateforfood #Starving #Weak

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The Visual of McCandless Living Situation

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Summary: Jon Krakauer decides to go on an expedition to Bus 142, where Chris had camped and passed away. He came with 3 other companions(173) and they reached to the Teklanika River. They saw the river and said that the streams were strong and too fast(173) that it can swipe them off their feet. They traveled 20 minutes down the river and found a steel cable with a basket going across the river that had been cut by local hunters because they didn't want trespassers coming across. But, a year ago, if Chris had a map, he would've seen this cable and he would've made across the river safely(174). So, Krakauer and his friends cross the river by attaching themselves to a cable, then take the surveyor's basket across the Teklanika River. Krakauer has a moment of panic and exhilaration while riding across and yells before realizing he is not in danger(175). As they continued their adventure to Bus 142, they come across grizzly bear tracks(176). At 9 P.M., they had found the bus. As the author looks at the scene and the location of the bus, he realizes why Chris had chosen to stay there. The author concluded that Chris was un-prepared and that he was stupid(177) to go into the wild. They enter the bus and saw Chris's inventory and items that he had left in the bus.

Analysis: As the author and his 3 friends take venture on going to Bus 142 where Chris had camped and died, they judged on Chris's poor decisions. They called him stupid for not being prepared and arrogant. They explore the bus and the things that Chris had used to survive. But, as the author explores the bus, he is being revealed of how Chris had lived.

#unprepared #fear #findingdeepermeaning

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Summary: On April 15, 1992, Chris left Carthage. As he walks the long miles passing through towns, he reached Liard River. As he spends his time at Liard River, he ponders his next steps. He stayed at the hot springs and met a man named Gaylord Stuckey. He introduced(158) himself as Alex. Chris asked Stuckey to give him a ride(158) towards Alaska. April 25, he dropped off Chris at the University of Alaska. Chris stayed there for a couple of days, and then on April 28, he left towards the highway. Where he would soon meet Jim Gallien. After Gallien dropped of Chris, he settled towards the Stampede Trail. Chris later on reached(162) the Teklanika River on the 2nd day out. The river then was only knee-deep but cold. Chris traveled through there without difficulty(162). May 1, Chris stumbled(163) upon Bus 142. Chris decided to camp there and spend most of his time on the bus as shelter. As time went on, Chris struggled to kill for food. He ate a bunch of small rodents and animals and berries around. On June 5, he killed a moose. He later spent 6 days toiling(166) to preserve the meat. He struggled. On June 4th, maggots came to the dead moose's meat. Chris gave up. July 3, he left Bus 142 to find his way back home due to starvation. As he traveled towards the river, it was too deep for him to pass and because of that, he decided to return back to Bus 142.

Analysis: Chris made many mistakes during this chapter. The fact that he listened to South Dakotan hunters on learning to cure meat. His mistake on giving up and not using the map he had carried back then. But Chris had made several good choices. He decided to stay in Bus 142 and didn't leave, so he was near people(but he didn't know). The fact that he didn't cross the river because it was too deep and it'd wash him away. Chapter 16 reveals Chris's struggles.

#NEEDFOOD #LONELY #AFRAID

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An example of a  bivouac sack that Krakauer stayed in at 120ft up the summit.

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Summary: The chapter continues with Jon Krakauer's attempt to climb Devil's Thumb. After he had retreated from climbing due to a blockage of rocks, he waited in his tent for 3 more days(146). As he spent his nights in his tent, alone, he had a self-debate on whether he should retreat and give up or continue and retry the climb again. So, the author continues to tell his story about his father, Lewis Krakauer. A complicated(147) person, possessed of a brash demeanor with deep insecurities(147). He saw life as it was a contest(147). When his father had begun to develop post-polio syndrome(149), he took many medications. Until later on, he became irrational and delusional(149)l due to the excessive medications. He lost his friends, wife, and even later on his own self. He made a suicide attempt, at which then was sent to a mental hospital to spend his entire life being in a straight jacket. But, his father was never a person to give up. because of that, Jon Krakauer decided to climb the Devil's Thumb again. At 120 ft, he began to have complications. A storm came in and he had to find shelter. He caved up above the bergschrund and later on was buried in the snow 5 times. But by the 5th time he decided to retreat back to base camp. As he waits for the storm to pass, and decided to take another chance. So he takes another route up and later succeeds in making it to the top of Devil's Thumb.

Analysis: Jon Krakauer reveals who his father was and what type of person he was. As he tells his past stories of the treatment he had been received by his father. he seemed to be a very strict man. A man who sticks to his own opinions and does not care for them. A man who is controlling and wants power. Hearing about his father's medical problems, was sad to read and mind-bending. The effects of medications and not seeking medical attention had led his father to become delusional. How he had lost everybody and went crazy-minded was a story that sounds like it affected Jon deeply.

#ScrewPolio #3rdtimeisacharm #TwistedMinded

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Summary: This chapter starts with the author, Jon Krakauer, goes deep in his experience of the wilderness. He speaks about his enjoyment of climbing, and he had climbed Devil's Thumb. He compares himself with Chris with this climbing experience. How he had quit his job and that quitting had felt good(136). He had $200 in cash that wasn't enough for a one-way air travel, and that he also abandoned(136) his car and rode the Ocean Queen. When he reached Petersburg, he was at loss(137) for the next step. He went into a small town nearby and had met Kai Sandburn, who kindly offered him to crash at her place. He then took his journey to Devil's Thumb by riding across 25 miles of saltwater and then ski 30 miles(138) up one of the glaciers. He shared a ride with some tree planters to the head of Thomas Bay. Then traveled to the snow line and skid up to Devil's Thumb. Before the trip, however, he had paid a pilot to drop off 4 weeks load of food(140), heavy winter camping gear, and climbing hardware. On May 10, when he had been almost out of food, he woke up with a faint sound of a plane. The plane had passed him, assuming that the pilot did not see him down the mountain. When the pilot was surrounding around the top of the mountain, he saw Jon waving and screaming, with his sleeping bag tied to him. The pilot flew to him and dropped off the inventory. On May 11 was when he started his expedition(141).

Analysis: The chapter tells the author's experience in the wilderness. How he had started his expedition to climb Devil's Thumb. With the chapter being unfold, the author slowly describes his similarities with Chris McCandless's behavior and experiences. How he had a bad relationship with his father, how he gone to his expedition with barely any cash, his occurrence, and his problems.

#Devil'sThumb #BadWeather #GoodluckKrakauer

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Summary: Chapter 9 explains how the McCandless family's trauma after hearing about Chris. Carine, just like Chris, is energetic(129) and self-assured, a high achiever, quick to state an opinion, and with a sense of outrage over racial injustice(129). Carine had heard about Chris's finding over Chris Fish, her husband. She broke down for hours crying and was hysterical(130). After she had calmed down, she and Fish drove to her parent's house to tell her mother. Sam had confirmed the photographs of the unknown hiker was Chris, but the coroner required dental records. After they had confirmed that it was Chris, they flew into Fairbanks to bring home Chris's remains. The following things were taken back; rifle, binoculars, fishing rod, a Swiss Army knife, book of plant lore, Minolta camera, and five rolls of film. After leaving Fairbanks, they flew to Anchorage to get Chris's ashes. They had Chris's name written as, "Christopher R. McCandless", even though his middle initial was J. When they were flying back home, Carine ate every scrap(131) of food that the cabin attendants set in front of her. She said that she couldn't bear(131) the thought of throwing away food since Chris had starved(131) to death.

Analysis: This chapter was emotional. The damage that Chris's death had been dealt towards his family had greatly impacted them negatively. When Carine had heard about her brother's death, she broke down for hours trying to make sense of herself. Billie, the mother of Carine and Chris, was also greatly impacted. She couldn't believe that Chris was dead and at the end of the chapter she asks herself why Chris would do this.

#ChristopherJ.McCandless #DentalRecords #Betrayed

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Chris's College Life Being Spent By Himself

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Summary: In 1986, after Chris and his family had celebrated his father's, Walt, birthday; Chris decided to leave to go on a hitchhiking trip. Where he spent traveling to south and then west across the Texas plains. He returned back 2 days before he started at Emory. His family's description of him as they saw him was that he had a scruffy beard, hair was long and tangled, and he'd shed 30 pounds. The reason why he was so thin was that he had been stuck in the Mojave desert and was on the brink of dehydration. As he attended his first year in college, he had nearly perfect(119) grades, and he had considered going into getting a law degree. When he spent the summer helping his parent's company, he designed a program that he wouldn't tell his father. His father described him as someone who had a dark side. Chris was a person characterized by monomania(120), impatience(120), and un-wavering self-absorption; which he was like throughout his college years. As the years went through in his college life, he had seemed very introverted(120), almost cold(120). He had pulled back from his old friends and spent most of his time by himself. Chris's relationship with his parents had gone cold. In we1988, his resentment(123) had hardened. Because of that, his sense of outrage(123) over injustice over the world grew.

Analysis: This chapter explains Chris's college experience. How he had isolated himself as his college years went on he had dispanded and drifted away from his close friends. Chris's personality in this chapter furthermore explains his self-absortion and introvert. He spent most of his time observing others and getting more into a political view of injustice.

#Isolated #TexasPlains #EmoryUniversity

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Summary: Chapter 11 explains Chris's personality as he grew up by his family members. He grew up with step-siblings and a blood-related sister. His father was an outstanding man who was employed by NASA and had made his debut from a machine creation that he had led his team on creating. The chapter explains Walt's, Chris's father, personality. How he shows a sense of authority, described by the author of the book. How Walt was accustomed(105) to calling the shots, to take control is something he does unconsciously, reflexively(105). It further on tells Walt's love life. How he had 2 marriages. When Chris was 6, his father was offered a position at NASA but turned it down to go and start a consulting firm with his mother, Billie. Because of that, they were struggling with financials. In a way, that encouraged Chris's parents to work harder. As they pushed through on working, they had marriages issues. At times when they were heated, they both threatened divorce(107). When Chris and his sister, Carine, hear them yelling and fighting, that helped them get closer to protect each other. The chapter, later on, explains Chris. How he was gifted with athletics and the love of music. When Chris was 8, Walt took him on an overnight backpacking trip to Shenandoah to climb Old Rag and that became a father-son tradition(109). Then when Chris got a little older, he went climbing Longs Peak in Colorado with Walt, Billie, and his children from both of his marriages. At one point of the hike, Walt decided to go back down and Chris insisted on going even higher. Chris was always a high achiever(109). How he brought home A's and the only time he had received an F was in high school. When his physics teacher gave him an F because he didn't follow the correct format given. Chris thought that rule was stupid and decided to ignore(109) it. Chris learned to play the french horn, and he was excellent at it. He quit playing tho because he didn't like o be told what to do. Later on, the chapter explains how Chris was very athletic. How he tried his hands on many sports but had little patience for learning the finer points of any of them. He resisted(111) instructions of any kind. At W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, Virginia, a reputation for high academic standards and winning athletic team. Chris was the captain of the cross country squad. His teammates explain how hard-working Chris was and how he pushes himself to run. Chris took life's inequities(113) to heart. He had become obsessed with racial oppression in South Africa. On weekends, he would sneak into Georgetown bars and would talk to the homeless and prostitutes. He would feed them and talk to them for hours.

Analysis: This chapter goes into a deeper connection with Chris and his family. How he was hard working and that he was into the wilderness. He would always push himself to his limits and never back down. A fearless man. Someone who loves sports and outdoor activity. A person who cares for the unfortunates and tries to find ways to help them.

#FeedtheHomeless #Fearless #RulesSucks

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The Radio Talk that Helped figure out finding Chris' family

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Summary: Chapter 10 papers and news finally started to talk about Chris. Alaska State Troopers are trying to figure out who Chris is. They posted information about what they found about Chris on the news, in hopes of trying to get people to help them find Chris's family. On September 10, Jim Gallien saw the headline(99) and the map indicating that the body had been found 25 miles west Healy on the Stampede Trail. Gallien still had an image in his head of remembering Chris and the boots that he had given him. He called up the state troopers to give them the information about Chris, but the state trooper was not very convince due to a massive amount of numbers continuing to call them in claims of knowing Chris. Gallien had told the state trooper that Chris said that he was from South Dakota, so they started searching there for Chris's next of kin(99). On September 13, Westerberg's friend, Bob, told him to quickly turn on his radio and listen to Paul Harvey. Paul Harvey was talking about Chris, some kid(100) who starved to death up in Alaska. When Westerberg was listen on the radio, he found the few sketchy details(100) made the hiker sound distressingly(100) like Chris. So, Westerberg calls the state trooper to tell them that he was Chris's employer and friend. The state troopers didn't believe Westerberg due to them being swamped(100) with calls claiming to know Chris's identity. The troopers had over 150 calls from folks who thought Chris was their son, friend, and brother. Westerberg was frustrated, so he was looking through the files and found 2 of Chris' W-4 forms(100). The first W-4 of when Chris had started working was in the name of Iris Fucyu and in the address of "None of your damn business" with the SSN of "I forget". Then on the second W-4 form dated on March 30, 1992, Chris had actually signed his real name and gave his actual SSN. Westerberg gave the state trooper this information, and they began on a search for Chris. On September 17, Sam McCandless, Chris' half brother, received a call from Fairfax County homicide detective telling him that they had found his brother.

Analysis: Chapter 10 comes back and talks about the missing hiker who starved to death, Chris McCandless. State troopers were trying to figure out who Chris was, and the journey to finding was very interesting. The amount of people who called them to tell them how they knew him, and if these information were true or not. When Westerberg had called him to tell the State trooper, the W-4 form information had given them the final clue to finding Chris's true identity.

#nextofkin #whatwillSamdonext #IrisFucyu

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Summary: The chapter starts off with a story that talks about Davis Gulch, a small Watershed, that has carvings of petroglyphs(88) and pictographs(88) carved by Kayenta Anasazi's.The chapter compares Everett Ruees, a 22-year-old at the time, and Christopher McCandless' journeys. Everett Ruees also carved his nom de plume(89) "NEMO 1934".  As of how Chris also carved "Alexander Supertramp/May 1992" onto the wall of the Sushana bus. After Ruess carved his name, he disappeared afterward. More about Ruess, he was born in Oakland, California, in 1914. He attended Otis Art School and Hollywood High. Starting at 16 years old, he embarked(89) on his first solo trip of hitchhiking and trekking(89) through Yosemite and Big Sur. 1931, he returned to get his high school diploma in January 1931. Less than a month later he was out on the road again. He went through the canyons of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Ruess then spent his entire life on the road. Everett also wrote many letters and notes as his journey continues, just like how Chris did. Everett Ruess's correspondence reveals uncanny(91) parallels between Chris and himself. Some things that Ruess and McCandless had in similarities were that they wrote letters and that they were both romantics. An important similarity between them was their decisions on changing their names. Ruess had changed his name to various names like Lan Rameau and Evert Rulan. November 11, 1934, he sent a letter to his family stating that he will be incommunicado(93) for a month or two. When his parents read the letter, they were worried and organized(93) a search party to find Ruees in March 1935. They couldn't find him, and because of that, there were many theores of how Ruees had died.

Analysis: This chapter was similar to chapter 8. What I found most interesting about this chapter was the similarity between Everett Ruees and Christopher McCandless. How they share some of the same experiences in the wild.

#lostinthewild #trademark #2storiesbeingshared

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Summary: The author of the book, Jon Krakauer, goes back to Carthage, South Dakota to meet Wayne Westerberg to talk further about Chris' work experiences and skills. Chris worked on the grain(pg. 62) elevator. He wanted to work to put together a grubstake(pg.62) for his trip. Westerberg described Chris as someone who isn't very intelligent. Westerberg introduced(pg. 63) his girlfriend, Gail Borah, to Chris, and afterward, they had become very close with each other. Borah describes Chris as a person who can well cook, talkative, and she said that he didn't talk much about his family(pg. 63), besides his sister. Chris had repressive, private, and unreasonable attitudes toward his parents. McCandless never had a girlfriend(pg. 65) according to him, and he may have remained celibate throughout puberty and later. McCandless reportedly underlined parts from Leo Tolstoy's "Kreutzer Sonata," a novella about sex abstinence. McCandless' character is examined in depth by Krakauer, who concludes that he was pulled to nature by a great craving for human touch that could not be met by other people.

Analysis: In this chapter, it talks a lot more about Chris, instead of his adventure. Wayne Westerberg and his girlfriend, Gail Borah, had the chance to talk in-depth about Chris' life. This chapter targeted more about his family, and how he doesn't mention them as often, and about his love life. Later on at the end of the chapter, I feel as if when he sent postcards to his friends that he'd met throughout his journey about him not ever leaving the wild, it was a sign of danger. What would occur to Chris as he lives in the wild.

#GoodluckChris #NeverComingBack #Carthage

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Summary: Chapter 6, an introduction of Ronald Franz, a pseudonym, to what his connection was to Chris McCandless. When Chris was camping somewhere in Palm Springs. He has to travel 4 miles into town to be able to get food and supply. One Thursday in mid-January, McCandless was hitching back out to the bajada after getting supply, and that was when Ronald, Ron, drove up to him and asked where he was going. Ronald Franz is a devout(pg. 50) Christian, who spent most of his ages in the army, stationed in Shanghai and Okinawa. He lost his wife and only child in a car crash accident. As Ron was taking Chris to his campsite, he realized that he had been living by himself(pg. 50)in a tent. Franz and Chris had spent a lot of time together and Franz would help Chris out with laundry and take him to eat. Along with that, Franz taught him his leatherworking(pg. 51) skills. Chris had made his own belt and he designed it with a picture telling the story of his journey so far on the road. As Franz spent more time with Chris, he had grown increasingly fond(pg. 52) of Chris. He started to develop a father figure personality towards Chris. When Chris had told him that he was going to San Diego, Franz tried his best to convince him not to. Later on, Franz offered Chris a ride to SD, after he tried to convince him. When Franz was dropping Chris off, he had felt sad(pg.53). March 5, Chris was in California, he had hopped on trains for rides to different states and towns and made it to Seattle. He had come across bulls(pg.53), who had kicked him out once and later arrested him. He called Franz to pick him up, and at that moment Franz was happy(pg. 55). After picking up Chris, they went to have a meal and took him back to Franz's place. March 11, Franz offered again to take Chris to Colorado, which Chris accepted, and Franz had felt surprised and relieved (pg.54). As they got close to Colorado, Franz explained to him that he was an only child and that after his life, he is the end of the line. Franz asked if he can adopt(pg.55) him, to be his grandson. Chris dodged the question and told him that they will talk about it when he comes back from Alaska. Ever since Franz had found out that Chris had passed away, he was upset that he Lord. He prayed that Chris would be kept safe and nothing bad will happen to him. He was so frustrated and angry that he chose to withdraw himself from being a member of the church and converted into becoming an atheist. He chose to follow the road of Chris and sold most of his belongings and went out in the world to explore.

Analysis: Ronald Franz was a man that I adored. He had a caring personality, but also a very understanding person. He was a big father figure towards Chris and took care of him like one of his own. Franz had said that Chris was someone different, someone, amazing. When reading about how sad Franz was when he had heard that Chris had died, it struck a thought that Franz was someone that Chris had inspired. To know that he had bought a camera after Chris had called him to come to pick him up in California, so he can record the adventures he would have with Chris.

#fatherfigure #goodmanFranz #reminsce

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Summary: In chapter 5 of Chris McCandless' journey, he is seen in Las Vegas, but traveled to a small town in Arizona, Bullhead City. He stayed there for 2 months, and mailed a letter to Westerberg in October saying that he thinks that it is a good place to settle(pg. 39) down and that he would probably give up tramping. As he stayed there, he had a job flipping burgers for McDonalds. When he applied for the job he presented(pg.40) his REAL name, instead of Alex Supertramp, and gave them his real SSN. His manager had said that he was a nice kid and good worker, real dependable(pg. 40). That shows that how hard working he is in every job he had, like when he was working for Westerberg. When he walked out(pg. 41) on McDonalds, that was when his boss was complaining about him not wearing socks and coworkers saying that he needs to shower more, Chris got offended. Later on the chapter explains Burres story on her sight of who Chris was. She said that Chris was a very joyful and energetic person, like a little kid. She explains that he was always messing around and making people laugh. Burres recalled that one time Chris took a portable electric organ and entertained(pg. 45) everybody with it and played songs for them to listen too. Later on, Burres asked Chris about his family and if he is still keeping in contact. He ignored her and rolled his eyes, then tells her to stop mothering him. Because of this occasion, that seems to have led to another altercation of Chris, once again, escaping his problems and conflict.

Analysis: The chapter starts to get interesting when there was a repetition of Chris running away from his problems. First his family, then his job, then Jan. Well he seemed to have a lot of fun along his journey, but this chapter had exposed to how Chris reacts to when conflict comes into play. He tends to ignore them and later runs away from them. This shows that Chris is a type of person to be afraid of confrontation and problems that he doesn't seem to want to resolve, but escape from.

#tramplife #slabs #JackLondon

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Summary: Jon Krakauer, the author, the first story of McCandless' journey was Carthage, South Dakota. A small town that had 1 grocery store, 1 bank, a single gas station, and a bar named The Cabaret. Krakauer comes to meet Wayne Westerberg at the bar. September 10, Westerberg was driving out of Cut Bank and saw McCandless on the street hitchhiking. Westerberg picks him up and takes him to deliver a package to a friend, and Westerberg had asked Chris, Alex, how long has it been since he last ate. Chris told Westerberg that it'd been a couple(pg. 17) of days and that he had run out of money. Since it was raining, Westerberg offered Chris to stay the night in his trailer near the fields. 3 days passed by and Chris stayed in the trailer while working for Westerberg. Westerberg was impressed with how hard-working Chris was. As Chris spent his time working for Westerberg, he had felt enamored(pg. 18) with Carthage. The chapter further explains Westerberg's history, and how he had been in a scheme(pg. 19) to build and sell "black boxes"(pg.19). Later on, the FBI had found out and Westerberg was arrested. Afterwards, the chapter began to explain Chris' family past and who his father and mother were. When Chris' graduated from college, his parents offered him a new car, but he quickly declined and said that he loved his Datsun and that there was nothing wrong about it. He told his parents that he was planning to disappear(pg.21) for a while, which his parents didn't really paid attention to.

Analysis: This chapter helped explain a lot in details of who Chris was and his family situation. I feel like Chris' accurance of meeting Wayne Westerberg was a blessing in disguise. How Wayne gave him a job, roof, food, and friends. Learning about Chris' parents and how they treat him and his sister, I feel that his father is the reason why he had chosen to abandon his lifestyle.

#Carthage #Thankful #Friends4EVER

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Summary: The chapter starts off with Yutan Construction, Fairbanks company, who got a contract to build a trail that Earl Pilgrim, an Alaskan miner in 1930 who claimed to have found antimony on Stampede Creek, to build a road for truckers to haul ore from the mine. Yutan had purchased 3 buses(pg. 10) for the workers to live in when building the road. In 1963, the project was paused and Yutan had taken back 2 of their buses with 1 being left behind. On September 6, 1992, 3 hikers; Thompson, Same, and Swanson, traveled on the search for the missing bus 142. When they reached their destination, they found 2 people from Anchorage looking spooked. The people had said that they had noticed a really bad smell(pg. 12) from inside the bus. Along with that, they saw a makeshift signal(pg. 12) flag with an S.O.S note(pg.12)attached on the door from Christopher. They had found Chris' body laying dead(pg. 13) in a sleeping bag. For 2 and a half weeks, Chris McCandless had been lying dead in his sleeping bag in bus 142. 8:30 A.M, a police helicopter landed at the scene. They took Chris' body away, along with a camera, SOS note, and a diary. When Chris' body was being examined by autopsy, they had come to a conclusion that Chris' reason for death was starvation(pg. 14).

Analysis: It's very sorrowful to be able to read this chapter, to hear about Chris' death come so fast in this book. I wanted to know how Chris survived in the wilderness, what he had killed to eat, how he had to portion his food, any troubles he had gone through, etc. This chapter unfolds on how Chris' body was found and what had happened to him, revealed by the autopsy report. I feel like this chapter had only unfolded unnecessary stories, and wasn't told about how Chris had died. But again, there are more chapters to go that would potentially reveal his story.

#longliveChris #Bus142 #SOS

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Edge of Danali Reginal Park Where "Alex" Went Into

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Summary: The nonfictional book, Into the Wild, is written based on a true story of a 24-year-old male, Christopher Johnson McCandless "Alex", who took off on a journey into the woods with barely any belongings. The chapter starts off with a letter that Alex had written of his confession of going on an adventure that if it was fatal(pg. 3), then Wayne Westerberg will not hear from him again. That shows a foreshadow of his story of living in the wilderness. Another foreshadow is that when Jim drove away and saw State Troopers, he chose not to tell them about Alex because Jim had thought that Alex would walk out of the woods when he had reached full starvation, like any normal (pg. 7) person would do. Which later then it would show that Alex did not walk out of the woods. Alex was hitched by Jim Gallien, which he had explained his story of Alex as a man who is real gung ho(pg. 6), determined, to take off on an adventure in the wilderness. When Jim had explained what Alex was carrying on his journey, he had said that Alex's gear had seemed exceedingly minimal(pg. 5) for the harsh conditions and that his bag only weighed(pg. 4) about 25-30 pounds.

Analysis: I have a curiosity about why Alex had decided to go on this dangerous journey. Why he would abandon his entire living style to go live in the woods. But as the story describes Alex's(Christopher) intentions and dedication of this journey, it still gave me a spark of his determination and courage. He would face danger head-on and not have many resources.

#staydetermined #hitchhiker #backpacking

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I'm in a group called the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, and we spend a lot of times going camping throughout the year. With these camping sites, we are limited to data out there, so we are restricted from using our phones. Because of that, I was able to given a time to connect with myself and God.

With the absent times of phone usage, I got the time to build better connections with my friends and peers out there. We spent 3 days out in the wilderness and did activities like, hiking, exploring, and played various activities that would help us connect with each other and God. It was my first time being able to see snow, since this was during the winter time. I don't exactly remember where this was from, but I do remember the moments that were created there. We lived in a cabin and got to spend the time to see the view of mountains and fresh air from the high altitude.

Being able to be apart of this youth church group, I am able understand the true essence of nature and the amazing outdoors experience. Being able to get away from media content and just getting the time to just forget about it has opened my eyes to see that there are more things in the world rather than technology.