Clearly, neither of you bothered to read my comments in the broader context of the thread. I’m only going to say this one time, so read along closely.
Oh, I have read closely. You seem to know more about Alaska from your vast knowledge of searching the internet and drinking Latte's while reading the Hitchhikers Guide to Alaska at the local Barnes and Noble. You want to come here back coutry traveling and say loud and clear "Fuck the Alaskan locals".
He was basically saying, “Look, it’s a shame that most people who go to the bus are idolizing Chris and turning him into some kind of demigod.”
This I agree with. The bus has been turned into a shrine. Not saying its right or wrong. But I don't feel anything special should be done to the area because of him. Honestly that is my hunting area first and foremost. I don't want it filled with people. I read the book 10 yrs ago or when it came out. I thought it was a good book but nothing more. It didn't change my life but it did make me think more about taking advantage of my backyard and be prepared. They have a book you can write in at the bus to leave some words. If you ever get there I wrote the joke about the bear fucking a guy in the wild. (Thats the beer guzzling redneck in me)
I was saying that although some people may see Chris that way, not everyone does. I used your pictures (if they are really you – anyone can grab pics off the web and claim they belong to them) as a tongue-in-cheek example of people who probably didn’t care much about turning Chris into a demigod.
Yes that is me, my friend Josh with the beard and Chase the young fella we met the night before who wanted to go to the bus. I also gave two hikers from Chech republic a ride out that night at 2:30am. We almost lost my truck in the river on the way out. Heed the warnings of that river. Times are very important for crossing. I think i have posted enough photos to prove it is me!
So, what exactly are you upset about? The “asshole redneck” comment was never intended to be a personal jab. It was an object lesson that was apparently lost on you. Are you mad because you really do see Chris as a demigod? Because that was precisely my point: namely, that you probably don’t! And from what you’ve said so far in your posts, it doesn’t sound as though you idolize him.
It upsets me that some over educated kid thinks he knows more than people who live here. We have our hippees that look for that kind of lifestyle that Chris was. Then there are the back country hunters and travelors that work hard and live hard here. There is a big difference. I have read many of your post and you talk about wanting to disappear because you don't want to pay back your school loans because you might have to work hard or get a second job. Sorry but that was your choice in life. That kind of thinking is going to fix the country. Then you spout about a redneck who works his ass off for everything he has. It doesn't matter if it was aimed at me or not! Alaskan locals are hard working people and deserve the freedom to go wherever we want in our state. We've earned it! You just graduated from school and you think someone owes you something.
And Chris, you mistakenly write, “The funny thing is that you say ‘that redneck probably never read ‘Into the Wild.’ Well, there's two simple responses to that.’” I never said you hadn’t read “Into the Wild.” I said you probably hadn’t read Tolstoy or Thoreau. Or, hadn’t you bothered to actually read what I wrote?
Its not about what you wrote, its about what you meant! You think we're all a bunch of idiots and your over educated mind will get you through anything. If anything it will be the biggest thing that will hurt you. School of hard knocks is where I graduated.
Oh, and the last time I checked, the Alaskan State Highway patrol bills the person being rescued; not you. So get your facts straight.
WAKE UP!!!! Up here the next guy you see could be the one rescuing you! Your ungrateful! You will fail in life with your kind of attitude.
Watch this link:http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=60613332