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February 12th, 1968- Born in El Segundo, California Aprox. 1971- Moved with family to Annandale, Virginia, nearby to father's work in Washington, D.C. *Father, Walt McCandless, was an Aerospace Engineer for NASA *Mother, Wilhelmina "Billie" Johnson, was a secretary at Walt's research facility *Younger sister, Carine, was his closest sibling
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*Tried many sports, but lacked the patience to fine-tune skills
*Took up running, and was amazing. As coach of cross country team, he told the other runners to imagine they were running away from all of the evil and darkness in the world (112)
*Got all A's throughout High School, except for one F. Chris refused to format his work in the way the teacher wanted. *Went on first prolonged journey in Yellow Datsun after graduating
*Was accepted into Emory University, in Georgia -
Shortly after he graduated he donated $25,000 from his savings to OXFAM an organazation that was dedicated to fighting hunger.
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Christophers car had been destroyed by a violet flash flood. So he took this mishap as an opportunity to rid himself of all unnecessary belongings. He buried his deer-hunting rifle, striped his car of its Virginia plates. Then burned all one hundred twenty-three dollars in his wallet.
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Alexander wanted to start an entirerly new life for himself.
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Wayne Westenberg had no work for Christopher because of his imprisonment, so Christopher left Carthage, South Dakota. Chris was a very determined worker, so he was well liked at the grain elevator.
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Christopher canoes on the Colorado River,and many other bodys of water. In January he abandons the canoe due to weather conditions. Christopher had not spoken to or seen another human in thirty-six days.
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When he entered Las Vegas he had no money or ID. There he worked at an Italian restaurant.
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Since Christopher stopped keeping a journal when he left Las Vegas, so not much is known.
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In Bullhead he worked at a Mcdonalds. This is possibly the longest he has ever stayed in one place.
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The Slabs were located in Niland California. There he sold books for Jan and Bob.
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Christopher lived with Ron. He taught Christopher how to work with leather. Christopher made a belt that told a story with pictures of his journeys. Christopher ended up living with Ron for some time. Before Chris left Ronald asked him if he could adopt Chris since his wife and only child were killed by a drunk driver, and Ronald was the only member of his family left.
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Christopher was on his way north.
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Christopher had exactly one thousand dollars in his boot. He left his journal with Wayne Westenberg for safekeeping. While he was hugging every one good bye he started crying he probably relized that he may not see them again.
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Christopher had gotten a ride with a man by the name of Gaylord Stuckey. The car ride took three days. Christopher spends three days in town preparing for the long hike to the bus.
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Christopher would walk to the "magic" bus where he stayed. This bus had been abandonded it belonged to the city of Fairbanks, Alaska. The bus is still there many people visit the bus in honor of Christopher.
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He must cross the Teklanika River to get to town. Christopher can not leave the wild because the Teklanika River has swelled almost five times its original size and has become violent and uncrossable. So he goes back to the bus.
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Christopher parished for a number of reasons. He died because of starvation. He also died because of a fungus that was growing on a plant that he was eating at the time. His body was recovered ninteen days after he died. Christopher was only twenty four when he died. Christopher spent about one hundred thirteen days in the wild.
This is a picture the last note that he wrote. -
Christopher died in Fairbanks, Alaska. His corpse only weighed seventy-seven pounds.
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Carine and her brother were extremly close. She was devastated when she heard that he had passed.
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Ron picks up two hitchhikers. During the car ride he tells them about Christopher one of them then informs him that his friend is dead.
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After writing the article Jon became more interested in Christopher which led to the writing of this book.
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They leave a bronze plaque at the bus in his honor.
