Christopher McCandless

Is that stump rooted in the ground or propped up there? I've looked at the classic self-portrait pose of Chris and the others, and wondered where the camera had been propped, knowing there weren't no tripod in them woods!

I agree, a place that inspires people isn't dependent on man-made objects. Look at the Flight 93 site in Shanksville PA. For years, all it was was an open field, but people continued to make pilgrimages just to be there and stand in the shadow of the memory of those who gave their lives in heroism a...

There's a movie about him, as well. Kind of an old-school documentary, not glamorized. Just amazing how he lived alone in a cabin he built himself, primarily living off the land but with additional provisions. Very impressive. I think about how it must have been, day after day without other humans t...

Wow, this thread sure has heated up since I last commented. I see the "redneck asshole" (Ascetic's term) and the yuppie-hiker-philosopher (my words) have made an acquaintance. And despite some pretty lively barbs being thrown at each other, I think you two share more common ground in belie...

Thanks, GoNorth, for reminding us of the "hollywoodization" of Chris. I have also read the book, but it was a while ago, and the movie is more fresh in my mind. Just a thought: If a book and a movie were made about each of our own lives, what would they portray about us, and would we appro...

Read what I wrote in the context of Pezar's previous post. He was making a point about religious fanaticism surrounding Chris, and the bus. My posting of the "asshole" rednecks picture was intended as tongue-in-cheek evidence that not everyone who visits the bus holds the same reverence f...

[quote="Mr Verdant Green"] “But this was by design. [Chris] believed that if you're going to have an adventure and you know the outcome, it's not an adventure. It's not a challenge. So he cut it down to the bare minimum that he thought he would need to survive.” Whoever said youth is real...

Seeker, thank you for telling your story which is no doubt as exciting as Chris' was. Someone in another thread mentioned that if Chris had lived, we would never have learned about him or his adventure. I'm glad you're one of the "unsung heroes" of the wilderness, and that your successful ...

[quote="hunterdavidd"]

I don't think it could be said any better than hunterdavidd said it:

We all go into the wild at some point. We all do it differently. Some of us come out and some of us don't.

Dear Neversusie and others, I have read many posts saying "Chris did this to make a point to his family" or "Chris did this out of selfishness" and so on. As a former 16-year-old runaway (girl) who left my family with only a vague "I'll call you sometime" letter and som...