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When writing this book I came to the conclusion that the human race is inherently selfish. I’ve stated I relate to Chris during the last year of his life, and the reason being is that we all relate to being selfish. We as humans don’t focus on how our actions affect others. Chris leaving his family with no explanation was an incredibly selfish thing to do. So as I speak to these college students in front of me remember that there is life outside of our own minds. This is Chris’s story.
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Our journey begins when Chris takes off West after cutting off ties to his family. He enters Arizona and ditches his car along with his belongings. -
Here, Chris changes his name to Alex and meets Jan Burres. They immediately took a liking to each other and grew very close in the short period of time they spent together. -
Alex meets a man named Wayne Westerberg, who offers him a job working as a grain elevator in Carthage. Wayne soon becomes Alex’s closest friend. -
Chris stays on the river for 36 days, living off of five pounds of rice and the marine life. This convinced Chris that he’s ready for Alaska and serves as a pivotal point in his journey. -
Chris decides he needs a break from the road. He purchases a trailer and starts as a fry cook at a local McDonalds. Chris settles down here for a while before deciding to send a postcard to Jan and they plan to meet up, causing Chris to leave Bullhead City. -
“The Slabs functioned as the seasonal capital of a teeming itinerant society—a tolerant, rubber-tired culture comprising the retired, the exiled, the destitute, the perpetually unemployed. (Krakauer 43)” Chris stays here with Jan and her boyfriend Bob. This location is critical to McCandless journey, it’s here he trained for Alaska. -
Here, Chris meets Ronald Franz, an elderly man who treated Alex like one of his own. He taught Alex many craftsmanship techniques in order to prepare for Alaska. -
This is Alex’s last major stop before Alaska. Here he continues to work for Wayne and tie up loose ends before starting his Alaskan Odyssey. -
“I am reborn. This is my dawn. (Krakauer 168)” Chris has made it to Alaska. This hike is very significant to Chris, it is here where he truly thinks on the challenges he might face. He even considers forgiving his parents, he’s extremely conflicted. -
After crossing the river, Chris finds an abandoned bus. He writes in his journal “Magic Bus Day! (Krakauer 163)” -
Six weeks pass and Chris has attempted to continue along the Stampede Trail, but it has proved to be impassable, causing him to set up shop at the bus.
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After 2 months in Alaska, Chris decides its time to head home only to find that the river is flooded with rapids, it’s impossible to pass. He decides to wait until the water calms to continue home.
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Chris try’s to survive the next few weeks by hunting small animals and eating wild plants and veggies. When he ran out of potato’s and the root become inedible, he decides to eat the seeds. These seeds prevent nourishment from food and unbeknownst to him, cause his death. -
Chris, to weak to hunt, slowly starves and leaves this note on the bus door. -
Chris’s body was found 19 days later by six hikers. On his final note Chris wrote, “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all! (Krakauer 199)”