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He was doing so well, until he wasn't...

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This story was FULL of twists in turns. This book is the definition of: it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. We knew from the cover that our main character was going to die. But the author was about to take us on a heck of a ride on how our main character's destiny came to be. Now I admire Chris in so many ways, but there were multiple times throughout the story where he needed a slap behind the head. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, but I respect and commend him for choosing to follow his dreams.

The GOOD: Chris McCandless is the definition YOLO. He graduated college, packed up his stuff, donated his money to charity, and hit the road. Not a lot of people can wake up and do what Chris did. He was predetermined for success. He got a good education, had money, and could've lived to be anything he wanted to be. He chose a completely alternate route and stuck with it for 2 whole years. He never let go of his dreams to live in Alaska, most people can't even keep their New Year's Resolution. He stuck to it, and never let anything get in his way. Chris survived in the woods for 113 days alone, that is a big flex!

The BAD: While Chris achieved his big dreams of going to Alaska, he did hurt some people along the way. He left his entire family without saying goodbye. I get it because the whole reason he left is BECAUSE of his toxic parents. But to leave your parents and sister with absolutely no warning or note is messed up. He didn't carry a lot of sympathy for other peoples feelings. We know that throughout the book, whenever someone got close to Chris, he would run. Which might be caused by childhood trauma but still, it's important to carry compassion for others. Chris was VERY judgemental of others and society, but sometimes HE was the one who needed to look in the mirror and be judged!!

Overall, I admire Chris for all he accomplished. Did he make some dumb moves along the way? Yes, 100%. But looking at the big picture, Chris lived a good life. And I don't think he would've wanted his life to end any other way. He lived life to the very fullest, up until his very last breath...
#YOLO #lifeontheroad #ripcjm

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I loved taking annual family vacations as a kid. I was very fortunate to be able to travel somewhere new every summer. My favorite vacations were probably cruises or trips to Hawaii. My parents instilled my love for travel, and my mom encourages me often to travel the world before settling down. Of course with the world having crashed down on us these past couple of years, the summer vacations have become smaller. But that only encourages me more to get out and travel!!! There are somedays where I want to wake up, book a spontaneous flight, and live incognito. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy..

As I said before, I am very priveledged and fortunate to have been able to travel to as many places as I have. I've been to the Carribean, Mexico, Maui and more. But my all time favorite place I would LOVE to visit, is Europe. More specifically, Italy. I have a strong love for Italian food, and I love pasta. Besides the food, I would love to learn about the history within Italy. Visit the Colosseum, Pantheon, the Vaticaan, and the infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Don't get me wrong though, France, Greece, and Switzerland are very high up on the list as well. My true dream is to travel around Europe for a month, just like my mom had done before she had kids. I can't wait to make my dreams of visiting Italy a reality.
#pastapastapasta #brbgoingtoitaly #wanderlust

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And finally the case has been cracked...

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In our final chapter of the book, Jon Krakauer suggests three theories that could have possibly been that cause of Chris McCandless' end. While starvation was ruled as a cause of death, there was a little bit of science needed to truly unravel his death and why after 113 days of hunting did he starve. Krakauer reached out to many different people to crack this mystery. The first person being Ronald Hamilton. He had written a paper saying ODAP(¶6), a nuerotoxin must've caused Chris's death. ODAP "...affects different people, different sexes, and even different age groups in different ways."(p.207). It was also said that ODAP hits hardest(¶7) in men aged 15-25. Certainly this nuerotoxin was it, but after more testing it was still inconclusive. After more exhaustive(¶9) research, Krakauer discovered an article discussing another toxic amino acid called L-canavanine(¶9). After further testing, it was confirmed that H. alpinum(¶2) seeds do contain significant amounts of L-canavanine. So after 23 years, lots of reading and tons of test, the moral of the story is to watch what you eat in Alaska because the seeds can be poisonous and kill you slowly... :")

Analysis:
Well I guess better late than never to find out what really killed McCandless, 23 long years later.. I get why Krakauer wanted to find out though, Chris's story is one you just write about and drop it. I would want to unravel ALL the details surrounding him. It's kinda sad how something so simple such as seeds, ended up having such complex nuerotoxins and amino acids. I probably won't be eating an seeds for a while...
#watchyourseeds #caseofficiallyclosed #goodjobkrakauer

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10 months have gone by since Sam McCandless delivered the news to Walt and Billie that Chris was gone. Jon Krakauer, Walt and Billie take to trip to Alaska, to visit their son's final resting place. They take a helicopter(p.200)  down to visit bus 142. Billie wanted to relive her sons full experience by walking on the Stampede Trail, but plans had changed. The trio arrives at the bus, staring at the amalous vehicle(p.202) Billie says, "It's smaller, that I thought it would be." (p.201). For hours they look around the bus(p.201) and woods, trying to piece together the months he had spent there. Billie finds a pair of Chris jeans and smells them, reminding her of his scent. They install a memorial(p.202) for Chris and even leave behind supplies for anyone who may find shelter in the bus like their son had. Walt and Billie find some closure in their visit, are a little less baffled(p.203) over why Chris did what he did. They finally leave the bus and watch in fade away growing smaller and smaller...

Analysis:
I can't imagine what Walt and Billie must've been going through in those moments. Parents should never have to burry their child. I hope they got a better understanding of his circumstances and what their toxic relationship led to... I'm not their biggest fan, but I still feel bad for them. At least they got to experience first hand and witness their son's final resting place...
#memoriesofchris #aparentsloss #findingpeace

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The final chapter of Christopher McCandless' long journey into the wild. We're back at the moment where Chris turns back to his bus after being unable to cross the Teklanika due to it's high flow. Once he returned on July 8th, he finished reading Doctor Zhivago, which may be noted as the last book he'll ever read. He underlines lots of paragraphs, hinting Chris was indeed ready(p.189) to return back to civilization. Krakauer notes that after July 30th, Chris' health would begin to decline drastically. "By August 19, he was dead."
(p.189). Theories(p.190) began to circulating as too why and how Chris's health declined so fast. The most common theory was that Chris has mistakenly eaten a wild sweet pea seed(p.191) instead of a wild potato seed, which look nearly identical to one another. The wild sweet pea seeds are toxic. More specifically, are coated with alkaloids during late summer to prevent animals from eating the seeds. The seeds caused him to get weaker and weaker, leading him closer to starvation(p.195). Chris makes it to day 100 but he writes, "...IN WEAKEST CONDITION OF LIFE. DEATH LOOMS AS SERIOUS THREAT."(p.195).  This was the final stretch. On August 12th, Chris went on one final hunt for berries along with an S.O.S note, but no one showed. His final act was to write a note which read, "I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!" Chris took his note, set up the camera and took one final picture. Even though undoubtably he was in pain, he looked happy and at peace...

Analysis:
WHAT A JOURNEY! We knew from the front cover of the book what was going to happen to Chris, but the emotions are still there. Chris was just a man, attempting to live his hope and dreams of surviving in the wild. Despite all the obstacles, misfortunes, and beautiful relationships he established along the way, Chris never gave up. He made it over 100 DAYS in the wild. I am so proud yet heartbroken that his journey ended in such a painful way...
#thatsawrap #cheerstochris #betruetowhoyouare

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We flip the script again and tackle Krakauer's point of view crossing the Teklanika River, almost one year after Chris walked away from it. Jon brings three companions(p.173) along with him and a topographic map(p.173). On the map, it gives detail of the area and stations McCandless could've gone to for food and shelter. And twenty minutes further from where Chris was standing, he could've walked to find a steel cable and alluminum car to cross the river!! Ladies and Gentlemen, THIS IS WHY WE NEED MAPS!! All four men cross the river using the car and make it to the bus(p.176). Bones of the game he shot are still scattered(p.177) around the bus, and most of his possessions still remained. Suprisingly, many questioned whether or not Chris shot a Moose or Caribou. They doubted him heavily saying there was no way he shot a moose, but indeed he did. Krakauer began to feel uncomfortable and intruding of McCandless' privacy. The men make a fire outside the bus, cook some moose steak, and talk about the life(p.186) of Chris McCandless. Simply trying to make sense of it all...

Analysis:
It always goes back to the map!! I know Chris wanted to live life fully out in the wild with no watch or map, but ughh. I wish he would've brought one for instances that he just may want to return to civilization! Bringing a map could've easily saved his life, but noooo. Chris was so stubborn and wanted to live in the wild authentically. Which I do have to give him some admiration. Moral of the story: just bring a map.
#backtothemap #whychriswhyyyy #thehauntedbus

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We now flip back to the story of Chris specifically, April 15, 1992. He departs Carthage, South Dakota, this is under two weeks before Chris would enter into the wild. We meet a new person Chris encountered just before Jim Galien, Gaylord Stuckley. Chris spends two days with Stuckley and gives him a lift(p.158) all the way to Fairbanks on April 25. Shortly after Chris arrives, he goes to the University(p.160) of Alaska to read up on the plants he could eat in the wild. On April 28, Jim Gallien picked up McCandless and drove him to the Stampede Trail. Chris was full of excitement(p.162).  Krakauer too follows the trail McCandless took to get to the bus he stayed in. He follows the Teklanika River down to find the bus and records so in his journal. Chris documents everything he hunts and kills, his biggest accomplishment was killing a Moose(p.166). Unfortunately, Chris didn't properly now how to care and treat the meat from the moose. So within a few days, half the meat had gone to waste. After Chris forgave himself for the waste of meat, Krakauer notes that Chris may have been ready to return(p.168) to civilization. On July 3rd, Chris would attempt to return back to society. The only thing he had to do is cross the Teklanika River, which unfortunately is deeper and unpassable due to heavy rain days prior. "If McCandless had walked a mile or so upstream, he would have discovered that the river broadended into a maza of braided channels."(p.170). Meaning Chris could have escaped had he just walked a few minutes more...

Analysis:
This chapter was hard to read. This was literally a what-if chapter. What if Chris walked a mile more? What is Chris had actually brought a MAP with him? What if he had tried to face and cross the river anyway? I think the saddest part is that Chris was ready to go back, but unfortunately it was not meant to be. The difference between life and death, was a single mile...
#onemilemore #aquaphobia #shouldvetakenamap

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Krakauer makes it back to his tent bummed that he didn't achieve his venture to the top of The Devil's Thumb. He decides to smoke some marijuana(p.146) to cure his sadness of not being able to climb. During his smoke session, he manages to burn a hole and set his tent on fire. This now makes his tent colder( p.147) and difficult to keep himself warm. Krakauer reflects back on his relationship with his father, which wasn't always smooth sailing. Very similar to Walt and Chris. His father was a complicated(p.147) person who had big dreams of Jon attending Harvard Medical, of course he goes in the complete opposite direction and ultimately become a carpenter and soon to be climber. His father was the one to showed him how to climb at eight years old. As years passed, Jon and his fathers relationship slowly deteriorated. His father was suffering from post-polio syndrome, so bad his behavior became irrational. His father heavily relied on painkillers(p.149) to fight his disease, and would nearly try to take his life to do so. He uses his fathers emotional absense as inspiration to attempt the thumb again.  He coordinates a new plan on the southeast side, and he makes it! Jon Krakauer made it to the top(p.153). When asked to write this book, he calls on the fact that He survived his Alaska adventure and Chris did not. Going to Alaska doesn't always mean a death sentence like it was for Chris. Which is why Krakauer believe Chris did not go into the wild to die, just an unfortunate case of dying due to adventure.

Analysis:
These past two chapters have been super interesting! I find it so crazy and ironic that our author has these uncanny similarities to McCandless. Horrible father figures, a lust for climbing, and having a stronger love for adventure than companionship. I'm sure if Chris were alive today, he and Krakauer would have soooo much to talk about. But unfortunately we will never get to experience what could've been a beautiful friendship...
#jonandchris #sideeffectsofweed #alaskaadventures

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We take a break from the journey of Chris and now follow the story of our author, Jon Krakauer. The amount of similarties between the two men is crazy. Krakauer at the age of 23, decided to climb the Devil's Thumb glacier(p.134) or The Stikine Ice Cap in Alaska. He was one year younger than Chris when he made his descent. Krakauer wanted to dig deeper into the death of Chris, as he believed his passing was unplanned(p.134). He was able to unhatch his death from a personal perspective. Chris was consumed by his love for the wilderness, while Krakauer became consumed by the idea of this climb. Of course as Jon began planning his climb, he began questioning if he was in over his head(p.135).  He quit his job and like Chris, abondoned(p.136) his car shortly after. The climb proves to be difficult and nearly fatal. He describes the fiery storms, limiting his vision, patches of thin ice that could break at any moment and send him hundreds of feet down. May 11th was the day Krakauer would attempt the thumb. He tries, using his ice axe and picks to help him. But still the ice makes the climb difficult. He attemps to find a thicker peace of ice and nearly slips after hitting rock. Fear fills Krakauer. This incident caused Jon to decend from the mountain and climb down(p.144).

Analysis:
This chapter was a great representation of our author and the wild similarities between him and our protagonist. Krakauer chased his dreams of going to Alaska and climbing The Devil's Thumb and achieving his dream despite the risks at hand. Chris and Jon were similar in more ways than one and this chapter proved how their similarities binded them together in the book.
#devilsthumb #thealaskajourneyofjon #livingontheedge

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This chapter reflects to Carine McCandless and her emotions regarding Chris' death. Carine adored her brother, just as much as Chris adored her. They were each other's bestfriend, despite having some differences(p.129). Carine also reflects on their family dog(p.128), Buckley. Chris loved Buckley, so much that he considered taking the dog with him on his trip. But his parents refused. Looking back, they can't help but wonder(p.128) if things would've turned out different if he had taken Buckley with him. Carine first heard about Chris's death as she was giving her dog a bath. Her husband, Chris Fish delivered her the worst new of her life. She began crying(p.129), wailing for hours in a fetal position. Shortly after, Carine and Sam would fly to Fairbanks to pick up Chris's remains(p.131) and bring them back. Chris had finally returned back home, but not in anyway anyone would have wanted...

Analysis:
This chapter broke my heart. I can't imagine hearing about the death of the one person you loved most in this world, and you never got to say goodbye. Carine and Chris had such a beautiful bond. What I love most about Carine is she never victimized herself like her parents did. While she was saddened about what Chris had done, she knew first hand what he was going through. She understood why he did what he did and still continues to honor her brother today...
#Buckleyamansbestfriend #siblinggoals #Chris&Carine4lifers

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The family drama unravels even more and it is intense! The chapter reflects back to Chris and him planning a trip right after his graduation from high school. A party was thrown for him and his father as his birthday was only days away. Chris made a speech which moved everyone. He thanked his father for everything he had done for him, but soon he would hate him for everything.  Chris took a trip to the Mojave Desert, and nearly died of dehydration. Chris wasn't worried in the slightest but his parents were. He was very overconfident(p.118). Chris's personality definetly stunned his parents at time. Sometimes he was caring and compassionate, but he had a darker(p.120) side that only grew as secrets would be unvailed. Chris discovered that his father was living a double life. He learned of his first marriage and the SIX children he had with his the wife. One of the children being born AFTER Chris, meaning Walter had an affair. These revelations(p.121) destroyed Chris, but he kept to himself until he bolted away forever. Chris lived by a moral(p.122) his whole life, so the infidelity struck him the hardest. Chris felt as though his whole childhood had been fiction(p.123). After his graduation in 1990 he left for his trip, he donated his money, packed up the Datsun, and drove away from the lies of his life. Walt and Billie still being confused as to why he left and why Chris did what he did, but the answer is in their mirror...

Analysis:
This chapter was heavily filled with drama. I can't believe Walt was living a double life this whole time and he had an AFFAIR! I don't blame for Chris wanting nothing to do with his father after all he had done. How ironic that Chris had thanked him for being a great father at his graduation party, oh how the tables have turned. While Billie and Walt never knew that they were the cause of Chris running, they still victimize themselves as if they didn't ruin their children's childhoods...
#waltandtheaffair #childhoodlies #donewithdads

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We now dig deeper into the McCandless family: Walter, Wilhelmina (Billie), and Carine. We are told first about Chris's father, Walter. Walt is a very smart man. He's intense, has a strong work ethic, and a natural leader. Walt adds that he probably spent the most time(p.104) with Chris than any of his other children. I think both Chris and Walt were similar to eachother in more ways than one. Both of them were definetly high achievers(p.109). After his first marriage fell through, he soon meets Billie Johnson and quickly fall in love. Walt marries Billie and is later pregnant. Chris would then be born on February 12, 1968. Walter and Billie were always working(p.107), striving to make sure their business remains successful. But all this work leaves Chris and Carine to take care of eachother. Carine recalls Chris being "...very to himself." He was able to keep himself preoccupied without the need of human interaction or toys. "He could be alone without being lonely."(p.107). With Walt and Billie always working, it definetly put a strain on their children. Chris hated their wealth, the abuse, and toxic household. This would ultimately cause Chris to run. After Chris left, his disappereance caused a shift in Walter. He became less intense, scared, and tolerant(p.105). All of Chris' family would argue that Chris was a compassionate man, but his compassion left a gap filled with pain, anger, and heartbreak.

Analysis:
Wow, this chapter was deep. I really loved the incorporation of the back story of Walter and Billie, as well as their emotions at the time with their interview with Krakauer. It's sad how toxic the McCandless household was, and not many people knew about the toxicity. Sometimes it's easy to pretend all is well, but eventually the truth comes out. Chris knew and lived the truth. And because of that, he took his first chance to run and never see his family again...
#momanddadmademedoit #toxic #sadtruth

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We now turn our focus back to the story of Chris McCandless but this time, his identity(p.99) will finally be revealed. McCandless' body was found with no form of identification, which made identifying him very difficult. It was up until a newspaper(p.99) was published about the missing hiker on Anchorage Daily News. Jim Gallien, the man who dropped off McCandless for his Alaskan venture, reads the article and calls the authorities that Alex is from South Dakota. Wayne Westerburg is told by one of his crew men to listen to the Paul Harvey Broadcast on the AM station(p.100), who was talking about McCandless being found dead. Wayne then tries to call the authorities as well, but the troopers were hesitant to listen to Westerburg as many people called in claiming they knew Chris. Wayne ensured troopers of knowing McCandless so, they lead troopers to Carthage to discover his Social Security number and given name. All turned out to be genuine(p.101). They find his next of kin in Virgina, his older half-brother Sam McCandless. Sam had seen the article about the dead hiker. How ironic(p.101) that he felt "...sorry for the family of this guy, whoever they are." Sam went to the police department to confirm the photo of hiker, and it was Chris. Sam and his wife drove to Maryland to give the worst news to Walt and Billie, that their missing son is dead.

Analysis:
Even though we knew from the cover how this story was going to end, it still is heartbreaking that Chris had died. The authorities went through so much to try and identify him because there was no internet! Luckily Wayne and Jim helped solve the case, but how terrible to discover that their friend was the one who died. Poor Sam must have had the worst conversation with Walt and Billie, they were never going to see Chris again...
#caseclosed #oldschooldetectivework #timetostarthealing

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John Krakauer takes us through another story of a man named Everett Ruess who like Chris McCandless, journeyed into the wild and never made it out. Krakauer drew many various parallels between Everett Ruess and Chris McCandless. Proving that McCandless was neither the first or last person to leave society for a life in the wild. The author concludes that McCandless and Krakauer were both romantic men, finding beauty in nature and within life itself. In 1931, Ruess pursued his dream after dropping out of UCLA. Like McCandless, he lived life out of his backpack(p.90), traveling from place to place but loved every minute of it. Both men felt excluded from "...stereotypes(p.91) of civilization..." Ruess wrote multiple letters to about always being a wanderer(p.91), and how his fascination with the wild was uncomprehendable. Throughout his adventures, Ruess enscribed his nom de plume(p.89) on canyon walls, sandstone, or anywhere he ventured. He would write "NEMO 1934." Very similar to McCandless who carved "Alexander Supertramp 1992" on the wall of his bus. The connection between these two men is uncanny. Unfortunately for Ruess, no one knows what happened to him as his remains have never been found. Many theories circulate around his death as to what happened to him, but no one will ever know. One commendable fact about them, is that they atleast tried to follow their dream (p.96). McCandless and Ruess died chasing after their dream, even with the possibility of knowing it could kill them.

Analysis:
This was a very unique chapter. I love Krakauers' inclusion of this chapter, and the uncanny parallels between these two men who simply died trying to follow their hearts into the wild. Poor Ruess was never found, which breaks my heart. Whatever happened to Everett, I hope he didn't die suffering like McCandless of starvation. I commend him for chasing his dream and may he rest in peace..
#tryingtolivemybestlife #NEMO #thewildtwins

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The author uses this chapter to prove that McCandless isn't unique(p.71), for choosing to live in the wild. Krakauer recounts the tragic stories of Gene Rossellini, John Waterman, and Carl McCunn. All 3 of them entered into the wild and underestimated(p.71) the power of mother nature and the wild itself. Gene lived life as a "Stone Age native" for 10 years. When he discovered that it is not possible for humans to live off the land, he deemed himself a failure(p.75) and stabbed himself through the heart. (Ouch!) Waterman had more similarites with McCandless. Had some dad issues, and is also from D.C. Waterman attempted to climb Mt. Hunter (ALONE). He made it back, and decided to climb summit for a second Denali. Waterman never made it back and was never found. It was presummed that he fell to his death. Finally Carl McCunn, a photographer who lost his life because he forgot to raise two hands... He suffered for months in the harsh winter, also suffering from frostbite and starvation. He ultimately decided to end his life and suffering with a gunshot wound to the head. Reflecting on these four men, Rossellini, Waterman, McCunn, and McCandless, they definelty make McCandless look sane. Some of these men were mentally(p.70) unstable. McCandless didn't fit into the stereotype(p.85) of a crazy "bush-casualty." To this day, we still don't know what stereotype he does fit into..

Analysis:
This was an interesting chapter. Reading these collection of unfortunate casualites in the wild is sad, but interesting as well. It's unfortunate how these men lost their lives to mother nature, but proves to us that McCandless isn't completely insane! Alaska is a beast, and no one has yet to beat it.
#alaskancasualties #mothernature #mccandlessisntcrazy

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Back again in Carthage, SD, Alex goes back up to Carthage one last time before heading up north to Alaska. He works for a while with Wayne Westerberg in order to buy new gear and prep for his trip north. Wayne introduces McCandless to his on/off again girlfriend, Gail Borah. Alex talks about a lot of things to her, but rarely ever about his family(p.64). Westerberg assumes Alex's lack of communication with his family originates from problems between him and his father Walt. Perhaps he was too stubborn(p.64) to let go of the drama, but we learn it was way more than being stubborn. Just before disappearing he writes to his little sister Carine, that he wants to divorce his parents and be through with them forever(p.64).  Further reading more into the chapter, we read that Alex may have died celibate(p.65). No information was given about private relations he was with women or men. I think nature may have been his one true love. He was too driven(p.66) by the thought of adventure, then the thought of love itself.

Analysis:
Wow, Alex did NOT like his family. I'm curious to know at what age did Alex realize that his parent's were dysfunctional and irrational. I simply wish he wouldn't of abondoned his little sister the way he did his mother and father. But I wonder, did Carine have similar feelings about their parents like Alex?
#fakefamilies #natureismytruelove #4evercelibate

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Adventures wrapped on McCandless' waist...

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Chapter 6 goes into great detail on the close relationship of Ronald A. Franz and Alex McCandless. Fraz was a retired 80 year old Veteran at the time when he met Alex, and he made a huge impression(p.48) on Franz. While he was overseas, his wife and only son were killed on New Year's Eve in 1957. He began drinking Whiskey, hard. He eventually pulled himself together, but it was still difficult for him to get over. He began adopting(p.50) Okinawan boys and girls, 14 total throughout his life, this spark was reignited when he met Alex. The two men spent a lot of time together over the next few weeks. Ronald wanted to instill wisdom in Alex to get a job or an education, while Alex was urging(p.51) him to sell all his things and live life on the road. We also get insight on McCandless' infamous belt(p.52), inscribe with his adventures and symbols representing his journies. Alex announced that he wanted to head to San Diego to earn more money before his venture to Alaska. Franz insisted on driving him and claimed he needed to go to San Diego anyway for "leather supplies". Franz addmitted that it was very hard to be leaving(p.53) him. Franz would ultimately pick up Alex again due to being caught riding the trains. They took their final journey together and were off to Colorado. Franz recorded their trip on a cam corder and took pictures of all the sights. Just before dropping him off at Grand Junction, Ronald asks Alex if he could adopt him and become his grandson. Alex quickly dodges the question, because anything in relation to family is a big NO. Franz recieves a letter from Alex from South Dakota about a month after their departure, he tells Franz to sell his stuff and live a "nomadic life". Franz listens to Alex and puts all his stuff in storage. He lived this way until 1992, when he picked up two hitchhikers and discovered McCandless had died. Franz became an atheist and drank whiskey for the first time in 40 years.

Analysis:
This chapter was heart breaking!! Poor Ronald loved Alex so much, but Alex refused to see it or allow it. I feel for Ronald, all he wanted to do was make sure Alex was okay. It's crazy how strong Alex impacted Ronald, and he didn't even realize it.
#theimpactsofalex #justiceforronald #adoptivegrandson

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In early October of 1991, Chris landed in Bullhead City, Arizona. "Bullhead City is a community in the oxymoronic, late-twentieth century idiom." McCandless took a stong(p.39) liking to Bullhead City, so much that he decided to settle(p.39) down there for the winter. He liked it so much that he lived life like any other human. He got a job at the infamous McDonald's(p.39), even though he hates capitalism and chooses to work at the biggest capital fast-food chain. He even opened a savings account. One issue with him and his McDonald's experience is socks(p.40). He hated wearing socks, or had some sort of personal vendetta against them. His manager and coworkers would tend to complain about him smelling, but he refused to tell anyone where he lived or that he was a drifter(p.41). He eventually quit his job and went off to visit Jan Burres in Slab City. He doesn't stay long as he wanted to get a move on his trip. Jan offered him supplies for his trip, which he accepted to shut her up then quickly left them under the seat of her car. Proving he doesn't want help or runs from anyone who tries to.

Analysis:
I never thought Chris would be the kind of guy to flip burgers, but ay you gotta do what you gotta do for money. I'm still curious about the sock situation and what he had against them. Maybe the socks he had were simply uncomfortable? For a social guy, he was definetly anti-social in this chapter. But he did consider everyone in this town "plastic", I guess we can't always be social...
#extrovertandintrovert #antisocks #BigMacandfries

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We now shift back to the state of Arizona. McCandless had arrived in Lake Mead Recreational Area on July 6, 1990 with his yellow Datsun. Chris was in the middle of the desert, with temperatures reaching 120 degrees fahrenheit. McCandless went to the desert to escape and find reality(p.25). "The desert is the eviornment of revelation, genetically and physiologically alien, sensorily austere, esthetically abstract, historically inimical..."(p.25). Being the rebellious, law-unabiding man he is, Chris refused to listen to the signs stating off-roading was forbidden. He camped on the shore of Lake Mead for 2 days, until a flash flood interuppted his campsite and nearly took his Datsun with it. Unfortunately the Datsun suffered damages from the flood, and the car would no longer start. Stuck in a predicament of telling the authorities about the car and a never ending Q&A about his reasoning for being there, he decides to abondon the car(p.26). He saw this as a way "to shed unnecessary baggage(p.29)." He pursued his journey on foot, nearly dying from heat-stroke(p.29) along the way. As Chris was heading up north, he recieves a ticket(p.31) for hitchhiking. He mistakingly gives his parents address as his permanent residence, and would soon notify his parents of his whereabouts. Even before for the private investigator could pick up his trace in California, he was already on the run now in Mexico..

Analysis:
Even though life hit Chris with 99 problems, he managed to find one less problem and even more solutions. He is letting nothing get in the way of his adventures, and I admire his perserverance. Even with near-death experiences, Chris could've easily decided enough was enough and return home. But he is more determined to live life on the edge, no matter the obstacles that come his way.
#nevergonnagiveup #ripdatsun #byebyePI

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We now dive deeper into the back story and beginning of Chris' journey(p.22), which begins in Carthage, South Dakota. It is a very small town will a population of less than 300 people. There is only 1 of everything in this town, and Chris seemed to have made an impression at the only bar in town, the Cabaret. At the bar Chris meets Wayne Westerberg, and they quickly become good friends. He even gives him a job and describes him as "the hardest worker(p.18)" he's ever seen. Westerberg recounts his time with "Alex" and his amazing stories and signature White Russian drink. Westerberg also describes how Chris may have felt estranged(p.18) from his family, or cut off from the world(p.22). Chris wanted to chase a new destiny(p.23) as Alexander Supertramp, but this destiny would only take him so far..

Analysis:
After recieving some background information about Chris, the more I'm beginning to understand his decision. If there aren't problems in your family, you're lying...It is not uncommon to feel like an outcast within your own family. Sometimes we find comfort in new places, with new people, which is exactly was Chris did.
#newfacenewplace #storyteller #ChrisandWayne4eva

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The trail of Christopher McCandless' death..

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2 chapter's into the book and our main charachter is now dead. This chapter describes how the savage(p.9) wild(p.9) ultimately became his death sentence. It first goes into detail about the difficult journey of The Stampede Trail and the Fairbanks City Bus #142, Chris's home. The bus(p.13) was a common attraction site for people to visit and take pictures. But on September 6, 1992, 6 visitors would come to discover the remains(p.13) of Chris McCandless. His body was found in a blue sleeping bag in the bus by Gordan Samel, as he peered around the bus and saw his head peeking out. At the time his body weighed 67 pounds, and ruled starvation(p.14) as a cause of his death. With Chris having changed his name and destroying all prior forms of identification, no one knows who Chris is, what he was doing, or why he was there.

Analysis:
I can only imagine how Chris must have felt in his final days. He had a vision, a wish to live life on the edge in the wild, knowing it could kill him. Unfortunately, it did. I have so many questions surrounding his death, but am so sad that Chris died painfully and alone...
#allalone #thedeathtrail #dreamscrushed

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Chris officially ventures into the wild, entering the Denali National Park..

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The chapter begins with a young man, Christopher Johnson McCandless, determined (p.6) to venture off into the wild alone. He has given away or burned the remainder of his belongings, and walked away from his family to never be seen again. He gets hitchhiked by a union electrician named Jim Galien, who agreed to take him to Denali National Park. Galien took note of the hitchhicker's(p.4) backpack and the amount of gear(p.5) he had on him for such an extensive trip. McCandless carried a rifle(p.5), map(p.5), a ten-pound bag of rice, and cheap hiking boots. Very minimal supplies for such an extensive trip in the harsh weather conditions. Galien dropped him off 10 miles from the and "...figured he'd be OK." Because any normal person would go find help if things got bad...right?

Analysis:
Wow, Chris definetly seems determined about his ventures into the Alaska bush. He completely dismissed Galien and all of his offers besides the boots. I'm curious as to why he is entering the wild so unprepared? Does he truly believe he can survive on such little gear? Obviously from the title entry, we know he won't survive very long...
#intothethickofit #unprepared #alaskaking

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My dad was big on taking me and my siblings outside and engaging in the outdoors. We would go on bike rides to parks, go hiking, or simply play basketball in our drive-way. My most memorable adventures were my trip to the Grand Canyon or simply snow days in Big Bear.

My family purchased a cabin in Big Bear in the year 2017. Since then, we have gone on numerous adventures. Whether that be playing in the snow, fishing, hiking etc.. The feeling of being in nature or simply being active is exhilarating. Whenever my parents took my brother and I on vacation, my dad made sure to involve nature and to go be active. We would go to find a hidden beach, visit a historical tourist spot, or find a national park. No matter where we go, my family always ensures we stay in tune with nature.

Thanks to my parents, I have fallen in love with traveling and adventure. I know I want to pursue my love for travel in the future. The ability to detach from the stress and pressures of life and to reconnect within nature is just one of the many benefits of traveling. To find peace and tranquility within a new part of the world in something we should all do. Step outside, find a new adventure, and never be afraid to live a little :)