Question for fans of Into The Wild?!
Question: What do you think of ths quote by a real life Alaskan forest ranger? (Found on Wikipedia):
Alaskan Park Ranger Peter Christian wrote: “I am exposed continually to what I will call the ‘McCandless Phenomenon.’ People, nearly always young men, come to Alaska to challenge themselves against an unforgiving wilderness landscape where convenience of access and possibility of rescue are practically nonexistent […] When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn’t even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate. First off, he spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild. He arrived at the Stampede Trail without even a map of the area. If he [had] had a good map he could have walked out of his predicament […] Essentially, Chris McCandless committed suicide
Answers: What do you think of ths quote by a real life Alaskan forest ranger? (Found on Wikipedia):
Alaskan Park Ranger Peter Christian wrote: “I am exposed continually to what I will call the ‘McCandless Phenomenon.’ People, nearly always young men, come to Alaska to challenge themselves against an unforgiving wilderness landscape where convenience of access and possibility of rescue are practically nonexistent […] When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn’t even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate. First off, he spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild. He arrived at the Stampede Trail without even a map of the area. If he [had] had a good map he could have walked out of his predicament […] Essentially, Chris McCandless committed suicide
The Book was fantastic...the movie really showed how Chris ran away when things got "too close for comfort" for him.
Apparently, if he just walked 1/2 a mile down the river, he would have found the spot where the Alaskan Patrol had a pully to move supplies across the river when it was that high.
Sad to see someone pass on because they failed to do more homework on how to live in the wild.
I saw that movie! :P I didn't particulary enjoy it, but atleast that guy was living his dream!!! Yes, he basically committed suicide...
Kristen Stewart rocks!!!! (she was in that movie, she's in the movie twilight)
Gah... I hated that movie! I mean what a way to die right?
You missed the point, he thought he could find happiness alone,but he learned, happiness is only real if you have someone to share it with.... I should explain,I was going by "your perspective" about the movie.You committed on how he was supposedly stupid for being daring' which wasn"t trying to be daring.He just thought he could find happiness without society And you know how movies go, they don't give the whole story,just bits and pieces.Actually he did prepare somewhat, but not good enough. obviously, sorry bout the misunderstanding...:-)
I think the ranger should remember that part of his job is looking for people caught out in the wilderness.
As far as McCandless and people like him, there are just people who like to challenge nature and who don't really put the proper planning/time into it. People don't have to be smug or cruel if someone like that dies.
Iam embarrassed to say I have never heard of this man or this story but my room mate is a genuis...literally so Iam sure she can fill me in when I get home tonight.
As for my opinion on the quote...I tend to agree with it. I love nature and a good challange. Again we return to roomie "let's go for a hike" she says...shows up in high heeled sandles and takes me for a stroll around a mid wood board walk...
No a HIKE is going across creeks up hills through picker bushes under logs and with a 20lb back pack to end up back where you started hungry tired and bleeding lmao YAY! but you have to be prepared. Know your limits, know your surroundings or have a DANG GOOD MAP of them. Tell people where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Otherwise you end up with found journals entries like "day 22 ate my hiking partner this morning with the last of the instant mash...hope is lost" and some wolf chewed canvas pants.