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Chris McCandless birth
Chris was born in El Segundo, California. -
Chris moves
He and his family moved to Annandale, Virginia near his father's work. -
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Chris went to highchool
In school, he tried many sports and was actually a pretty good athlete. He also became the coach of the cross country team. -
His small trip
Chris drove back to El Segundo to talk to some of his old neighbors and there he was able to put the facts together about his father's previous marriage and divorce. -
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Goes to College
Chris leaves for college and isolates himself from his family after finding out about his father's past which he doesn't plan on forgiving him for. -
Beginning of the Real Journey
Christopher started driving towards the west. He eventually had no choice but to leave his car in Arizona after a flash flood soaked his engine and now his car won't start. He attached a note to the car saying that if anyone could get the car unstuck then they could have the car. Chris also left most of his belongings in the car. -
Alexander Supertramp
Chris McCandless starts going by the name " Alex Supertramp". While still traveling and documenting his journey. -
The Burres
In California, Alex hitched a ride from Jan Burres who lived similar to him but only she had a car. She was a woman around the same age as Alex's mother. The two grew close while traveling together and after he left he even sent her postcards. -
Wayne Westerberg
Alex hitches a ride from a man named Wayne Westerberg in South Dakota. Wayne offers Alex a job at his grain elevator and Alex accepts the job because he doesn't have much money. He stays with Wayne until Wayne gets in trouble with the law, so now Alex decides to go to mexico. -
Mexico
Alex sneaks across the border into Mexico on a kayak. He tries to paddle across the Gulf Coast, but it was blocked by swamps. Some Mexicans help him by giving him a ride on the back of their truck and he spends a long time in Mexico exploring the area. Alex eventually abandons his kayak and returns to America. -
Back to America
Alex is caught while sneaking back into America by the Immigration police. He explains his situation to the police and they eventually let him into America, although they took away any weapon he had. -
Bullhead city
Chris arrives in Bullhead City in Arizona where he settles down in a trailer and gets a job at McDonald's flipping patties. He stays there for a couple of months working under his real name Chris McCandless and even opening a saving account. -
Alex to Burres
Alex, Jan, and her boyfriend Bob, head to Slabs, and old navy air base that is a place for vagabonds to hangout. It's a place to stay from hundreds of people that aren't part of society. Alex helped with Jan's bookstand and constantly talked about making his "Great Alaskan Odssey" -
Meets Ronald Franz
Alex set up camp outside of Salton City, California. He went into town to get supplies and was picked up by Ronald Franz, an eighty y/o man. The two instantly got along well. Alex delayed his trip to Alaska. -
Chris leaves
Alex leaves Franz and heads to San Diego trying to make some money for things he needed. -
Back to South Dakota
Alex trained hopped and was able to get close to Franz's house again and Franz came to pick him up. Franz drives him to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he starts working with Wayne again now that Wayne is out of jail. -
Alaska
Chris decides that it's time for him to go to Alaska. After a rough time hitchhiking, Alex arrives in Fairbanks -
Jim
Alex meets a mane named Jim while hitchhiking, and they instantly become friends. Alex eventually arrives at his final destination, the Stampede Trail. -
A Bus
After crossing the Teklanika River Alex arrives at an abandoned bus sitting on the trail. He named his journal entry for that day," Magic Bus Day!" -
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Living
The trail was not passable, so Chris made the bus his shelter. For the next six weeks, he had hunted and lived well. -
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Living
The trail was now passable, so Chris made the bus his home. For the next six weeks, he hunted and lived pretty well. -
Moose
Chris shot and killed a 600-pound moose. Most of the meat ended up spoiled but the catch was a big deal to Chris. -
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Hunting isn't easy
Hunting was becoming difficult. Chris was only alive at this point because he hunted everyday, but was getting little animals more than bigger ones. He also had to eat a lot of wild plants and vegetables. -
Accident
Alex had been eating wild potatoes since he got in Alaska with no harsh effects, but when the root of the plant became inedible Alex started collecting the seeds. What he didn't know was that the seeds had went bad and ended up getting him sick. He was unable to get any nourishment which lead to him starving. -
A Note
Alex became very weak, and he decided to leave a note on the bus door saying he needed help. -
Alex Dies
Alex passes away, the last note he left says: " I have had a happy life and thank the lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!" Nineteen days later six people found the bus where Alex had been living.